Waiting on Wednesday {17}

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

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Expected publication: June 12th 2012 by Balzer + Bray 

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.

But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—-one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

I know I've done this once before, but that was like, three months ago. I simply have to do it again because this is the book I'm lusting for most in life! Not to mention that I've loved every Balzer + Bray book I've read so far. 


Starling by Lesley Livingston
Expected publication: August 15th 2012 by HarperTeen

"Love is just the beginning... of the end."

Mason Starling is a champion fencer for Gosforth Academy, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Until now. When a ferocious storm rips through Manhattan and unleashes terrifying creatures onto Gosforth’s campus, Mason barely escapes alive. Without help from the mysterious stranger who appeared in the midst of the storm, she might not have made it at all. But now, in the aftermath, Mason’s life begins to spin dramatically, mystically out of control, and the only one who seems able to help her is the stranger who can remember nothing but his name: Fennrys Wolf.

As Mason and Fenn uncover more about Fenn’s past and the strange events that surround them, they realize that Mason’s family — and its dark allegiance to the ancient Norse gods — is at the center of everything. A predetermined fate seems to be closing in on Mason, but is it possible to change one’s destiny?

Readers who fell in love with Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange trilogy and those who love Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series will be captivated by the sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action of Starling.

I love Lesley Livingston. Simple as that. Her books are always original and addicting. This sounds completely amazing. I wish August wasn't so far away T__T

Leave a link to your WoW and I'll be sure to stop by! :)

~Zoey~

ARC Giveaway: Struck

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Expected publication: May 8th 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

While you won't see my review until April, I decided to giveaway my ARC of Struck by Jennifer Bosworth. Please note that the ARC has been read, but is still in virtually the same condition it was when I first got it. (Which is very good. :P)

Open to US/CAN only!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


~Zoey~

In My Malbox {10}

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I am feeling insanely lazy/sick, so I'm sure I'm missing a few books. And I was definitely too lazy to get all the covers together for the NetGalley stuff :P

Also, don't forget - I'm still interested in finding a co-blogger! I'm sure you've all probably got your own blogs, but just in case, you can look HERE if you're interested. ;)

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer (From Kensington for review)

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey (From the library)

And from NetGalley: 

Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore (for blog tour)

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie
Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

I am so excited for STORM. Seriously. It arrived yesterday and I did a definite happy dance. The series as a whole sounds purely amazing. And DARK FROST - Logan. 'Nuff said.

Leave a link to your IMM and I'll be sure to stop by! :)

~Zoey~

Review: Pretty Crooked

Pretty Crooked by Eliza Ludwig
Publish Date: March 13th, 2012 by HarperCollins (Katherine Tegan Books)
//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository//

Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.

Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”—known to everyone as the Glitterati—without them suspecting a thing is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.

The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her: evening the social playing field between the haves and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan.

But when the cops start investigating the string of thefts at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could Aidan wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?

Pretty Crooked felt like one of those books you read when you want to take a break from all the intense paranormal and dystopian books, which is exactly what I needed to do. I finished it quickly, and it wasn't a novel where I had to reread sentences over and over again before I understood what was going on.

However, I found this book had one huge problem: the romance. There wasn't very much of it, and that was fine with me - Pretty Crooked actually worked well that way. But the romance that was there didn't make any sense to me. I mean, okay, yeah, I liked Aidan, too. But Aidan and Willa knew next to nothing about each other.  I mean, seriously. They've had a few conversations, that's it. But I will say there's no insta-love here, just attraction. And it's a good thing their relationship is just beginning at the end of the novel. Maybe that means we'll find out more about him in the next book.

At first, I was a little upset when I heard there's going to be a sequel, but when I thought about it, the ending really does lead you to believe there's going to be a sequel. I think it'll be great to learn more about Aidan and Willa.

The blurb from Goodreads makes Aidan seem like he's really important in the book, but honestly, he's not even seen that much. Sure, Willa thinks about him often enough, but the blurb makes you think you're going to see way more of him than you actually do.

Another thing that was a bit of an issue for me was the fact that I wanted a little bit more excitement and a little bit more emotion from Willa. Willa fell flat for me sometimes, as did the plot. I really liked the idea, but I feel like the author could have added more aspects to it, rather than just leaving it as simple as it was.

Despite the fact that she fell flat sometimes, I liked Willa well enough. I really loved that she never really even considered keeping the money for herself when she stole it. She's like a contemporary female Robin Hood. Sort of. And I also liked that at first, when she got to her new town, she didn't even consider the fact that other people might need help - she was just too happy to be "popular." That seemed really realistic to me. After moving around so much, Willa should have been happy to fit in - and she was.

Tre, another secondary character, was a nice touch to the story. I couldn't really tell where he was going in the story, if he was going to be a romantic interest or just a friend, (I even considered that maybe he was gay) but I kind of liked that Ludwig kept me guessing ;)

Also, can I just say that HarperCollins makes awesome covers? I always love them.

Overall: I had my problems with Pretty Crooked. Lots of them. And yet it was still one of those books I couldn't stop reading. If you want something light and fast-paced, I'd definitely recommend it, but I wish there had been a little more subplots. 3 stars.

~Zoey~

Co-Blogger Wanted!

If I actually want to keep this blog active, I need more time. More time to read, more time to write reviews, more time for everything. And I'm starting to feel like the only way I can get that done is to add another blogger to this.

So if you're interested, fill out the form. But I need someone who's really serious about this - someone who can share 50% of the work that goes into this. Someone who will write reviews and post them. Someone who's not going to flake out twice a month. Maybe you have your own blog and you can't keep up with it either. I dunno. But you need to be serious about it.

And please remember - this is a YA blog! I only post things about YA here.

Also, yes, I realize that I would need to change the blog name and the design and such. But that's only if I do choose someone - and please don't be offended if I don't choose you/anyone at all. I really don't want to screw this up, so I want to choose someone I think will be a good fit.



~Zoey~

Waiting on Wednesday {16}

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

Silver by Rhiannon Held
Expected publication: June 5th 2012 by Tor Books 

The Girl is Running. She's alone; a werewolf without a pack, a shape-changer who cannot change, an intruder in Roanoke's territory. It's Andrew Dare's job to catch her, expel her, or kill her. He's the enforcer, after all, in charge of security. But when he catches her at last, he finds someone he wants to protect, not kill. A tortured stranger who needs him...and who warns of a threat to all the packs of North America.

Anyone who knows me knows I love werewolves. This sounds very mysterious ;)






Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt
Expected publication: April 10th 2012 by Entangled Publishing, LLC 

What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?

Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

I don't think I even need to explain why I'm waiting for this one. It just sounds amazing. (Plus it's from Entangled. I have yet to come across a book from them I didn't like.)

Leave a link to your WoW and I'll be sure to stop by :) 


~Zoey~

Review: Partials

Partials by Dan Wells
Expected publication: February 28th 2012 by Balzer + Bray 
//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository//

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival.

I always promised myself I'd be honest in my reviews, so I have to be honest: I almost completely hated the first half of Partials. It's full of so many terms that I don't think are explained well enough - the Hope Act, the Voice, Defense Grid, the Partials, and even more. Eventually I was able to guess what they were from the things people say, it was extremely frustrating for me.


And then there's Kira's boyfriend, Marcus. It wasn't only the first half I didn't like him, it was the entire book. Maybe because I just find him boring, I'm not sure.

The thing is that I feel like nothing gets done in the first half. It's mainly just a bunch of confusion for people like me and all of the characters trying to control one another. I almost stopped reading. The beginning alone is probably a one or two star for me.


But I kept going, and I'm so glad I did. It got interesting as soon as Samm, a Partial - an engineered being that can easily be mistaken for a human - came into the picture. There aren't really any hints of it, but I have high hopes that Samm and Kira will end up together by the end of this series. Just because I love him so much. 


Partials is written in third person, and while I don't have problems with it, it's not very often that it happens. Dan Wells did a great job with it, and I completely loved Kira. She's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, and she's definitely a kickass heroine.


That fact that Partials is so original is almost surprising. There are so many dystopians right now that they're all starting to blend together for me with all their similar plots. But Partials is so different that it's amazing. There are so many new concepts explored that you can't help but be interested.

Overall: Once I got past the first half, Partials was a very original, action-packed book full of hope and desperation. I have so many questions, but not in a bad way. I can't wait to see how everything is explored in the next book. 4 stars. 

~Zoey~

Cover Reveal: Inbetween

Inbetween by Tara Fuller
Expected Publication: August 7th, 2012 by Entangled Publishing

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving “accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before, and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.

I think Entangled has definitely come up with some better covers, but I love the expression on the girl's face, and this sounds awesome :) I'm a fan for books where a Reaper falls in love with someone he's supposed to kill. What about you?

~Zoey~

Review: Graffiti Moon

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Published February 14th 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository//

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

Graffiti Moon is the type of book that's . . . different. It sounds like it's going to be all about romance, but by the end you realize it's about so much more than that.

I am not an artist. Not at all. So sometimes, this book was hard for me to get into at first. Ed thinks like what I think an artist thinks like. He sees art and paintings in everything - even Lucy's next. And while I didn't like that at first, I learned to love it. It's one of the many things that makes this book different.

The thing is that while this writing style is unique and something I'm not used to, it was almost the same between Ed and Lucy's point of views. The think different things, of course, but the way their thoughts are expressed in the writing is the same, which bothered me a little bit. And there seemed to be random moments where all the characters seemed extremely immature. I also found them very hard to connect with.

However, I still loved the characters, most of the time. The things Ed and Lucy think and the way they think them is beautiful and inspiring. Graffiti Moon is a book that's real. Even if it's the kind of thing I don't think will ever happen in real life, it's something I could just see in my head so easily. The characters aren't annoying and cliche or sterotyped. They're so interesting to read about.

Overall: While the ending is a little predictable, Graffiti Moon is definitely something I'd recommend. The prose is gorgeous without being too overwhelming, and excluding a few moments, the characters are great. Ed and Lucy can be very funny at times, and even the side characters provide plenty of amusement. 4 stars.

~Zoey~

In My Mailbox {9}

Once again, I tried a vlog. And once again, it didn't work :P Which is probably good. It means you don't have to see my scary face.

And now, for the interesting (or not, if you like) part: THE BOOKS.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

From Em at Sash & Em. I won this through a Twitter giveaway :) I know a lot of people say they refuse to read this because of REASONS, but I'm not going to let that cloud my judgement of the book.

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

From Macmillian. I have no idea why this came in the mail, or how they even have my address, but it did, so I read most of it during English class this week :P

And now, the NetGalley books. NetGalley is going to kill me one of these days.

Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hool//The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker//Burn Mark by Laura Powell

Thanks to Em, Macmillian, Marshall Cavendish, and Bloomsbury!

Leave a link to your IMM and I'll be sure to stop by :)

~Zoey~

Giveaway: Just Because!

I suppose this is actually more of a cleaning-the-shelf giveaway, but . . . whatever. And actually, there are two giveaways! The first is for US/CAN only, and the second is international.

I'm not bothering with the covers, but all the links go to the Goodreads page of the book.

And yes, you can enter both giveaways. And yes, the tweet and comment on a review options can be done daily!

US/CAN Giveaway:

There will be one winner who will choose two of the books listed. The winner will also get some Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock and Incarnate by Jodi Meadows swag :)

Balthazar by Claudia Gray//A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton//Luminous by Dawn Metcalf//My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent//Delirium by Lauren Oliver


a Rafflecopter giveaway


International Giveaway:

One winner can choose any book of their choosing under $12 from The Book Depository.


a Rafflecopter giveaway 


~Zoey~

Review: Balthazar

Balthazar by Claudia Gray
Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by HarperTEEN
//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository// 

Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart.

Balthazar is one of those books that I know some of my friends would hate, but I found it an enjoyable read. A long time ago, I read Evernight, but I never continued on with the series. I don't think it was because I didn't like it; it was just one of those things I forgot about. 

I've mentioned this before, but I'm not the kind of person who's tired of vampires and werewolves. I still love them just as much as I love any other types of books. (Except Fae books. I love those above all else.) And Gray's vampires work out well. Not all of them are bad, but not all of them are good, either. I like that balance - it's always seemed so unrealistic to me that every single vampire would be bad or every one of them would be good. 

Balthazar tells the story of Balthazar, obviously, and all he goes through as he tries to protect Skye. We get to see how he spent his last hours as a human, how he spent his first hours as a vampire, and plenty of things that happened after that. I wasn't particularly fond of these flashbacks, but at the same time they provide a reason for why Balthazar is so hesitant with Skye and they show just how evil the bad guys really are, so I think they were necessary. 

Balthazar along is enough reason to read this book. The limits he goes to to protect Skye are actually hilarious. (And life-threatening, of course.) It's interesting to read about how he fights his nature, but I also love that not all of his time is spent angsting and trying not to eat Skye. 

I also love that Skye doesn't spend all her time thinking about Balthazar. She knows she has other worries - other vampires trying to use her as a drug, for instance. She's a very strong character, and the best part about her is that she has a hobby. Horseback riding. I hardly ever see characters in YA who have a hobby anymore - it's all DEATH DEATH KISS ATTACK. And while plenty of that is in Balthazar, Gray still found time to fit in that hobby. Which just happened to save Skye more than once. 

My biggest issues lie with the secondary characters. Skye's new friend, her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, the teachers at the school . . . I don't think there was a single one of them I liked. Which is a problem, since they're involved in the story quite a bit.

Overall: While I don't think Balthazar is full of suspense like the blurb says, Balthazar is a fun read, and if you liked the Evernight series, you should definitely read this. And if you never read it? You don't really need to have read it. The romance in Balthazar is the typical kind of forbidden romance, nothing new, but somehow, in some way, Gray made me like it. I rooted for Skye and Balthazar through the entire book. 3.5 stars.

1/2

~Zoey~

Cover Reveal: Gravity

Gravity by Melissa West
Expected Publication: October 2012 by Entangled Publishing

In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed—arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know—especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

Entangled Publishing never fail to amaze me with their books. Gravity sounds amazing, and the cover is so pretty! (And bonus points for not having a girl in a dress on it.) So what do you think? And are you as excited for all of Entangled's upcoming YA titles as I am?

Waiting on Wednesday {15}

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

 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen  

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

 

There are some people who are tired of vampires. I am not one of them. If an author can write them well enough, I'll love it regardless, and I'm 100% positive that Julie Kagawa can write whatever she wants and it will still turn out amazing. The good news? I already know I won't have to force the people I work with at the bookstore to sell this. They love Julie Kagawa, too :D 

Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein

Expected publication: July 24th 2012 by Putnam Juvenile 

 

 

Sara Jane Rispoli is just a normal sixteen-year-old girl coping with school and a developing crush— until her parents and younger brother are kidnapped, and she discovers her family has been a key figure of Chicago’s Outfit (aka the mob) for decades. Her father, grandfather and great grandfather all used their special ability, cold fury, to settle disputes between the two mob factions—the muscle and the money. And unless Sara wants the mob to think her now missing family has turned state’s evidence, she will have to fill her father’s shoes as the mob’s peacemaker, using her own cold fury.

 

This just sounds so original and unlike anything I've ever read before. And I've read a lot of good things about it :)

 

 

Leave a link to your WoW and I'll be sure to stop by!

Valentine's Day?

So it's February 14th. Otherwise known as Valentine's Day, or Single's Awareness Day, as I like to call it. I don't have much faith in Valentine's Day - if you want an excuse for your boyfriend to take you out, well, you've got your birthday. Or every other day of the year.

But because I have absolutely nothing planned for today, I decided to post some of my favorite quotes - from YA books, of course - that relate to love. Or relationships. Or stuff like that. In no particular order except the ones I found them in on my Goodreads :P

"You love me. Real or not real?"

"Real."

~Katniss and Peeta, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

What do you say when someone takes on a really bad ass, murdering sucker for you? There just aren't words for that.

~Dru, Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

He pivoted, gaze following me as I crossed to the shower and turned on the cold water, so it would drown out our conversation without steaming up the room.

Great," he muttered."Now they're going to think we're showering together. Maybe we can just tell them we were washing off the crawl space dirt and trying to conserve water.”

~Derek and Chloe, The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

“Damn, Claire. Warn a guy before you do a face-plant on the floor next time. I could have looked all heroic and caught you or something."

~Shane, Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Claire stretched out against the wall and kissed it. "Glad to see you, too," she whispered, and pressed her cheek against the smooth surface. It almost felt like it hugged her back.

"Dude, it's a house," Shane said from behind her. "Hug somebody who cares.” 

~Shane and Claire, Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine

“Remember, we're madly in love, so it's all right to kiss me anytime you feel like it.”

~Peeta to Katniss, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I clench his hands to the point of pain. "Stay with me."

His pupils contract to pinpoints, dialate again rapidly, and then return to something resembling normalcy. "Always," he murmurs.
~Peeta and Katniss, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

“This thing with us is the only real thing I've had in a long time. You're the only real thing." He raised our hands and kissed my knuckles. "And I'm done pretending I don't want you.” 

~Archer to Sophie, Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

“Oof," he says.
"Hey, there's a bed there."
"Thanks for the warning."
"No problem.” 

~Anna and Etienne, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

His forehead bumped softly against mine, his brilliant silver gaze searing into me. “I plan to keep you, from everyone, for as long as I’m alive. That includes Puck, the false king, and anyone else who would take you away.” One corner of his mouth quirked, as I struggled to catch my breath under his powerful scrutiny. “I guess I should’ve warned you that I have a slight possessive streak.” 

~Ash to Meghan, The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

“Will you show me what you really look like? You don't sparkle, do you?"

~Katy to Daemon, Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“I've always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect." His eyes searched mine intently, and for a moment we stood there toe to toe. "The ones who throw their beauty around, waste what they have? Their beauty is only passing. It's just a shell hiding nothing but shadows and emptiness.” 

~Daemon to Katy, Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

~Zoey~

(So I notice there's a little formatting issue where there isn't a space between some quotes. There's spaces between them all in the draft, so I dunno what the issue is -_-)

Review: Getting Over Garrett Delaney

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
Published January 24th 2012 by Candlewick Press
//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository// 

Can a twelve-step program help Sadie kick her unrequited crush for good? Abby McDonald serves up her trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. The object of her obsession - ahem, affection - is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie's feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to '80s indie rock - all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder - until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl! 

A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

Getting Over Garrett Delaney sounded like it was going to be a fluffy, quick read. And for the most part, I guess it was, but it also has a great message - and one that can be interpreted in so many ways, whether it's "don't let someone treat you like dirt" or "there's strength in numbers." There are just so many ways this book can be good for you.

I've heard about a lot of people who didn't like the beginning, and to be honest, I didn't, either. There's a lot of funny banter between Garrett and Sadie, and it's easy to see how easy-going friendship. But Sadie is almost obsessed with Garrett, which is frustrating because for the first 30 pages or so, he's really all she's thinking about.

It definitely gets way better after that, though. A great thing about Sadie is that she manages to make new friends. She might be a little mopey and whiny after Garrett leaves, but she gets a job. She makes friends. Which shows you that Sadie is a fairly strong character, and it doesn't set a terrible stereotype for teenage girls - that we all turn into a complete mess because of a guy.

Another awesome thing about Sadie is that she doesn't just use another guy to get over Garrett. I think it's a little weird that she uses an actual plan to try and get over him, but it's also something I've never really seen used before, and it provides for an entertaining read.

I think the best part of this book - besides the great messages it gives - are the fact that once you're about a third of the way through the book, it's not just about Sadie's problems anymore. The new friends she's made - who I think are all awesome secondary characters - have problems, too, and Sadie doesn't just brush them aside in favor of her own. She tries to help them, too.

I think (hope) I can talk a little bit about Josh, since he's mentioned in the blurb. While Josh is a great character, the relationship between him and Sadie is a little confusing. Their relationship is platonic most of the time, but right towards the end it's not. The confusing part is that Josh treats Sadie exactly like he treats all of the other girls they work with. It's not in a bad way, it's just something that lead me to believe that he doesn't have any feelings for her that aren't platonic.

The only other issue I have is Garrett. He doesn't seem like a terrible person, and Sadie obviously doesn't think he is, but he's kind of portrayed as a bad guy, mainly because of all of Sadie's friends. They make him seem like an awful person, so I kind of developed an unlike of him, which made it frustrating whenever Sadie talked to him.

Overall: This is definitely a fluffy read, but once you get past the beginning, I also think Sadie is a great example of what YA teenagers should be like. 4 stars.

~Zoey~

In My Mailbox {9}

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren! :)

Last week, I said that this was going to be the week for books. I wasn't wrong. :P

I hate my laptop, I hate Firefox, I hate Blogger, I HATE LIFE. I was originally intending to do a vlog but that didn't work because it kept freezing, and I couldn't take any pictures because my camera won't even turn on, (and I charged it yesterday -_-) and getting all these covers together is just obnoxious. AND THEN I tried doing it on YouTube, and it was going so well, but THERE WAS SO SOUND. *sobs* I think I might starting doing IMM's like, once a month or something.

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne (Bought)
Hourglass by Myra McEntire (ARC) (Bookstore had a sale - buy one book and get two free galleys they've been stocking up on.)
Dead Rules by Randy Russell (ARC) (The other free galley I got.)

Vampire's Kiss by Veronica Wolff (Finished copy from Penguin)

From HarperCollins:
Balthazar by Claudia Gray (ARC)
Thumped by Megan McCafferty (ARC)
Destined by Aprilynne Pike (ARC)
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (ARC)
Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris (ARC)

ARC's from NetGalley:
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker
Transcendence by C.J. Omololu

Anyway, I'm especially excited for Sweet Evil and Unraveling! Unraveling actually came today as a complete surprise. I saw a package from HarperCollins and had no idea what was in it! :D

Leave a link to your IMM and I'll be sure to stop by.

~Zoey~

New Design!

Notice the new design? Notice how much more interesting it is compared to the old one? It's all thanks to the lovely Laura. :)

I've got a new picture for my review ratings, a new button (which is over on the left sidebar . . . in case you want to do anything with that information) and lots of pretty colors! :D I think I've got everything in the sidebars back in their right places, but if anything seems off, let me know.

And also let it be known that Laura is made of pure awesome.

~Zoey~

Review: A Witch in Winter

A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton
Published January 5th 2012 by Hodder Children's Books
//The Book Depository//

Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English.

I really love to read books about witches. Maybe it has something to do with Harry Potter, or maybe it's because I'm still holding onto that childhood fascination I had with them, (I dressed up as a witch every year on Halloween from the time I was five until I was 10) but I still love to read about them. So A Witch in Winter was something I was really excited for.


The biggest issue I have with this book is the characters, particularly Seth and Anna. They're both so melodramatic a lot of the time, and Anna can be very whiny. And the thing is, I know Anna has her reasons for being that way - she's done something she feels is truly awful, and even though she's done everything she can to fix it, nothing has changed. But her whining is so repetitive, the same thing over and over again, that I couldn't help but be frustrated by it. They also say, "Oh, Anna," or "Oh, Seth," about a million times throughout the book.

However, there were times when I really liked Anna. She's a fairly strong character. She's willing to stand up for herself and others when it's truly needed, and she also genuinely cares about her friends. She's not my favorite character, but she's not my least favorite. Same goes for Seth - he's also a caring person, he's fun, and he's definitely someone I'd love to know in real life, but he's also a little melodramatic and there are times when he seems fake.

One thing I love about this book is that the bad guys are real bad guys. They're not wimpy; they go all out when Anna goes against them, which provides a great story. The bad guys make it pretty intense. And if I'm honest, they're very entertaining to read about.

Another great thing is the way Anna grows throughout the book. She goes from being a scared little girl who knows nothing about magic to trying to save everyone she knows, and I think that's the makings of a good book.

Overall: The plot is gripping and the bad guys are awesome. If not for my frustration at the characters, this book probably would have been 4 or 5 stars. Still, as it is, it was a fairly enjoyable read. 3 stars.

~Zoey~

Review: Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson
Published June 2nd 2011 by Orchard
//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository//

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special.

This is not her story.

Unless you count the part where I killed her.

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori -- the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right?

I had such an incredibly hard time writing a review for this. There are so many things I want to say about it, but the words just wouldn't come.

I want to say I was surprised by how amazing this book was, but I really wasn't. I'd read so many amazing things about it and my best friend loved it, too, before she let me borrow it. To say I went in with high expectations is an understatement. To say Ultraviolet met those expectations is an even bigger understatement.

Much of this book takes place in a mental hospital. You'd think that that would get boring after awhile, but no. Not even close. The other characters in the mental hospital make for a great setting for the book. They all had their own little stories which, while not completely necessary to the actual book, kept me interested and provided some variety.

Some may argue that the main character and narrator, Alison, is cold and distant. In a way, she is, but that didn't stop me from loving her. Alison is a very unique character. Her narrative isn't like anything I've ever read before, so she was new and exciting for me. Sure, she's fairly distant from everyone else, but if you were in her situation, you would be the same way. Alison is distraught, wondering how sane she truly is, but she still manages to be strong and curious and smart and relateable. Basically? I love her.

Sebastian Faraday is probably officially one of my favorite love interests. (And not just because he reminds me of the TV show LOST.) He's yet another character that is unlike anyone I've ever read. He's mysterious, but not in the frustrating way. He's the only one who can truly help Alison, and he does things the right way. I love him even more than Alison.

But Ultraviolet isn't just about awesome characters. There's mystery and intrigue, too. You spend the book contemplating - What really happened to Tori Beaugrand?

(Let's pretend I spelled that name right.)

Overall: Ultraviolet is a complex read that really makes you think, but it's one of the most original things I've ever read in my entire life. I don't know what I can tell you to convince you to read it, but Ultraviolet takes sci-fi to a whole new level. And it's not even heavy on the sci-fi. 4.5 stars.

1/2

~Zoey~

Waiting on Wednesday {14}

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

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Expected publication: June 14th 2012 by Dial Books For Young Readers 

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen year old Samantha wishes she was one of them… until the day Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything.

Jase can sense that his beautiful neighbor is missing something in her sterile home, and as the two fall fiercely in love, his family makes her one of their own.

But when the bottom drops out of Sam's world, which perfect family will save her–and will her perfect love survive?

Set among the haves and have-nots of a coastal New England town, My LIFE NEXT DOOR captures the angst, the heartache, and the raw-nerve emotions of first time love—and biting loss.

This book sounds like it has the potential to be one of the best contemporaries I've ever read. I don't know why, but I just love the sound of it. (And the cover!) 


A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
Expected publication: June 5th 2012 by Poppy

Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorce dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancee and her kids. The fiancee's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.

Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

Filled with authenticity and raw emotion, Whitley is Kody Keplinger's most compelling character to date: a cynical Holden Caulfield-esque girl you will wholly care about.

I don't always like books that center so much on families, but I've read Kody Keplinger before and she hasn't failed to entertain me yet :)


Leave a link to your WoW and I'll stop by!


~Zoey~

Review: Ditched: A Love Story

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Published January 10th 2012 by Disney-Hyperion 

//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository//

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. 

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first. 

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice. 

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom. 

And then ditched her. 

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together -- stain by stain on her thrift-store dress -- exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car... 

But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love. 

Ditched switches off between times - the events leading up to Prom and the aftermath of the mess that was Prom. 

At first, that was a huge issue for me. I never really like books like that, though I have no idea why. Maybe it's because the transition between the past and the present is always so sudden and I can never find a connection. But eventually, I got used to it, because it works for this story. We get to see how Justina's relationship with Ian turns into a disaster and also get to see the aftermath of it all. 

I feel like Justina has much more personality in the past than in the present. A lot of times I wanted to skim through the present, simply because Justina was falling flat and I felt like nothing was happening. Another issue I had was that Ditched is basically all about Justina. I know that might sound funny, considering she's the main character, so what's the problem? But in most books, the main character will guess what others are thinking. Have conversations with them asking what they're thinking about. You can still get in their heads a little bit, get a better feel for their characters. I feel like that didn't happen in Ditched. 

Another issue - stereotypes. I haven't seen many other people with this issue, and I suppose it wasn't a huge one, but I feel like Ditched might have had one too many stereotypes that Justina commented on. 

However, I completely love that the story of Justina's dress and all the damage it received is woven throughout the story. The stains on her dress are like a chronicle of what happened that night, and it's something very new and original to me. I thought it was a great way to tell the story. 

I also think the way Ian is portrayed is perfect. You spend most of the book wondering - is he really that cruel, or was there some miscommunication? Mellom gives you the perfect amount of hints without revealing everything right from the start.

Overall: While the characters in Ditched might not be the best, the book is still a fun and adorable read. The thing about Ditched is that while I enjoyed reading it, it's another one of those books that's forgettable. I won't spend hours thinking about it. 3 stars.

~Zoey~

Review: Legend

Legend by Marie Lu
Published November 29th, 2011 by Razorbill
//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository//

Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.

Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.

Only one person could be responsible.

Day.

And now it's June's mission to hunt him down.

The truth they'll uncover will become legend.

It's very rare to hear of someone who doesn't like Legend, so I went into this book with very high expectations. For the most part, those expectations are met.

Day and June both have very different stories. June, the prodigy of the Republic. Day, the fugitive that the Republic would do anything to capture. Legend is told from both their points of view, and for once, an author has done multiple POVs right. It's so easy to tell the difference between them, not only because of their actions but also because they think differently.

I love dystopians. Legend is probably one of the best ones I've read, but I can't help wondering how the Republic took over. What went wrong in our world that meant it had to change into their world? And I feel like we could have used more interest on the Patriots. All I really understood is that they're the enemies of the Republic. World-building is a really important aspect in dystopians to me, and too often the details of how the world came to be is skipped over.

The only other issue I really had - predictability. It was fairly easy to tell what's really happening with the Plague and June's brother. Considering that's the big issue in this book, I wish I could have been a little more surprised. I don't know how, but I still wish. :P

Still, I do think it was very easy to imagine the world they live in, which is definitely because of the way Lu writes. It's not complicated prose full of words I'll never understand, but it's not so simple that it's almost amateur. It's the perfect blend, and the imagery is great.

For once, just because I didn't connect with the characters didn't mean I didn't like them. I felt absolutely no connection to neither June or Day, but I still enjoyed reading from both their perspectives. I can't imagine ever being in any situation like theirs, so I can't imagine what I would be feeling like, therefore I found no connection. But June is hunting for her brother's killer, and Day is searching for a way to save his family. They're both completely and utterly brave, and I love that about them, regardless of the fact that I can't connect to them.

Overall: Legend is full of action and plenty of amazing characters - both main and secondary. While I feel some details were skimmed over, I think the ending was perfect and that I'll be right there with all the raving fans waiting for the next book. 4 stars.

~Zoey~

In My Mailbox {8}

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

So next week is going to be a much bigger book week, but I can't complain about this one. :P

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Apparently, I just know some really awesome people :D A very awesome person sent this to me, and let's just say I think I'm obsessed with it already.

Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

From S&S GalleyGrab! :)

This Is So Not Happening by Kieran Scott

Won this ARC through a Twitter giveaway Kieran Scott was having :)

And I think that's it. Leave a link and I'll stop by later today! 

~Zoey~

Review: Unraveling Isobel

Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook
Published January 3rd, 2012 by Simon Pulse
//Amazon//B&N//The Book Depository//

Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother.

But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.

Isobel has been uprooted for her senior year. Leaving her friends and her school behind, she's forced to move onto an island that isn't the most . . . welcoming, I suppose you could say.

The thing I really like about this book is how realistic Isobel is. She's upset about the move, feeling like she doesn't fit in, and while some people may thing she's whiny, I think that's the way most people would react, especially if they had to move into an old and rundown house like Isobel. That kind of realism made it easy for me to connect with her and understand her.

Another thing that's awesome about Isobel is that while she's seeing ghosts and wondering if she's crazy, you're right there with her, wondering how sane she truly is.

Nate, Isobel's new step-brother, is a character I can't say much about. I love how willing he is to help Isobel, but I feel like we never learn enough about him. He's just kind of there. I think Nate is supposed to be a fairly important character, but I just don't know enough about him for him to seem real.

The mystery in Unraveling Isobel gripped me, and, for the most part, kept me guessing. While there were a few parts that were predictable, I love that this is basically a mystery/contemporary/romance all in one, with some light paranormal thrown in.

The secondary characters are a great addition. They've all got their own personalities that come through very clearly and actually add something to the story - they don't seem like they have no purpose. I have to admit that Isobel's mother annoyed me most of the time, and I hate how suddenly at the end everything seemed to be okay again. If I was Isobel, I wouldn't have just been able to "forget" what my mother had done to me.

Overall: Unraveling Isobel is a quick, fun read. But the thing about it is that it's forgettable. I won't spend days thinking about it, remembering the characters and imagining new things that could have happened to them, wishing for a sequel. So while I enjoyed reading it, I know that three months from now, I probably won't even remember it. 3.5 stars.

1/2

~Zoey~