Just Finished Reading...Clockwork Princess

My copy from the signing event at Barnes & Noble

My thoughts~

I have no words....

Just kidding. This book leaves me with mixed emotions. Over all I loved it. I've loved the series from the opening page in Clockwork Angel and devoured every word in the series since.

What I loved most about these stories were the characters. A lot of writers can write dynamic scenes with realistic settings, but it was the larger than life personalities of Cassandra's characters that sucked me in.

I'm not saying this book didn't have its faults, because in a way I felt like the author took the easy way out when it came to dealing with the love triangle. Because when Tessa and ______, did you know what, I thought to myself. Really? Now? I just didn't buy it. (yes you have to of read the book to get what I'm talking about, but I didn't want to spoil anything for future readers)

I think for the series as a whole I liked Clockwork Prince the best. But the gut wrenching story told to us in Clockwork Princess will stick with me for a while. When I read the epilogue it brought out real emotion in me. I felt the tension build in my chest, and if I would have been alone, I may have cried. It was that strong. But I didn't cry and only one book in the world has ever made me do so. (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows in case you were wondering.)

Even though I was not the biggest fan of City Of Lost Souls, I, along with you, must wait impatiently for City Of Heavenly Fire. Thank you, Cassandra Clare, for bringing this story to life and sharing it with us.

Release Day Blitz... Flame by Mari Arden

Today I am very excited to be a part of the book blitz for Flame. A Fireborn novel by Mari Arden. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Flame and I absolutely loved it.

Some secrets change your life forever. 
Have you ever felt invisible? I do. Everyday. I can't get close to anyone, and people can't get close to me. Everytime I feel a friendship beginning, something inevitably happens, and I become invisible again. Unseen. Ignored. It's been a part of me for so long that it's hard to imagine anything different. 
Then the Saguinox arrive, and my life is forever altered. People are fascinated by these beautiful creatures who look and talk like us. They're alluring. Seductive. Intoxicating. And two of them are going to my school. Rhys is everything I shouldn't want, but his eyes are like something from a memory. I can't help but be intrigued. He's the only one who can really see me. 
Some secrets you're better off not knowing. 
I had been found on a cold winter night with nothing but a blanket, and ashes covering my skin. My mother saved me from death, and took me in with love. But she couldn't save herself. I didn't think heroes were real anymore until the day Kaiden saved me. I couldn't believe in miracles until the day he revealed I was the miracle they had all been hoping for. Deep inside I always knew my past mattered.
I just didn't know my life would depend on it.

 I'm Mari Arden (Mari rhymes with safari). Teacher by day, author by night. When I'm not living my double life I like to hike and try foods from all over the world. Up until recently, I used to be scared of dogs. Even puppies. True story. Now I'm just afraid of anything with more than six legs. I write to soothe my soul and to, hopefully, entertain YOU. 

Adventurous? Come join my double life!

Here is my glowing review~

Mari Arden has a fresh voice and does a fantastic job brining this entertaining story to life. Her characters live in a world far from ordinary where an alien race has made themselves known to Earth and are generously welcomed into today’s society.

Kenna is a likable character with a mysterious past that we learn right along with her. Though she spends most of her time alone and is easily ignored, Kenna is not one to sit around and take pity on herself.

Then enters Rhys. Rhys is attractive, intriguing and it is not long before Kenna is paying attention to him. He keeps to himself at first, but when we get into the meat of the plot his true character is revealed and he really stands out.

Flame is an enjoyable read and moves along at a steady pace. Combined with a solid plot and well-developed characters I recommend the read. 

You can find Mari online in these places~

Mari's blog

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

You can purchase Flame here~

Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Happy book birthday Mari!

Just Finished Reading...Defiance

Defiance by C.J. Redwine

From Goodreads
Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.
At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.
As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

My thoughts~ This book almost ended up on my shelf based on the cover alone. It is one of my all time faves. But for some reason I never got around to buying it. The copy I read for this review was from the library.

C.J. Redwine weaves a tale of intrigue, loyalty and love. Her talents as a writer are highlighted in her ability to craft beautiful passages. 

Rachel quickly became a favorite character of mine. She is independent in a world that doesn't allow it and is willing to risk it all for those she cares about. 

I have to admit, it did slow down for me at the middle and didn't pick back up until closer to the end. But character likability, original ideas and quality writing made it worth sticking with. I will definitely read book two.

Just Finished Reading...The Peculiar

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

Part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part steampunk adventure, The Peculiar is Stefan Bachmann's riveting, inventive, and unforgettable debut novel.

My thoughts~ I would like to start of by sharing an interesting fact about the author. Stefan Bachmann penned this creative masterpiece at the young age of sixteen. SIXTEEN! It makes me happy this person was able to showcase his talent at such an early part of his life. He writes as if he is a seasoned pro.

The Peculiar is one of the most imaginative and unique stories I have read in long while. The creative world the author introduces  us to is one of a kind and a joy to visit. This middle grade novel is packed with well developed and interesting characters. I do have to say, I thought it took off rather slow, but in that time we were introduced to the world and setting and in the end it all balanced out.

Over all I can recommend the read. If you do not like cliff hangers I may wait till we are a little closer to book two's release.

Just Finished Reading...Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My thoughts~ So last year when Cinder came out, it was plastered all over the bookish part of the internet. I was like, ehh...I don't know. Another Cinderella story. No thanks. For some reason the idea of this book always turned me off. When ever I read the word "cyborg" I kept right on going. Well now that everyone is raving about the soon to be released Scarlet, part two in the Lunar Chronicles, I figured I better jump on the band wagon and see what the fuss is all about. 

I absolutely adored Cinder. It is a dystopian, sci-fi, futuristic retelling of Cinderella. Even though it is a new version of the well known fairy tale  I still found Cinder to be unique and intriguing. What I liked best about this story was the high stakes tension that peppered the entire story. 

Cinder is a fabulous protagonist. I instantly liked her and cared about how she felt. She longs to escape her current life. Cinder has been mistreated by her family, but still has a warm heart and takes care of those who are important to her. She is smart, sassy and makes good decisions.

Then we have Kia, our prince. I just loved him. Not in a super swoon worthy way, but he is just a good person and a well developed character. Through his triumphs and trials, my heart went out to him.

The one thing I would have liked was more description of the city and the characters physical appearance. Cinder takes place in China. The setting was so rarely mentioned that, to me,  it could have been plopped down in any city. I was not sure if we were supposed to assume the characters were Chinese based on the origin of the story, or if the author did not think it was important. Personally, I like to be given a physical description so I know what to picture in my head. Plus, the big reveal was not much of a surprise.  I guessed it the first time it was mentioned. 

Overall, because of the tension and the unique twist of the fairy tale, Cinder is my first favorite of the year. I recommend the read and look forward to Scarlet. A fresh take on Little Red Riding Hood. 

Book Recommendation...Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My thoughts~ Assassin nuns? What? Well let me tell you, these are not your grandma's nuns. These are knife wielding, warrior nuns that serve Death himself.

Hands down my favorite book of the year. Seriously, if you have not read Grave Mercy stop whatever you are doing and get your grubby little mitts on this book. See someone reading it? Grab it and run like the wind. Then lock yourself away and do not emerge till you have finished. (Okay, do not really steal it from an unsuspecting reader. They would probably hunt you down and chew off one of your limbs.)

But seriously, I fear I cannot bring justice to this book. Robin LaFevers is extremely talented.. Her writing is superb and every character makes and impact. Ismae is smart, strong, independent and extremely likable. It was very refreshing reading a character that empowers woman like Ismae does. She puts her work above herself and does not compromise things by running off after some guy and putting the whole mission in jeopardy. There are times when issues are set before Ismae that cause her to question things, but she stays the course and does not act with out reason.

And oh how I love Duval, let me count the ways. There is romance and Duval is one of the yummiest I've read this year. (I have to admit something though. I may be partial to Duval because he is one of the few male leads I've read that is not a teenager. So I didn't feel all cougarish for liking him as much as I did. Okay, TMI...moving on.) I'd say the romance is perfectly balanced with the plot. It is never shoved down our throat, but is present enough to keep things interesting.

Whether you are a fan of historical fiction or not, this story is a must read. It is based on an actual historical event with a flare of fantasy weaved throughout. From the plot to the setting this intriguing story makes an impact.I received Grave Mercy from Net Galley last spring and did not read it till now. I loved it so much I bought the hard back, put it on my favorites shelf and bought a copy for friend.

Robin stated on her blog that she spent seven years working on this story. Her dedication and perseverance shows on every page. Grave Mercy is book one in His Fair Assassin trilogy, but stands alone as a complete story. Book two follows along the same time line but we will get to follow Sybella, Ismae's sister nun and friend.


One of my favorite lines~
The thinly veiled venom of her false concern still bubbles through me, as vicious as any poison.
~location 2043

Blog Tour & Giveaway...There Comes A Prophet

Welcome to the There Come A Prophet blog tour, hosted by CBB Book Promotions. I am super excited to be kicking it off today with Read, Write, Sleep, Eat! After you leave here head over there to read the guest post. Also, make sure you enter the giveaway below and check out the list of all the amazing blogs on the tour.

Book Blurb~
Who among us will cast aside a comfortable existence and risk death to follow a dream?
A world kept peaceful for a thousand years by the magic of the ruling vicars. But a threat lurks from a violent past. Wizards from the darkness have hidden their sorcery in a place called the keep and left a trail of clues that have never been solved.
Nathaniel has grown up longing for more but unwilling to challenge the vicars. Until his friend Thomas is taken for a teaching, the mysterious coming-of-age ritual. Thomas returns but with his dreams ripped away. When Orah is taken next, Nathaniel tries to rescue her and ends up in the prisons of Temple City. There he meets the first keeper of the ancient clues. But when he seeks the keep, what he finds is not magic at all.
If he reveals the truth, the words of the book of light might come to pass:
“If there comes among you a prophet saying ‘Let us return to the darkness,’ you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the light.”

My thoughts~ I will be the first to admit I always want to classify books and stick them in specific categories. I must say that is a little difficult with this book because it covers such a broad range of interests, but I will help narrow it down. There Comes A Prophet is a little fantasy, sci-fi with a dash of dystopian thrown in. David Litwack  seamlessly weaves the three genera's together to create an intriguing and entertaining story.

When I started reading I really had know idea what direction it was going to take, but the unique world instantly grabbed me and lured me in. I really enjoyed reading the tale of these three life long friends and lengths they go to keeping each other safe.  It quickly moves into the meat of the plot and clips along and a good pace.

As far as the writing goes David Litwack gives some of the best examples of "showing" I've read. We are rarely, if ever, "told" how something looks or how someone feels. The rich descriptions are full of detail that gives clear images of every person and scene.

I recommend the read.

Author Bio:

The urge to write first struck when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter's editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.

Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned. There Comes a Prophet is his first novel in this new stage of life.

David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.

Website/blog

Facebook: David Litwack - Author

Twitter: @DavidLitwack

Book trailer: http://youtu.be/43girNzSFsw

Book available at

  Amazon

 Goodreads

 Barnes and Noble

 Sony ebooks

 Apple

Paperback

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to visit all the fabulous blogs in the tour for more chances to win!

12/3

Words Escape Me - Review

&

Read, Write, Sleep, Eat! - Review and Guest Post

12/4

My Parahangover - Review

12/6

I Am a Reader, Not a Writer - Interview

12/7

Books in the Spotlight - Review

&

Fiction Fervor - Review

&

Lili's Reflections - Review

12/8

Moosubi Reviews - Review

12/10

Comfort Books - Interview

&

 Ensconced in YA - Review and Interview

12/11

Supernatural Snark - Excerpt

12/12

Lizzy's Dark Fiction - Review

12/13

On Starships and Dragonwings - Guest Post

12/14

Jean Book Nerd - Review and Guest Post 

12/17

The Book Babe - Top Ten Songs 

&

Nawanda Files - Interview 

12/18

Steampunkery and Book Reviews - Review and Teaser Quotes

12/19

Love is Not a Triangle - Review

&

Insane About Books - Review

12/20

Books, Thoughts and a Few Adventures - Review

12/21

Indie Book Blog - Guest Post

Blog Tour...The Warlock's Curse

The Warlock's Curse by M.K. Hobson

I'm super excited to be a part or The Warlock's Curse blog tour. Make sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a free book and some cool swag.

book description~
THE YEAR IS 1910. Eighteen-year-old Will Edwards has landed a prestigious apprenticeship at Detroit’s Tesla Industries, the most advanced scientific research center in the United States. It’s a plum prize for a young man who dreams of a career in the new science of Otherwhere Engineering.But his father doesn’t want him to go. And he won’t tell him why.
Determined to get there by any means necessary, Will finds unexpected support along the way. His old friend Jenny Hansen—daughter of a San Francisco timber baron—is eager to help him for reasons of her own. And so is his estranged brother Ben, who he hasn’t seen in over ten years.
But running away turns out to be the easy part. On the first full moon after his eighteenth birthday, Will is stricken by a powerful magic—a devastating curse laid upon his ancestors by the malevolent sangrimancer Aebedel Cowdray. Will must find a way to control the magic that possesses him—or the vengeful warlock’s spirit will destroy everything and everyone he loves.

My thoughts~ The Warlock's Curse is the third book in the Veneficas Americana series. This story is strong enough to stand on its own so do not be afraid to jump right into this book if you want.

M.K. Hobson, in my opinion, is a wonderful writer. The imagery pops right off the page. I have never read a book taking place during the early 1900's and through the description I pictured it perfectly. I think this book is what would be considered magical realism. In The Warlock's Curse is set in an alternate history where magic is common among everyday life.

I do have to say this book took a while to gain momentum and starts off with a nineteen page prologue. It was a little to long for my tastes, but the information is given to us for a reason so it is worth hanging in there. When we jump into Wills story it still takes a bit to get started, but during this time we are introduced to Wills world and we learn a lot about his character, his family and what motivates him. After the story starts rolling it moves along a good pace with plenty of excitement.

Jenny is Wills partner on his journey and I instantly liked her. She can be a little feisty and is a determined young lady that knows how to get exactly what she needs. Though they are brought together to fulfill their own separate needs, a relationship unfolded before our eyes and I was really rooting for them.

 I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the continuation of Will and Jenny's adventure.

Bio:

M.K. Hobson’s debut novel, The Native Star—the first book in her Veneficas Americana series—was nominated for a Nebula award in 2010. She lives in the first city in the United States incorporated west of the Rockies. Her favorite writers are Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, Booth Tarkington, Gore Vidal, and William S. Burroughs. The Warlock’s Curse is her third novel. You can find out more at her website,www.demimonde.com.

Website: http://www.thewarlockscurse.com/

Twitter: mkhobson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mkhobson

Book trailer: http://youtu.be/oyrYAfu8IMg

Giveaway:
Prize package of *signed* copies of The Native Star, The Hidden Goddess and The Warlock's Curse as well as a swag pack of a Tesla Industries pin, magnets and a sticker *not shown*.
*Open to US only*

13 ebooks of The Warlock's Curse 
*Open worldwide*
Ends 12/30/12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Recommendations

Today I bring you not one, but three very enjoyable reads. I did not write in depth reviews for them, not that they do not deserve them, I've just been busy working on my manuscript and do not have the time. But these are three books I have recently read and I wanted to showcase them.

First up, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

flap copy~ Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, the one thing she could rely on was her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’re sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.
When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. Ripped from everything she knows, she is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the one person with the power to destroy the Fold.
Swept up in a world of luxury and illusion, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to fit into her new life without Mal by her side. But as the threat to the kingdom mounts, Alina uncovers a secret that sets her on a collision course with the most powerful forces in the kingdom. Now only her past can save her . . . and only she can save the future.

This book has been reviewed and featured about a million times and now I know why. It's fabulous. The world building, character development and setting are superb. I read it on my Kindle and will be purchasing the hard back copy to add to my favorites shelf. I loved it.


Second, Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

flap copy~ Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.
Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.
But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.

Ahh fantasy...my true passion. Melina Marchetta knows how to make every word count. I was about 150 pages in and so much had gone on I felt like already read an entire novel. She really packed this book with action and delivered a unique and enjoyable story.


And last, but definitely not the least, Scent of a White Rose by Tish Thawer

from Amazon~ A vampire's love... An innocent's guilt... A secret no one could've imagined... 
What if vampires were the good guys and a human girl was the one to fear?
Scent of a White Rose is a paranormal romance that entices with a heroine that isn't quite what she seems, a vampire who's love story is filled with dark surprises, and a vampire clan who's Sire has lost the ability to inflict "the change".
~ ROSE ~ I'm Rose Reynolds. I have recently lost my Mom in a "freak accident". Now everyone sees me as an innocent girl.... a "white Rose". But I have a secret that no one can imagine. I'm not as innocent as everyone thinks...
~ CHRISTIAN ~ I'm Christian and I'm in love with Rose. I also have a secret as old as time.I'm a vampire. No, she doesn't know...yet. But when our new Sire is revealed, I'll petition them to change her. Because truly, I can't live without her...

As I recover from my Eric Northman withdrawals and gear up for my Damon Salvator addiction, Christian was gentleman enough to step in to help fill the void. I love vampires and this book is great. Rose and Christian are very likable characters that I became very attached to. If you're looking for a vampire fix, check this out. It is the first in a series and I am definitely reading book two.

Be Careful What You Ask For

When I was a newbie blogger one thing that really impressed me was reading reviews for books yet to be released. After asking a few blogger friends I learned about the fabulous service NetGalley offers.

NetGalley offers professional readers Advance Reading Copies (ARC) for review.

Oh wow! A place you can requests ARC's, and if approved receive them for free! Here we go. Step one, create account. Step two, browse and request books. Step three, read and post your raving review about the most recent, pre-released books.

Steps one and two were no problem. Step three is where I hit the snag. For the first year my blog was poorly designed (I did it myself and I'm not the most visually creative) and had around thirty followers. Coincidentally, I was denied all of my requests. Fine, whatever.  

Time went on, I got some experience under my belt,  a professional blog design and a few hundred readers found their way to my little piece of the cyber world. I was posting regularly and decided to give NetGalley another shot. I requested all the books that interested me.

I hit the lottery. I got approved for all my requests. Yippee! The next thing I knew I had six books for review. For many book bloggers that is a small number, but for me that was plenty. I still had my own ever growing "to be read" pile, a job and my own book to write. 

Book one started out okay. It was not nearly as good as I hoped but I soldiered on. When I hit page fifty I could not force myself to read one more page. But I felt I owed the publisher a review, after all they graciously gave me the copy for free. The bad thing was I did not like the book. I was left with two options. 

Option one: Finish the book and review it. Sounds easy enough. But life is short and I did not want to waste my time reading a book I did not like.

Option two: Stick in on the shelf and move on. I went with option two.  Then I posted on NetGalley and in place of my review I told the publisher I would not be reviewing their book, because I could not even finish it and did not want to write a complete review based on fifty pages. Moving on...

I tried reading two more books and did not like them. By the time I started book four, the story was awesome but so poorly formatted it was hard to follow. At that time I decided I would no longer request ARC's from NetGalley because I was not following through with anything I committed myself to. It also zapped some of the fun out of reading. In a way I felt like it turned reading into a job. I started my blog for entertainment. Not more work. NetGalley is a wonderful service and many bloggers love and appreciate it. Unfortunately it is not for me.

Some times I get a little jealous when I see reviews for certain upcoming releases. I just remind myself that I already tried that route. Plus waiting for certain books is exciting. I always have something to look forward to.  

Just Finished Reading...Hallowed

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

10 second review~ If only I could turn back time and not read this book. What happened?! Unearthly is one of my all time faves, but this didn't do it for me at all.

From Goodreads~

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My thoughts~ I loved Unearthly so much. I read the ebook, bought the hard back  to add to my favorites shelf, did a give away in its honor and made Tucker Avery my Book Boyfriend. To avoid being a Negative Nancy I will start with what was good about this book. 

The story is easy to follow, easy to picture and is an excellent example to writers on how to keep the main plot on the fore front. Clara is easy to connect with and the author did her job getting Clara's feelings across. 

Now I have to say that knowing and connecting with Clara so well is why I have reservations toward this book. Right off the bat we find out Clara had a vision of herself at a funeral, and it is not long before we find out who the dying person is. Clara is  depressed in this book, and she has the right to be, and I got depressed right along with her. The fact that this person is dying is the main focus of the plot and we rarely get a break from it. I really care about Clara and hated seeing her so sad all the time.

Part of why I loved Unearthly so much, is that I love Tucker. Well...Tucker doesn't get a lot of time in this book and I was looking forward to that.  I loved his interactions with Clara in Unearthly and we didn't get those this time around. This book is beautifully written, but more sad than happy. I will still read book three when it is released.

One more thing. How does this cover relate to the story? I can kind of see it in book one, being that Clara went to a school dance and all, but the "pretty girl in the dress" has nothing to do with this story. I guess it's just meant to be pretty.

Just Finished Reading...Insurgent

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

My 30 second review~ Sequel to Divergent, and you must read Divergent first or you will be lost.  Tris is a dynamic character. Over all this is a very good book but not as good as  book one. (Are they ever?) I recommend the read.

If you have not read Divergent go do that now! It was one my favorite reads from 2011.

From Good reads~


One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.



My thoughts~ Insurgent starts exactly where Divergent ends. The story is clearly written and easy to follow, if you can remember who every one is from book one. It has a pretty extensive list of characters and after about 75 pages I stopped to re-familiarize myself with Divergent. I don't know if it was because I listened to Divergent as an audio book and failed to pick up in the little things, or if there was just to much time in between the stories for me.  After reading Divergent to refresh the details, and there are a lot of them, I started Insurgent again. 


Veronica Roth has created an original world. I love the idea of the different factions (not in real life...just saying) and what defines them. In the first half of the book we get to explore two of the faction we did not get that much of in book one. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The characters did everything I expected them to and the pacing was steady. Then came the second half.


Now I don't want to sound like I did not enjoy this book, because I really did, but the last half of the book didn't really do it for me. The conflict between characters seemed a little forced.


At times things seemed a bit disjointed. I would like to talk about it but if I tell you what I didn't like I'm afraid I would spoil it for you. (if you have read it, and want to know what I'm talking about see below) But in the end I trusted the author and kept going. After I read the ending it all tied together for us. I just wish it would have taken a little different journey.


I have become very attached to Tris and Tobias as a team and look forward to book three. 


As someone who avoids conflict, if I had to choose a faction, I would choose Amity. I love the idea of everyone getting along and having equal say in decisions. I wish I could be Dauntless, but I would never would have made it past day one. 


**********SPOILER ALERT!  IF YOU HAVE NOT READ INSURGENT STOP HERE**********


Now I know conflict drives the plot, but I didn't buy some of it. The disagreements between Tris and Tobias seemed forced to me. Yes I understand Tris kept a secret from Tobias, and he felt she should trust him more, but to ignore her like he did didn't seem to fit his character. Despite his fears he is a strong character. That whole section made me think his character was overly sensitive and that is not what I get from him. Plus it went on for so long. I like them better as team.


I also felt there were way to many simulations. Like when Tris was held prisoner. I think we needed to know she was going through them, but to me it got old going through them with her. I can see why the author did it. Characters need to be tortured in some form or another and we got to see a different side to Peter at the end of it, but it got kind of old.