Waiting on Wednesday -15

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Release Date: February 1st, 2009

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Synopsis:

MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET DESTINY— ONE SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

I am so excited for The Iron King! Julie is so fantastic and I have heard so many great things about it! This is definitely on my OMG I WANT THIS NOW list. Hehe.

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to us by: Breaking The Spine.

Teaser Tuesday -12

This weeks Teaser Tuesday is an experpt from Candle Man: The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance by Glenn Dakin. Teaser Tuesday is brought to us by Should Be Reading.

My Teaser:

"A world where only the chosen few will suffer the worries of power and the burden of riches. A world where the ordinary man will enjoy the virtues of poverty, and the bliss of slavery." (Page 50 by Glenn Dakin).

**Note, version I am reading is an ARC.

Rules:
1) Grab your current read
2) Open to a random page
3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4) BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

What are you reading Mondays -7

So I wasn't as productive last week as I thought I was going to be. Oh well. During winter break I should have a lot of time to read!

What I Read:

-Lost Worlds by John Howe

What I'm Reading:



What I plan to Read:

-Candle Man by Glenn Dakin
-Dark Calling by Darren Shan

-----------------------------------------------

So those are my plans for this week. What are yours?

This meme is brought to us by: J. Kaye's Book Blog.

2010: 100+ Reading Challenge

So I decided I am going to start doing challenges as of 2010! This is the MAIN challenge I want to complete, so I thought I would start posting about it (Though it is still 2009, so I have to wait till Jan first to start recording here). J-Kaye is hosting it! I will be keeping all my progress here.

Here are the Rules:

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.
2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Library books, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.
3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

**If you would like to participate in this challenge, head on over to J-Kaye's blog and sign up! Here's the Link!

1) Magic Under Glass by Jaclym Dolamore
2) Crashed by Robin Wasserman
3) Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Weiss
4) Hold Still by Nina LaCour
5) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
6) Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
7) Where The Heart Is by Billie Letts
8) Adaline Falling Star (re-read)
9) Eragon (re-read)
10) Eldest (re-read)

New Moon The Movie

So last night, I attended the New Moon movie premier at midnight. I brought my boyfriend (who absolutely hates Twilight) and I went with a friend and her boyfriend. (I promise this contains no spoilers).

First off, I have to mention that my boyfriend actually LIKED it. That is telling you something right there. The directing was so much better then Twilight's. Everything was improved 110%. The acting, the special effects, the accuracy to the book-- everything. I have to say I loved it. Now, I'm no Twihard, but I have at least read every book around two or three times. So it takes a lot to impress me when I know the books so well. Twilight was a disappointment. New Moon wasn't. I was actually speechless.

If you're iffy on seeing New Moon because you're afraid it will be as poorly done as Twilight, reconsider. I highly recommend it to anyone. Go see it! I promise it won't be as disappointing as Twilight.

Lost Worlds by John Howe

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Recommend: I recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy and art. It would actually make a great Holiday gift. :) Middle Grade.

Release Date: November 10, 2009
Publisher: KingFisher
Pages: 96

Synopsis:

From the world of Aratta and Mohenjo-Daro to Atlantis and Camelot, this visually stunning book is a window with a view that takes readers on an historical, archaeological, and mythological journey through lost worlds, those abandoned in time, buried and forgotten, and the ones that live in the imagination. Attempting to put the most plausible pieces of history together, John Howe, concept artist for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, begins the journey that will move readers to explore these lost worlds even further.

My Thoughts:

Lost Worlds is not only beautifully illustrated, but also high quality. Right away I could tell it was going to be a enticing read. The pages bring alive civilizations that exist only in the imagination. I should never judge a book by its cover, but that is hard to do with John Howe's Lost Worlds.

The book opens up with a forward by Ian McKellen, which I thought was really neat. He played Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. I also really loved John Howes' forward Hunting for Unicorns. It was a great opening to his first location-- The Garden of Eden. I am not exactly well versed with the bible, so I was surprised to find out that Unicorns were in the Garden of Eden.

Lost Worlds travels throughout so many mythical places and includes several illustrations for them. There are detailed descriptions for each place which are easy to read and very interesting! I often found myself immersed in the art-- it really is something special. I wish I could just jump into the page and visit Cahokia or Mount Olympus. Howe added the perfect balance of art and information. It was never too much and always contained something pretty to look at.

I highly recommend Lost Worlds to anyone who wishes they could take a trip through time and space into a world where anything can happen.

Waiting on Wednesday -14

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Release Date: February 9th, 2009

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Synopsis:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history--or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

This is actually one I am super excited for! I can't wait to read it-- It's probably my most anticipated early 2010 release.

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to us by: Breaking The Spine.

Teaser Tuesday -11

This weeks Teaser Tuesday is an experpt from Dark Calling by Darren Shan. Teaser Tuesday is brought to us by Should Be Reading.

My Teaser:

"I was a lonely child. Driven by unhappiness, I unintentionally tapped into my powers, kidnapped a demon, and used magic to make it look like a baby. I convinced myself the changeling was my brother and I maintained the lie for ages. I was shattered when I learned the truth." Page 8 by Darren Shan.

Rules:
1) Grab your current read
2) Open to a random page
3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4) BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Lightning Thief Trailer

As I'm sure most of you know, The Lightning Thief is being made a movie. Well I just saw the second trailer and thought I would share it! I'm sure you have all seen it, but just in case here it is. :) Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief comes out February 2010.

What are you Reading Mondays -6

Ahh! So I stopped posting these for a few... months. Eep! Sorry. Well here it is!

What I Read:

-Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

What I'm Reading:



What I Plan to Read:

-Dark Calling by Darren Shan

-Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

-----------------------------------------------

So those are my plans for this week. What are yours?

This meme is brought to us by: J. Kaye's Book Blog.

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Re-read? There are most certainly parts in Rampant that I want to re-read.

Recommend? I recommend this to anyone who likes modern day fantasy. Oh, and killer unicorns. Also contains some sexual content.

Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 416

Synopsis:

Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns . . .

Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. Fortunately, they've been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.

Or not.

Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend—thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom—Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from the crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to—perhaps most dangerously of all—her growing attraction to a handsome art student . . . an attraction that could jeopardize everything.

My Thoughts:

Have you ever thought there was more to unicorns then just the sweet, glittery horned horses that are depicted on Lisa Frank stationary? Ever thought that the horn on their head served a more sinister purpose? Well then you're right on page with Diana Peterfreund's Rampant.

Diana Peterfreund really took a spin on classical unicorns and created a modern world where unicorns exist-- and are poisonous, huge, and fanged. Rampant explored not only the concept of unicorns, but of bravery and becoming who you were really meant to be. Our main character, Astrid, grew so much throughout the book. She didn't give into her thoughts about going the easy way out, but rather grudgingly carried forward, something that needed to be done to truly understand herself-- to truely meet her potential.

I also thought it was interesting how Diana Peterfreund brought in the whole virginity aspect of being a Unicorn Hunter (a woman descended from the Unicorn Hunters of old, female only). How losing that huge part of you changes you so completely that even a Zhi wants to rip your head off! Some girls today seem to believe that being a virgin is nothing special and that you can just lose it whenever. I love how Diana really made virginity important and that there are consequences to losing it the wrong way. **(See Diana Peterfreund's comment below).

Rampant was so much more then just a tale about killer unicorns-- It showed the importance of being a woman and believing in yourself. Never sell yourself short ladies-- everyone deserves to create their own path in life-- don't let someone block yours.

Details:

Cover: 5.0
Plot: 5.0
Characters: 4.5
Writing: 4.0

Win Ice by Sarah Beth Durst!

Win a Hardback of Ice by Sarah Beth Durst!

Here are the rules!
-Opened INTERNATIONALLY! :)
-Post everything in ONE entry.
-Post your EMAIL. No email, no entry.
-There will only be ONE winner.
-Contest open until Midnight of December 10th, 2009.
(Midnight whatever your time is. I won't post the winner till a day afterward.)

To Enter:
+1 Tell me what you would do if a Polar Bear wanted to marry you!

Extra Entries:
+1 for commenting on my review of Ice: Here.
+1 for everywhere you post this contest or link my blog (ex: Sidebar+1, Tweet +1, post+1, Blog Roll+1, banner +1 so that would be 5 entries-- make sure to leave a link).
+1 for following me on Twitter: Here.
+2 for Subscribing or being subcribed to my Blog (see right sidebar).
+2 for becoming a follower.
+3 if you were already a follower.

Make sure you tell me what you do and leave links or you won't get the extra entries!

Ends December 10th, 2009 at Midnight your time.

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Re-read? Ice was such a joy to read, that I can definitely see myself re-reading it!

Recommend? Yes! To everyone! Though, there is some mature content, but nothing too bad.

Release Date: October 6, 2009
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 320

Synopsis:

When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back -- if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her -- until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.

My Thoughts:

Ice is an inspiring tale about a headstrong girl and her Polar bear, Bear. A re-telling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Sarah Beth Durst took a unique spin on the classic tale and truely made it feel like something new, but familiar all at the same time. She brought new life into a story that it seems most people have forgotten.

I had only heard of East of the Sun, West of the Moon once or twice as a child, and I had never read it. I just knew the basic plot. So it was so wonderful when I read Ice to be able to recognize some similar plot lines from my childhood memories. I was always "Oooh! I remember that!" or "That's new!" I had a grand ol' time explaining differences to my roommates who were familiar with the tale.

Ice was wonderfully written and kept me reading well past midnight. I found Bear extremely interesting-- despite Cassie's attitude, he held strong and I really respected him for that. It was also interesting to read about the developing love story between Bear and Cassie. I never thought I would read a love story between a Polar Bear and a human! It was definitely a different and unique experience, but one Sarah Beth Durst executed very well.

I loved Ice by Sarah Beth Durst and I cannot wait to read another book by her. Her writing style was very easy to read and her pacing was done very well. I hardly had a time in the book where I actually wanted to put the it down. This was a huge plus for me because it is really easy to get distracted at my dorm. I also loved the ending, which I won't spoil for readers. :)

Details:

Cover: 4.5
Plot: 5.0
Characters: 5.0
Writing: 4.5

And the Winner is....

Ashley from Books Obsession!

Congrats Ashley for winning my 200 followers contest! I have emailed you, and am awaiting your response. :)

I would like to thank everyone who entered-- I appreciate all of the posts and comments! If I could, all of you would be winners! Thanks everyone, and I hope you all stay tuned for future contests. :)

Just wanted you guys to know

Hey! If anyone is in the Atlanta area this Friday, Stephen King is doing a book signing at Barns and Noble! Check out the event page: Here if you are curious! I think you may have to email a reservation or something.

I just want to thank Kelsey from Just Blinded Book Reviews for letting me know about the event! Hope to see you there!

Waiting on Wednesday -13

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: March 23, 2010

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Synopsis:

When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to us by: Breaking The Spine.

Eli's Weekly Post -9

Hello everyone!! I know it has been awhile since you heard from me. Hope everyone is doing well!! Later this week, I will be announcing the winners for my contests, so stayed tuned! I should be doing better with deadlines from here on out. I have had a super busy October.

So, I'm not one to post music really, but I have this song stuck in my head! Fireflies by Owl City. I'm sure you guys have heard of it, but in case you haven't:



Sorry that I didn't use youtube-- I couldn't find one that would let me post it, so sorry for the advertisement. Hope you guys enjoy!

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

Rating: 3.9/5.0

Re-read? I would probably prefer to skip around to my favorite parts, rather then re-read the whole book.

Recommend? I recommend this if you are A) Fond of faerie fiction B) Love all things Irish.

Release Date: October 1st, 2008
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 336

Synopsis:

Don't you know what happens to cloverhands who cannot control the fey? (Back of cover description).

My Thoughts:

Lament was an interesting tale that intertwined Irish lore with the fey. Unique in its design, Lament wove a tale of a "forbidden" love between a boy with no soul and a girl foolish enough to fall in love with him. The story itself was beautifully crafted; It was a Faerie tale.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, I had a harder time with the writing. At parts, the book seem to drag and it was tiresome to read it. The book was pretty short, but all in all, parts could have been condensed to create a more flowing story. I really enjoyed the Irish aspect of it; I have recently been into Irish music and it was wonderful to be able to have a background on what the characters were singing/talking about. Knowing this wasn't necessary to the story, but just a fun bonus for me.

I have to say I fell in love with James. Luke was pretty cute and I understand the whole tortured aspect of him, but James was always that constant presence; the dependable friend that knows everything about you and still loves you for it. James is funny, handsome, and a very good piper from what I hear of it.

I had a hard time believing Luke's undying love for Deirdre (Dee). It was so fasted paced and happened in such a short amount of time. Dee was also able to forgive Luke very easily for certain things, and that really bothered me. I know if I was in her position, not only would I have called him out on it, but I would be rather upset. While Luke did not mean these things, I would have still called him out on it beforehand. (This is from a particular part, and not the whole story in general).

While Lament was not my favorite faerie YA novel that I have read this year, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I cannot wait to start Ballad.

Details:

Cover: 4.0
Plot: 5.0
Characters: 3.5
Writing: 3.0

Teaser Tuesday -10

This weeks Teaser Tuesday is an experpt from Lament by Maggie Stiefvater. Teaser Tuesday is brought to us by Should Be Reading.

My Teaser:

"For a long time, I stared out the window at the specter of the moon, hanging above the black silhouettes of the trees, while the stripes on the road whipped by me. Something about the way the moon looked, enigmatic and eternal, reminded me of how I'd felt when I made the rose blossom in my hands." Page 91 by Maggie Stiefvater.

Rules:
1) Grab your current read
2) Open to a random page
3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4) BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!