The Tainted Poet's YA Book Review

Deathly Hallows Part 2

2011-12-05T15:06:00.004-05:00

I was in Italy when the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie came out here in the states. I was also on hiatus, so I was unable to write a post about my experience! However, it just wouldn't feel right to NOT have a post on Part 2 when I have posted on the previous releases. So I decided to write about my experience of seeing Part 2 while in Italia.

First off, I was devastated when I found out that I would be missing the release! My friends and I have a thing where we always go (dressed up!) to the Harry Potter releases. Unfortunately I had to miss it this year due to the fact I was spending five weeks in Italy.

However, when I got to Italy, it turned out not only would I be able to attend the release but it was being release two days earlier in Italy (on the 13 rather then the 15). Of course I went out on an excursion to find a theatre near Montepulciano (where I was mostly staying while in Italy). Turned out there was a theatre that was about a half an hour away on bus! I looked up times and off I went!

(My ticket stub from the release day!)

Now, I wasn't sure if the movie would be in English with Italian subtitles or vice versa, but I went with hope. Thankfully, while it wasn't in English, it had subtitles. I can't even express how much I cried during that movie... I know there are a few people who did not enjoy it but I have to say that I loved it and if you haven't seen it by now (the DVD and Blu Ray are now released) then you need to go pick it up immediately!

(My roommate and I at the release outside of Chiusi-- I'm the one in purple!)

That was the first time I saw it in Italy. However, while spending a weekend in Florence, my friend and I happened across an old opera house--now turned into an English movie theatre! Not only were they playing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, but it was in English! That was the second time I saw Part 2 and I still cried my eyes out.

(A bus I saw in Rome)

I have been reading Harry Potter since I was nine or ten years old. Here I am, at twenty-three, watching the final installment of a series that changed my life. It was such a bittersweet moment.

It was my realization that my childhood was over.

On a more humorous note, this warning was pretty fitting:

And that was my Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 experience.

So now that I'm back...

2011-12-05T01:01:00.002-05:00

How about a contest?

I am so happy to be able to come back to my blog and continue to receive kind comments from followers (even after my super long hiatus!) and I just want to thank you all SO much!

So, what shall I give away?

You name it, I'll consider it! Comment below on a newly released book that you would love to own! I'll take everything in consideration but if everyone seems to be naming the same book, there is a good chance that will be the book I give away! I will be only giving away one book (this isn't the contest for the book, just the post deciding on which book to give away! The contest post will be made after I've decided on which book everyone wants the most).

Just leave me the title and author. I'll decide by next week. :]

I'm back!

2011-10-13T17:39:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone--

I apologize for my long absence on the blogosphere, but I have returned and am excited to start blogging again! Thank you everyone who has continued to follow me throughout my hiatus. If you have any comments about my return, feel free to reply to this post! I'll be posting an update post soon to let everyone know what will be happening here at The Tainted Poet as well as some other new events, so continue to check back!

Thank you and I look forward to blogging once again!

Eli, The Tainted Poet

Italy!

2011-07-10T08:46:00.003-04:00

Hello Everyone!

I am currently doing a study abroad program in Italy and (as I'm sure everyone has noticed!) I had to take a small break from blogging. However, come August, I'll be back to blogging as usual! I have read a ton of books that I can't wait to share with everyone.

Thanks everyone for being patient with me and I'll be back soon!

Ciao!

Quick Update

2011-05-08T23:22:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

I apologize that I have not posted recently! It is finals week at my University and I've been incredibly busy (currently finishing four different papers!) and haven't had a ton of time to post. However, finals end Monday and I should be able to get something to post by tuesday. Probably around Wednesday or Thursday, I'll post the winner of White Cat.

Hope everyone is having a great week! If you're in the middle of finals (like me), good luck!

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

2011-05-03T11:58:00.001-04:00

Rating: 4.75/5.0
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
Age Level: Young Adult 14+
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 384

Recommend? I definitely recommend the Wings series! Illusions was a fantastic third novel in this increasingly enticing series. I highly recommend reading Wings and Spells before reading Illusions.

Synopsis:

"I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life. I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."

Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.

My Thoughts:

Illusions, the third novel in Aprilynne Pike's Wings series, was just as amazing as its predecessor. While Spells, the second novel, is still my favorite of the series (I loved the Avalon setting), Illusions comes in a very close second.

Those who have yet to read Wings or Spells, tread carefully. This is the Third book in the series and plot WILL be spoiled (unintentionally and nothing more then you would learn from the synopsis) if you continue reading.

I cannot say his name enough. Tamani. Tamani! TAMANI! (Ok, I won't fangirl rant this time...) Those who are fans of Tamani will definitely enjoy his presence throughout the novel. I loved how the POV shifted between Laurel's and Tamani's so that you had a grasp on exactly how both of them were truly feeling. I definitely would have had issues with Tamani getting so close to Yuki (the new girl introduced in Illusions) had I not known through his POV that he had no real intentions/feelings for her. Being able to get into his head definitely saved me a few headaches.

The relationship between David and Laurel gets really complicated when Tamani is thrown into their everyday life and Laurel begins to struggle through some pretty hard decisions. Personally, I agree with her on most of them towards the end. I love how her mom is able to pick up on her inner angst and try and help her work through it. I love that they emphasize her closeness with her mom after all the past issues there. It was something small that I believe made a huge impact on the believability of Laurel's world and life.

Talk about a cliffhanger-- If you thought Spells ended on a cliffhanger, I actually kept flipping back and forth between the last page and the acknowledgements trying to comprehend how the book ended without me noticing. I had read the whole book in one sitting and just as things were beginning to unfold, it ends! I was hanging off every last word, too!

Illusions was a fantastic third novel in the Wings series and now I am holding my breath waiting for the fourth!

Details:

Cover: 5.0

Plot: 5.0

Characters: 5.0

Writing: 4.0

Source: Purchased from store.

In My MailBox -21

2011-05-01T00:26:00.000-04:00

Books Mentioned:

Book for Review:
-Tomorrow Girls: Behind The Gates by Eva Gray
-Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
-Flawless by Lara Chapman
-The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
-Robopocalypse by Daniel Wilson
-Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
-Hereafter by Tara Hudson
-Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Books I Bought:
-Passing Strange by Daniel Waters
-Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
-Other by Karen Kincy
-Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
-Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
-The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
-Soulstice by Simon Holt
-The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
-The Last Saint by Bree Despain
-Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
-Where She Went by Gayle Forman
-The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Oceans of Blood by Darren Shan
-City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
-At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost (Not Froster!! Sorry!)
-Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Again, sorry!!)
-The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
-The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
-The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
-Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Bookmooch:
-Troy High by Shana Norris

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren.

Eli's Weekly Post -21

2011-04-29T14:14:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

It's been awhile since I've done one of these updates, huh? Well I just wanted to share some cool things with you real quick before the weekend!

The Hunger Games. Everyone (I'm sure) has been following the development of this movie religiously. We were all there saying "ehhh" when Katniss was casted and lets not even talk about Gale or Peeta. Well, by now, I'm in this daze that's just going to trust the movie people to do their job-- And HOPEFULLY everything will turn out all right.

But! For those of you who are following the movie, have you read the new Teen Vogue for May? There is an interview/article about Jennifer Lawrence in it (and she's on the cover!). If you're into learning some more about her and her role with The Hunger Games as Katniss, you might want to pick one up!

Ok! So back to blog stuff.

Stuff that is going on at The Tainted Poet:

-Win White Cat by Holly Black! Ends April 30th!!

-This week I posted my review for Stay by Deb Caletti.

-I'm currently reading Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs.

Stuff to look forward to next week:

-Review for Defiance by Lili St. Crow.

-Review for Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs.

-Interview with Tracy Deebs.

-New Giveaway and announcement of Book of the month!

I hope everyone had a fantastic week!

Waiting on Wednesday -31

2011-04-27T11:11:00.002-04:00

Starstruck by Cyn Balog

Release Date: July 12th, 2011

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Synopsis:

Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.
At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.

But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?

I LOVED Cyn's other books, so I can't wait to get my hands on Starstruck! The cover is cute-- I love the stars!

So, what did you choose for your WOW? ;)

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

Stay by Deb Caletti

2011-04-26T11:58:00.001-04:00

Rating: 5.0/5.0
Release Date: April 5th, 2011
Age Level: Young Adult 14+
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 320

Recommend? Anyone interested in real life YA suspense novels would love Stay!

Synopsis:

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is--and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.
Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

My Thoughts:

Stay is not only a novel that dealt with how a girl deals with a stalker-ish ex, but also about a father daughter relationship and how they dealt with--together-- the death of Clara's mother and their different forms of grief.

Prior to Stay, I had not read a book by Deb Caletti before. It definitely surprised me and I have to say that I could not put it down! I also LOVED how Caletti did the footnotes throughout the book-- they were a cute and informative addition to the novel!

One of the main themes in Stay was the relationship between a father and a daughter and the grief of Clara's mother's death. Their relationship went through many obstacles, but was stronger for it in the end. Neither Clara or her father are perfect. They both have made mistakes in the past and this proves how human and real their characters are. The ups and downs of their relationship really added to the story and I felt that it was important to include.

I loved the message Caletti was sending by showing the stalker ex-boyfriend. I think it is important for girls to realize when they should get out of a relationship and the signs for when things aren't quite right. I personally feel that the over protectiveness and controlling characteristics of boyfriends in books (particularly a CERTAIN character from a CERTAIN series, which shall not be named) may seem harmless (and in said books, are) but in real life, this is not always the case. I feel that Caletti showed us the other side of the coin-- where these characteristics should have been a warning, but Clara failed to see just how dangerous some pretty boys can actually be. I think more girls should be aware of the warning signs for an abusive/obsessive relationship.

I loved Stay and will definitely be checking out some of Deb Caletti's other books in the future!

**Reviewed Copy was an ARC**

Details:

Cover: 5.0

Plot: 5.0

Characters: 5.0

Writing: 5.0

Source: Received from Publisher for Review.

Giveaway Reminder!

2011-04-25T19:28:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to remind everyone that my giveaway for White Cat by Holly Black ends the 30th of this month! If you haven't entered and you're interested in winning a free copy of White Cat, You should definitely check it out!

Click here to enter!

Also!

Taschima at The Bloody Bookaholic is having a contest over at her blog as well! She is giving away over 40 books!

Click here to go to her giveaway!

Interview: Aimee Carter

2011-04-21T11:56:00.008-04:00

Aimée Carter is the author of the debut novel The Goddess Test. The Goddess Test is now available in bookstores and online.

Questions on The Goddess Test:

Tainted Poet: First off, could you give us a brief summery of The Goddess Test?

Aimée Carter: The Goddess Test is a sort of sequel to the myth of Hades and Persephone, in the sense that it takes place eons after the original myth occurred. How would I describe it in one sentence? What happens when Hades must replace Persephone, and someone is killing off the candidates.

However, I really can't do a better job describing it than the copy on the back of the book:

Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

If she fails...

TP: I love how you incorporated the Greek Myth about Hades and Persephone into your novel. Is it your favorite myth?

Aimée: Thank you! It is definitely one of my favorite myths. I love many of them for several different reasons, but the myth of Persephone has always stayed with me, even from a young age. In the story, I was forced to tinker with the myth to make Hades a more compassionate character, but I did my best to stay true to the idea of a girl who is forced to marry a god she didn't love. I love Persephone's strength despite her circumstances, but I very much wanted to explore what that sort of relationship would do to Hades as well. Which is where much of Henry's character comes from.

TP: James was one of my favorite characters in The Goddess Test. Do you have a favorite?

Aimée: It's so difficult to pick a favorite. I would have to say, if I had to choose...no, still couldn't choose. It would be a three-way tie between Henry, James, and Ava. All simply because of how much fun they are to write. They each bring something unique to a scene, and as a writer, I couldn't be happier with getting the opportunity to 'work with them', so to say.

TP: If you could describe Henry in three words, what would they be? How about Kate?

Aimée: Tough question. Henry would be... lonely, loyal, and guarded. Kate would be desperate, selfless, and uncertain. Or trusting. We can pretend that's only three. :)

TP: What do you think separates The Goddess Test from other YA novels being released this year?

Aimée: Oh, wow. I really don't know. That's for the reader to decide! There is a stunning selection of YA novels being released this year, and I'm in complete awe of every single YA author out there. I don't feel like one of them. I honestly don't know if I ever will. They're all so stunning and talented, and I can't possibly see myself measuring up. I feel like a very little fish in a huge pond, and it continues to baffle me that anyone's ever heard of this little book I wrote the summer I couldn't work because the dentist broke my jaw in two places. (True story.)

TP: There are going to be three books in this series. Could you tell us a little something about the sequel, Goddess Interrupted?

Aimée: Goddess Interrupted will be released in January 2012, and I am SO excited for everyone to get the chance to read it! It's much more action-packed than The Goddess Test, though there are still plenty of twists and turns along the way. I can't reveal much about the plot, especially since the first book hasn't been released yet, but I will say that earlier this week, I saw a sample of what the cover will look like, and it is gorgeous.

Other Questions:

TP: Since The Goddess Test is set in Michigan, how do you think being from Michigan inspired your writing?

Aimée: The Goddess Test takes place in the upper peninsula, and while I've been to the UP several times as a kid, my connection to Michigan had nothing to do with why I set it here. I considered a host of isolated places, including Maine and upstate New York, but I chose Michigan for one reason: it has a Paradise and a Hell. Eden is supposed to be around the same place as Paradise, if you know where that happens to be, and that was definitely deliberate.

TP: Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Aimée: I've been writing since I was eleven, but it didn't occur to me that I could do it as a living until several years later. I never really had one thing I wanted to do. I was a bit lost as a kid and went through the usual rounds - I wanted to be a veterinarian, a horse breeder, an actress, everything. But writing, especially when I was in my tween and teenage years, was the one thing I consistently loved to do.

TP: Are there any foods or drinks you like to eat or drink while writing?

Aimée: I usually get some sort of drink, though that goes through cycles. I don't drink coffee, but sometimes I get hot chocolate, if I'm at a place where I like their hot chocolate. Sometimes, if they have it, I'll get chocolate milk (sensing a pattern yet?). Right now I'm drinking water mixed with those little individual flavor packets, which works out well.

TP: Which of the characters from The Goddess Test is most like you?

Aimée: I share a trait or two with all of them just by virtue of having created them, really. Personality-wise, there isn't really a character in the book that is me (though if I had to choose, I think I might say I'm most like James - then again, that isn't saying much). But Kate does go through a lot of things, especially taking care of her mother and facing the possibility that she's going to lose the only family she has, which I wound up going through after the book was accepted for publication, oddly enough. My father was hospitalized on and off for several months, and he had major heart surgery, a very bad infection, and a host of problems while I was doing edits for the book. So I certainly empathize with her in that way, though her personality is very different from mine.

TP: What is one question you wish people would ask you?

Aimée: "How would you like to star opposite Ben Barnes in a blockbuster action/romance film?"

Oh, wait, not what you're talking about? Hmm...

Honestly, I've been hoping for a chance to explain why the book is set in Michigan, so it seem you've already asked it! As for something else, I'm at a loss for anything meaningful, so let's go with "What's your hidden talent?" And that would be solving a Rubik's Cube in under three minutes. Most of the time. And that's without peeling the stickers off.

TP: Thank you for the interview! Any last comments?

Aimée: Thank you so much for having me on your fantastic blog!

END

Check out Aimée's website and learn more about The Goddess Test at www.aimeecarter.com!

Check out my review for The Goddess Test!

Waiting on Wednesday -30

2011-04-20T11:34:00.001-04:00

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

Release Date: September 13th, 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Synopsis:

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession (Amazon).

I love the Need series and I cannot wait to read more books by Carrie Jones! This one is a must have for me! It's interesting that it has two authors and I can't wait to see how it turns out. :)

So, what did you choose for your WOW? ;)

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

400 Followers Giveaway Winner!

2011-04-19T21:33:00.003-04:00

And the winner is...

Ashley H.!!

Congrats!! You've won Wings, Need, and Blue Bloods! I'll be contacting you soon!

Thank you everyone who participated in my 400 Followers Giveaway!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Holly Black's White Cat! Ends April 30th!

Happy Release Day!

2011-04-19T13:10:00.002-04:00

Yet another fantastic book day today!

Happy release day to The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter, Defiance by Lili St. Crow, and Morpheus Road: The Black by D. J. MacHale!

Which one is everyone most looking forward to? Also, are there any other releases out today that everyone is excited about? Feel free to comment with them! :D

Waiting on Wednesday -29

2011-04-13T11:21:00.001-04:00

Witches of East End by Melissa De La Cruz

Release Date: June 21, 2011

Publisher: Hyperion

Synopsis:

It’s the beginning of summer in North Hampton, and beautiful Freya Beauchamp is celebrating her engagement to wealthy Bran Gardiner, the heir to Fair Haven and Gardiners Island. But Freya is drawn to Bran’s gorgeous but unreliable brother Killian, and sparks fly when the two decide to play a dangerous game, following an ancient story of love, betrayal and tragedy that harks back to the days of Valhalla.

Witches of East End follows the Beauchamp family—the formidable matriarch Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid. Freya, a sexy bartender, has a potion to cure every kind of heartache, while Ingrid, the local librarian, solves complicated domestic problems with her ability to tie magical knots. Joanna is the witch to see when modern medicine has no more answers; her powers can wake the dead. Everything seems to be going smoothly until a young girl, Molly Lancaster, goes missing after taking one of Freya’s irresistible cocktails. As more of the town’s residents begin disappearing, everyone seems to have the same suspects in mind: the Beauchamp women.

Fraught with love, small-town secrets, and witchcraft, Witches of East End will capture any reader who craves a page-turning, heart-stopping story of myth and magic from an author who knows how to deliver.

I can't wait to read this one! I LOVE Melissa's Blue Bloods series, so I am super excited about this one! I also think the cover is quite attractive. :D

So, what did you choose for your WOW? ;)

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

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

2011-04-11T11:26:00.000-04:00

Rating: 4.75/5.0
Release Date: April 19th, 2011
Age Level: Young Adult 14+
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304

Recommend? Anyone who has any interest in Greek myths will love The Goddess Test!

Synopsis:

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My Thoughts:

The Goddess Test surprised me. Aimee Carter created a world where Greek myths come alive and no one is ever exactly who they say they are.

The beginning started off sad as we learned that Kate's mother, her only family, is dying. Kate's mother's wish is that they go to Eden, Michigan to live out her last days. The relationship between Kate and her mother seems really close-knit and was very touching at times. Kate didn't seem to mind much that she had to start over since she really didn't have too many friends left in New York due to her devotedness to her mother when her mother fell ill.

First off, I have to say I adore James (and his love for ketchup! It is something we share...) and I felt that out of a lot of the side characters, he was one that I warmed up to immediately. Ava, as well. She was not the typical snotty cheerleader like I took her as at first (every High School has one...) and despite how rude Ava always was to our main character Kate in the beginning, Kate looked past that and actually saw the 'person' behind the 'cheerleader'. I loved watching their friendship bloom and Ava is beyond cute once you get to know her.

And then there is Henry. I truly wish I could have gotten to know Henry a bit better. I felt that his characterization lacked a bit and he seems a little two-dimensional to me. I have a feeling there is a lot more going on with him, but we were not let in on it. To me, he always possessed this older, tortured feeling and that distanced him from everyone, including Kate. I felt that even by the end, there is still some distance there (but it might just be me).

There was always a mystery surrounding The Goddess Test. Like, what exactly are the seven tests? Who is giving them? Who killed the past girls? The Goddess Test keeps you guessing till the end-- you never know who to trust! At the end, there was a HUGE revelation that I didn't see coming. I cannot wait for Aimee Carter's next book, Goddess Interrupted, which is to be released late January 2012!

**Reviewed Copy was an ARC**

Details:

Cover: 5.0

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 5.0

Writing: 4.5

Source: Received from Publisher for Review.

Waiting on Wednesday -28

2011-04-06T12:06:00.002-04:00

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Release Date: June 14th, 2011

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Synopsis:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

I love the cover and the story seems like it's going to be really good! I can't wait to read this one!

So, what did you choose for your WOW? ;)

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

Happy Release Day!

2011-04-05T17:32:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to make a quick post because some pretty awesome books were released today!

Happy Release Day to City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare, Where She Went by Gayle Forman, and Red Glove by Holly Black!

All three of these books are possible giveaway options-- so if you want to read one, but are currently unable to buy it, then vote on my sidebar and you could possibly win a copy here at The Tainted Poet!

Also, I bought my copy of City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare at B&N. If you receive emails from B&N, today they put out a 30% off coupon for COFA, which is awesome because B&N is selling special COFAs-- they contain a letter from Jace to Clary! Which is totally awesome, yeah? x)

All three of these books look amazing (and I've read Red Glove, so I KNOW it's amazing!) so you should definitely check them out.

Which one is everyone most looking forward to? Also, are there any other releases out today that everyone is excited about? Feel free to comment with them! :D

The Times They Are A-Changin'...

2011-04-04T18:16:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone~
I've decided that I'm going to change up a few things here at The Tainted Poet. First off, I am sadly going to give up a few of the memes that I've been doing. I love memes, but I really want to start focusing more on content and my own personal thoughts on books.

That being said, I've decided to add a new feature to my blog! Every month I will be featuring a book (sort of like a book of the month kinda thing) and have several related posts to that book. Then, at the end of the month, I will do a giveaway for that book. This idea is still in the working but I've decided to go ahead and try it out. If anyone has any suggestions on types of posts, feel free to post them!

Now, for the book: I have posted a poll (top right sidebar) to see which book everyone would like to win. The choices are:

The winner of the poll will be the featured book this month, so I would love it if everyone voted!

So I heard you like...

2011-04-04T03:07:00.005-04:00

Contests!

Am I right? Well, my dear friend at The Romantic Scholar is hosting a pretty sweet giveaway over at her blog! And wanna know what's totally awesome about it?-- It is Fey themed! The winner gets two books of their choice (either the ones she has listed or two other fey-themed books) and a gift card to a bookstore of choice! This is a totally awesome giveaway that you shouldn't miss!

So, I know you totally want to head on over there right now and enter!! ;D

Click here to head over to her contest!

Oh, and the contest is in celebration of her reaching 50 followers! So don't forget to congratulate her! :DD

In My MailBox -20

2011-04-02T23:31:00.001-04:00

Books Mentioned:

For Review:
-White Cat by Holly Black
-Red Glove by Holly Black
-Ruby Red by Kersten Gier
-Stay by Deb Caletti
-Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
-Ordinary Beauty by Laura Wiess
-She Smells the Dead by EJ Stevens
-Spirit Storm by EJ Stevens
-The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
-Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson
-Wherever You Go by Heather Davis
-The Black by DJ MacHale

Bought:
-Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
-Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber
-Entwined by Heather Dixon
-Wither by Lauren DeStefano
-Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
-One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren.

Red Glove by Holly Black

2011-04-02T19:48:00.001-04:00

Rating: 4.75/5.0
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Age Level: Young Adult 14+
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 336

Recommend? This is the second book in Holly Black's Curse Worker's series. Anyone who loves Holly Black will love this series!

Synopsis:

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

My Thoughts:

Red Glove is the fantastic continuation in Holly Black's Curse Worker's series. Not only did I love Red Glove even more then I loved White Cat, but now I feel as though I have to go out and buy all of Holly Black's books!

Cassel and Lila's relationship is complicated even further in Red Glove-- Cassel tries his best to stay away from Lila (which is hard due to something that happened at the end of the last book) but can't seem to push her too far away. I think Cassel must be a bit of a masochist. Some of the things he does seem like they would only hurt him in the long run, but Cassel seems to live more in the moment then most people. I really feel for him-- he's stuck and there is really no right way to go when it comes to his relationship with Lila.

Cassel's mom cracked me up throughout the whole novel. However, by the end of Red Glove, I got the feeling she is a lot more into everything then I gave her credit for. Red Glove completely changed my opinion of her. Also, I am eager to see how Cassel's relationship with his brother Barren changes with all the new developments. Will they still tolerate each other or will they be pushed even further a part?

The mystery of the lady with the red gloves was an interesting component, though I felt as though the character development was more captivating and found myself more eager to follow the characters through the story rather then having to know who the woman was.

I cannot wait for the third installment of Holly Black's Curse Workers! If you haven't read the first book in the series, White Cat, you should definitely check it out!

**Reviewed Copy was an ARC**

Details:

Cover: 5.0

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 5.0

Writing: 4.5

Source: Received from Publisher for Review.

Win White Cat by Holly Black!

2011-04-01T14:17:00.001-04:00

Enter to win... White Cat by Holly Black!

Rules:
-I am giving away 1 copy of White Cat by Holly Black!
-Must be 13 years or older to enter.
-Followers new or old get an additional entry!
-Commenting on my White Cat review gets you an additional entry.
-Commenting on my Red Glove review gets you an additional entry.

Ends April 30th, 2011!

White Cat by Holly Black

2011-03-31T13:12:00.004-04:00

Rating: 4.5/5.0
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Age Level: Young Adult 14+
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 320

Recommend? I recommend this to readers who want something supernatural and awesome, but at the same time something completely different.

Synopsis:

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

My Thoughts:

White Cat was awesome. Holly Black weaved a mysterious world where people, with just the touch of their hand, could kill you-- instantly. The idea of workers, in my opinion, is super creative on Holly's behalf. It's using magic, but with a completely different feeling to it. These people, with the touch of their hand can control your death, luck, dreams, emotions, memory-- they could even physically damage you with a mere touch, or change you completely with transformation. If you like supernatural YA fiction but are tired of reading the usual kind of thing, White Cat will be a breath of fresh air.

What really made White Cat so awesome was Cassel. He was such a real character-- someone who isn't bad, but not completely good. He's human. A con artist, but one with a conscience. It definitely made things interesting. I felt that some of the side characters like his brothers and even Lila weren't developed too deeply, but I have a feeling that that's all going to change in Red Glove, the second book in the series.

I like how Holly Black used the Mafia in White Cat. If you really think about it, this is the kind of thing the mafia would want a part of-- especially since 'working' is illegal. It's not something I would have thought of, but brilliant all the same. Also, the fact that everyone wears gloves, not just workers is pretty neat. Like, showing your hands is indecent. It's an interesting concept since when you think about it, your hands touch everything-- and direct touch could be something very personal.

Again, I want to stress how much I love the idea of workers: how they are oppressed, their tendency to work for the Mafia families, and how only about 1% of people born in America are workers. It goes so deep that I could write a whole paper on it! I feel like I could go on and on about the whole worker system, but I feel it is best explained in the book-- So you should definitely read it!

White Cat is the first book in Holly Black's series The Curse Workers. Red Glove, book two, will be released April 5th, 2011!

Details:

Cover: 5.0

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 4.0

Writing: 4.5

Source: Received from Publisher for Review.

March 2011

2011-03-31T01:59:00.002-04:00

Well, March has definitely been a busy month for me! I just wanted to post a quick overview on what took place this month at The Tainted Poet!

Books Reviewed: 8

-Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
-Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
-Need by Carrie Jones
-Captivate by Carrie Jones
-Entice by Carrie Jones
-13 to Life by Shannon Delany
-Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
-White Cat by Holly Black

Books I read this month: 10

-Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
-Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
-Need by Carrie Jones
-Captivate by Carrie Jones
-Entice by Carrie Jones
-Film Club by David Gilmour
-13 to Life by Shannon Delany
-Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
-Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
-White Cat by Holly Black

Other interesting posts:

-I posted a giveaway for celebrating 400 followers: Win Need by Carrie Jones, Wings by Aprilynne Pike, and Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz! Ends April 14th!
-I posted part one of my Books for Boys compilation.

April has the promise of being even more amazing-- Happy reading everyone!

Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany

2011-03-30T14:45:00.000-04:00

Rating: 4.0/5.0
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Age Level: Young Adult 14+
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 320

Recommend? This is book two in the series 13 to Life.

Synopsis:

Nothing’s simple when you run with werewolves.

Jess Gillmansen thinks she’s seen it all but her eyes are about to be opened to even more danger and a reality far more paranormal than she’s suspected. With Jess’s realization that the Rusakovas’ mother is still alive and imprisoned, the group’s choices become harder and trust more important. Lines are drawn and relationships change as the broken Rusakova family struggles to reunite long enough to free their mother and people who Jess always just took to be normal people show themselves to be much, much more. (Synopsis from Amazon).

My Thoughts:

Secrets and Shadows was a fantastic continuation in the 13 to Life series. Emotional, stressful, and funny all at the same time, Secrets and Shadows was an emotional roller coaster. I devoured this book in just a few days and it definitely left me hungry for more.

What I really loved about Secrets and Shadows is how easily it is to relate to Jess. She loves to read (vampire novels! Who doesn't?), ride horses (maybe this is just me, but I love to ride English!), and the fact she is just an ordinary girl pushed into an extraordinary setting. It is every regular girls dream-- Though, in Jess's case, it is not so simple. With messages of BEWARE showing up everywhere, Jess has a lot to worry about and even less people to trust.

The ending of Secrets and Shadows really threw me off-- I was not expecting that! It would be a spoiler to state what I am referring to, but trust me... it's pretty crazy. I cannot wait to read the next installment Bargains and Betrayals, which is due to be released later this year. I can't wait!

Details:

Cover: 4.0

Plot: 4.0

Characters: 4.0

Writing: 4.0

Source: Purchased from store.

Waiting on Wednesday -27

2011-03-30T00:01:00.001-04:00

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Release Date: November 15, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Synopsis:

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

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

First off, I have to say I LOVE that cover! It's beautiful and definitely eye-catching! Also, The Pledge just sounds so good... I definitely cannot wait for this one!

So, what did you choose for your WOW? ;)

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

Teaser Tuesday -17

2011-03-29T03:19:00.000-04:00

This weeks Teaser Tuesday is an excerpt from White Cat by Holly Black. Teaser Tuesday is brought to us by Should be Reading.

My Teaser:

"'You're not a good liar. Philip's good, but not you.'
'Hey,' I say, honestly offended. 'I am an excellent liar. I am the finest liar in the history of liars.'
'Liar," she says, a slow smile spreading across her face." (Holly Black, page 43).

I am LOVING this book so far! It's mysterious, funny, and interesting... I love the idea of Workers. So, what is everyone's teaser this week?

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 -16

2011-03-28T11:29:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! I did better this past week and will have a few reviews up soon. :)

What I Read:

-13 to Life by Shannon Delany
-Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
-Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

What I am Reading:

What I Plan to Read:

-White Cat by Holly Black
-Red Glove by Holly Black

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

So What are you reading this week?

This Meme is brought to us by Sheila at Book Journey.

Eli's Weekly Post -20

2011-03-27T16:34:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone! Just wanted to post a quick update, as it seems I forgot (again) to post an IMM (which I will make sure to do next week!)

Here are somethings that are going on at The Tainted Poet:

-I still have a contest going on: You can win Need by Carrie Jones, Wings by Aprilynne Pike, and Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz. Ends April 14th, 2011.

-This week I posted a review for 13 to Life by Shannon Delany.

-I finished three books this week: 13 to Life (reviewed), Secrets and Shadows (working on review), and Halfway to the Grave (which is an adult novel so I probably won't review).

Next week you can look forward to:

-A review for Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany.

-A review for White Cat by Holly Black.

-A contest to win your very own copy of White Cat by Holly Black!

Also, I saw SuckerPunch this weekend. Did anyone else see it? It was a WEIRD movie, to say the least... What did you guys/girls think? Rocket was my favorite (she was from Pride and Prejudice)! Though Baby was cute (she was from A Series of Unfortunate Events)! The special effects were fun and it took place on three different levels of reality, which confused me at first. I ended up enjoying it, though I think I would only want to watch it on the big screen.

I hope everyone had a fantastic week!

13 to Life by Shannon Delany

2011-03-24T11:48:00.002-04:00

Rating: 4.0/5.0
Release Date: June 22, 2010
Age Level: 14+
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 320

Recommend? I recommend this to all paranormal fans!

Synopsis:

Everything about Jessie Gillmansen’s life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But showing a hot new guy around Junction High, she’s about to discover a whole new type of change.

Pietr Rusakova is more than good looks and a fascinating accent—he’s a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existence is sure to bring big trouble to Jessie’s small town. It seems change is the one thing Jessie can’t avoid…

My Thoughts:

13 to Life is a unique tale staring an intelligent heroine who gets mixed up in more then she could have ever guessed. While starting a bit slow, 13 to Life was a fun read that had an interesting Russian twist in it. Making our sexy Pietr Russian was fantastic-- I haven't seen too many Russian backgrounds in YA books, so it was a great learning experience.

First off, I loved this book. I felt that even though it had many themes in common with other YA lit, it was also super unique and unlike anything I have read before. Events do not play out as you would think they would (as in, the heroine is NOT dating the super sexy Pietr! Her half-psycho friend is!) and in a way, the main character is a liar-- even though she does it with good intent. Jessie cares more about everyone elses well-being, she forgets herself and gets caught in some pretty horrible situations (like having half-psycho friend date the boy she likes).

It took me sometime to warm up to the other characters. I felt some of them were down played in the beginning-- so much so that I forgot who a few of them were when they reappeared later in the book (sorry Sophia!). I though Jessie's little sister was cute and I loved Amy. I have a feeling I know what's going to end up happening with Sarah-- I'm just waiting for the blow-out! Maybe in book two? Or will her memories never return? I can't wait to find out!

I can't wait to start book two in the series, Secrets and Shadows which was released on February 14th this year. If you haven't picked up this series, I highly recommend you do!

Details:

Cover: 4.0

Plot: 4.0

Characters: 4.0

Writing: 4.0

Source: Purchased from store.

Inheritance Book Cover

2011-03-23T13:58:00.006-04:00

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Release Date: November 8th, 2011!

Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

So I don't know how many of you are Eragon fans, but they recently released the book cover for the 4th book, titled: Inheritance! I found it on B&N's website! What do you guys think? I like the cover and I am SO excited to read this! Supposedly it is coming out this year! Has anyone heard any other news on this super exciting release?

To view it on Good Reads: Click here!
To view it on B&N: Click here!

Waiting on Wednesday -26

2011-03-23T11:24:00.000-04:00

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Release Date: August 30, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Synopsis:

A lot has changed in the six months since Evie escaped from the International Paranormal Containment Agency with her shape-shifter boyfriend, Lend. She finally has the blissfully normal life she’s always dreamed of, including:
1) A real live high school
2) A perfectly ordinary after-school job
3) Her very own locker (and by the way, rusted metal is every bit as awesome as she imagined)

But Evie’s not-so-normal past keeps creeping up on her...and things get pretty complicated when you factor in:
1) A centuries-old, seriously decaying vampire stalker
2) A crazy faerie ex-boyfriend who is the perpetual bearer of really bad news
3) A major battle brewing between the faerie courts where the prize in question happens to be...Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Paranormalcy was an instant New York Times bestseller and received rave reviews for its perfect blend of humor and suspense. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly described it as “an absorbing romance, which comes closer than most to hitting the Buffy mark,” and bestselling author Lisa McMann called it “the most refreshing paranormal debut of the year.” In addition, Kiersten White was chosen as a 2010 Publishers Weekly Flying Start.

Supernaturally’s spot-on teen voice, dynamite characters, and heartpounding climax will have readers breathlessly awaiting the third and final installment in the trilogy. (Synopsis from Author's website).

I absolutely LOVE that cover! So, what is everyone waiting for this Wednesday? ;)

Pre-order it here: Amazon

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

What are you reading Mondays -15

2011-03-21T12:32:00.000-04:00

This past week I was super busy! I definitely need to read more this week!

What I Read:

The Film Club by David Gilmour

What I'm Reading:

What I Plan to Read:

-13 to Life by Shannon Delany
-White Cat by Holly Black
-Red Glove by Holly Black

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

Just wanted to post a couple quick reminders...

-I have a giveaway going on: You can win Wings, Need, and Blue Bloods!

-I am also compiling a list of Books for Boys, so if you would like to contribute to it, click here!

So what are you reading this week? :D

This meme is brought to us by: Sheila at Book Journey.

Invincible Book Trailer!

2011-03-18T23:21:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to share the book trailer for Invincible (Chronicles of Nick, 2)! I absolutely love Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series (which is an adult romance series), and this is a YA extension of that series -- starting with the first book, Infinity (Chronicles of Nick). I am so excited for Invincible! Has anyone else read either of these series? :)

Eli's Weekly Post -19

2011-03-17T11:33:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! So, there have been quite a few new changes here at The Tainted Poet and I just wanted to put some light on them!

-I've recently reached 400+ followers! So I'm giving away 3 Books: Wings by Aprilynne Pike, Need by Carrie Jones, and Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz. Click here to enter! If I get more then 100 entries, I will throw in a 4th book and there will then be two winners! 1st place will have choice of 3 of the books and second place will receive the remaining book.

-I've cleaned up my sidebars a bit. I'm thinking about getting rid of my chatbox-- anyone agree I should?

-I've changed the way I format my reviews, hopefully making them easier to read and navigate. Let me know if you think differently! (Like, if you don't like the purple font or what not).

-I'm working on a list of Books for Boys that you can find here. If you have any suggestions, please comment! I am currently putting everything together but I would LOVE more suggestions!

I think that is everything important that has been going on here at The Tainted Poet. Please comment if any of my changes are displeasing! I REALLY want to change my header but I can't come up with a better one, so that is currently in the works! Oh, and have a fantastic St. Patrick's Day!

Waiting on Wednesday -25

2011-03-16T11:16:00.000-04:00

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Release Date: March 22nd, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Synopsis:

What if you knew exactly when you would die?
Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

WITHER, the first book in The Chemical Garden Trilogy, is due to be out in 2011 by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

I have fallen in LOVE with this cover! It is so beautiful! I also think this book has an interesting and unique concept. I can't wait to get my hands on it! And it comes out really soon-- so everyone keep an eye out for it!

Pre-order it here: Amazon

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

Teaser Tuesday -16

2011-03-15T11:35:00.001-04:00

This weeks Teaser Tuesday is an excerpt from 13 to Life by Shannon Delany. Teaser Tuesday is brought to us by Should be Reading.

My Teaser:

"Defiant, I thrust my hand into my bag one last time and-- aha! I withdrew a pencil and held it high in triump.
Mr. Miles boomed, 'Whoever pulled the sword from the stone, wait-- pencil from the backpack-- she shall be...'" (Pg 29, Shannon Delany).

So far I am really liking this book! At the moment I don't exactly have a ton of time to read, but I'll definitely finish it before the week is through!

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!

Wither Book Trailer!

2011-03-14T11:55:00.002-04:00

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

This book looks so good and I just found the Trailer! It comes out March 22nd, 2011 so keep an eye out for it in stores soon! The cover is also SO pretty! Love love love! And Vania did a FANTASTIC job with the trailer!

What are you reading Mondays -14

2011-03-14T11:15:00.002-04:00

So I was pretty busy this week! Here is what I read and my plans!

What I Read:

-Need by Carrie Jones
-Captivate by Carrie Jones
-Entice by Carrie Jones

What I'm Reading:

What I plan to Read:

-13 to Life by Shannon Delany
-Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany

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

A few other things I posted this week were:

-I posted a Book Giveaway this week: You can win Wings, Need, and Blue Bloods!

-I am also compiling a list of Books for Boys, so if you would like to contribute to it, click here!

So what are you reading this week? :D

This meme is brought to us by: Sheila at Book Journey.

Defiance Book Trailer

2011-03-13T22:02:00.001-04:00

Just thought I would share this! Defiance by Lili St. Crow comes out April 19th. I am so excited! It looks so good! Anyone else read the Strange Angel books? :D

In My MailBox -19

2011-03-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

This is what I got this week! Sorry the Vlog is so blurry-- my camera isn't the best!

Books Mentioned (in order as appeared):

-Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
-Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
-The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld
-The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
-Secret Society by Tom Dolby
-Rumors by Anna Godbersen
-13 to Life by Shannon Delany
-Morpheus Road: The Light by DJ MacHale
-White Cat by Holly Black
-Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
-Choker by Elizabeth White
-Entice by Carrie Jones
-Bloody Valentine by Melissa De La Cruz

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren.

Celebrating 400 Followers Giveaway!

2011-03-12T12:58:00.001-05:00

To celebrate reaching 400 followers, I will be giving away Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz, Need by Carrie Jones, and Wings by Aprilynne Pike! All three are the first books in the series and all display a paranormal romance-- which of course is the specialty of my blog! Winner receives all three books!

If the contest receives at least 100 entries, I will give a 4th book to a second place winner! The 4th book is Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow! The winner will then pick three of the four books and the second place winner will receive the remaining book.

Thank you to all my followers!

Must be a follower to enter!
New followers are welcome!
Opened Internationally!

Ends April 14th!

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Links to the reviews:

-Need by Carrie Jones
-Captivate by Carrie Jones
-Entice by Carrie Jones
-Wings by Aprilynne Pike
-Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Entice by Carrie Jones

2011-03-12T11:53:00.001-05:00

Rating: 4.75/5.0
Release Date: December 14, 2010
Age Level: 14+
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 272

Recommend? This is the 3rd book in the Need series. I recommend this series to anyone who loves paranormal romances.

Synopsis:

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie. . . She's Astley's queen.

My Thoughts:

Entice was amazing. The Need series has evolved into such an interesting and unique tale that just captivates you the moment you enter its reality. I read Entice in one sitting and I simply could not put it down.

In Entice, you really got to know Astley a lot better-- you find out that not only is he a great guy (Pixie) but that he is not perfect. Showing Astley's imperfections not only made him more real, but also more endearing. I would fall in love with him, if I were Zara. Zara and Astley get a lot closer in Entice and really the whole book is about how their relationship is developing. However, Zara is still in love with Nick and her driving force throughout the book is finding him, which causes a lot of confusion when it comes to her relationship with Astley. What exactly are Zara's feelings for Astley? And how have they changed about Nick? Entice left me with so many questions! And I'm definitely still team Astley!

Entice, besides being about Astley and Zara, was quite sad. I'm sorry to say quite a few people/pixies/weres lost their lives throughout the novel, which was very unexpected. I felt that at times Zara was not looking at the bigger picture-- that all she could see was what she needed to do to get Nick back, no matter the cost. In this case, I felt the cost was too high.

I cannot wait for the 4th and final installment of the Need series, coming in 2012!

Details:

Cover: 4.5

Plot: 5.0

Characters: 5.0

Writing: 4.5

Source: Purchased from store.

Entice Book Trailer

2011-03-11T14:42:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to share this with everyone! I thought it was pretty cool. I've just finished reading Entice yesterday and my review will be posted tomorrow around noon.

Visit Carrie's website: Carrie Jones

My Review for: Need by Carrie Jones.

My Review for: Captivate by Carrie Jones.

Buy: Need, Captivate, or Entice!

Captivate by Carrie Jones

2011-03-11T11:45:00.006-05:00

Rating: 4.5
Release Date: January 5, 2010
Age Level: 14+
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 288

Recommend? I recommend this series to anyone who loves paranormal romances! If you've read Need but are unsure if you want to continue-- I promise you-- you won't regret reading Captivate.

Synopsis:

Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

My Thoughts:

Captivate is exactly as its name describes. I read this book in one sitting. All I can say is that I definitely underestimated this series-- Captivate went above and beyond Need. Like Need, it kind of began slow, but picked up pace really fast. The next thing you know your in this tornado that is Captivate and you just have to keep reading! Captivate was not only action packed, but emotionally enthralling.

I have to say I switched teams in Captivate. You are introduced to a new character-- Astley-- and I have to say I'm in love. Nick's character isn't as strong in this installment but the characters are all back and I love them just as much as before. There are so many secrets and lies-- even between friends-- but I feel that characters like Issie really glue everyone together. There is a particular secret that Nick has been keeping that really bothered me-- so much that I really kind of dislike Nick now. The characters in this series are so real that they really tie the story together. They make it that much more believable! Especially since there is a whole bunch of new-weird things introduced in this book.

So much happens in Captivate it is amazing that Carrie Jones was able to fit it all in! I wish it was even longer so that she could have gone more into detail during certain scenes. I can't wait to begin Entice, the third installment in the series!

**Reviewed copy was an ARC**

Details:

Cover: 4.5

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 5.0

Writing: 4.0

Source: Received from Publisher.

Need by Carrie Jones

2011-03-10T11:48:00.004-05:00

Rating: 4.0

Re-Read? Definitely re-readable.

Recommend? I recommend this to fans of Stephenie Meyer.

Release Date: December 23, 2008
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 320

Synopsis:

Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.
With suspense, romance, and paranormal themes, this exciting breakout novel has all the elements to keep teens rapidly turning the pages.

My Thoughts:

Need was an interesting book for me. When I first started reading, I had to do a double take because the beginning of the book reminded me so much of Twilight. Girl moves from warm place to cold place. Girl arrives at new home and gets a car. Girl goes to small school where she is referred to as the new girl. Superhuman-super hott boys take a liking to Girl. I think you know where I'm going with this. Instead of vampires, there are blood sucking pixies (which the Were's are the natural enemies of). The beginning of Need was VERY similar (at least to me) to Twilight. However, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Need and the rest of the book develops very differently. Once I got past the beginning and the similarities, I really got into the story.

Need had a lot of funny moments and a ton of quotes that I wish I would have written down because they made me laugh out loud! I wish I could have posted more of them for my Teaser Tuesday! It was cute and quirky, while also being serious. I really liked the characters, which is really important to me. Nick, of course, was my favorite. I felt myself get fan-girlie quite a few times over him! Issie, also, is too cute for words. They were all just great characters and they are what really made Need that great story that it is.

There were a lot of times in Need that I became confused that the characters would trust so blindly in the internet or some website that they read-- I felt that it being online was not substantial enough evidence to believe so thoroughly. It might be just me, but it was nagging me in the back of my mind throughout the whole book. After reading back, I guess I can kind of understand how it is all pulled together-- I just wish it wasn't so vague when it came to the subject on where they are doing their research.

Despite these small issues that I had with Need, it was a fun read and its positives definitely outweigh my small issues. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

Details:

Cover: 3.5

Plot: 4.0

Characters: 5.0

Writing: 3.5

Source: Purchased from Store.

Books for Boys

2011-03-09T13:42:00.003-05:00

Recently, my little brother and I have been discussing how the YA genre in general seems to be aimed more so at female readers. Of course, there are several reasons why that this is so but it has really got me thinking about compiling a list of YA books that boys would enjoy. Not only would this be fantastic for any male readers but I know my brother would appreciate it as well!

This is the list I've compiled so far:

-Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan (vol 1-12) by Darren Shan
-Demonata (vol 1-10) by Darren Shan
-The Saga of Larten Crepsley by Darren Shan
-Pendragon (vol 1-10) by DJ MacHale
-Morpheus Road by DJ MacHale
-The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
-Harry Potter (vol 1-7) by JK Rowling
-The Chronicles of Vladamir Todd by Heather Brewer
-Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman
-Night Runner by Max Turner
-Candor by Pam Bachorz
-Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
-Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey
-Gone by Michael Grant
-The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner
-The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

The books listed here are what I recommend to male readers (who are not necessarily interested in romance or super romantic story lines) and most of them I have read myself and loved (though I'm a girl, I LOVE these kinds of books). I hate to categorize books and says boys read these, girls read these... ect. But the truth is my little brother would never read a book like Twilight or Wicked Lovely. These are the books that I personally would recommend to him (and have-- he has read and loved most of the books on this list!) and feel are slightly aimed more towards males or both genders.

I would LOVE to add on to it! It would be fantastic if everyone would share their own suggestions by commenting on this post (or even emailing me!).

Waiting on Wednesday -24

2011-03-09T11:33:00.001-05:00

Ordinary Beauty by Laura Wiess

Release Date: June 14, 2011

Publisher: Gallery Books/S&S

Synopsis:

Seventeen year old Sayre Bellavia grew up knowing she was a mistake, unplanned and unwanted. She's been neglected, used, and left behind. Taken away and put in foster care, then returned to her mother who, for one miraculous year, got sober, found love and became pregnant. When unspeakable tragedy struck, Sayre sacrificed all and stuck by her mother, tried to help her, be important to her even as her mother slipped away into a violent haze of addiction, revealing a heartbreaking betrayal and destroying the only real family Sayre ever had.

Broke, homeless and alone, Sayre struggles to survive and wonders if her mother has ever, even for a moment, actually loved her and if, after a lifetime of being blamed for ruining her mother's life, she still loves the woman who hurt her so badly. Needing the truth, Sayre embarks on an urgent, terrifying journey to reach her mother, who is near death, ravaged by her own destructive behavior, and who alone holds the answer to Sayre's desperate, unspoken question.

A haunting, beautifully written journey of a girl determined to break free from the cycle of self-destruction, and who continues to hope and search for a future—ORDINARY BEAUTY is a gripping and gritty novel that will have both teens and parents talking. (Goodreads).

I absolutely loved Laura's other books and Ordinary Beauty looks fantastic. And I absolutely love that cover! Beautiful!

Pre-order it here: Amazon

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

Teaser Tuesday -15

2011-03-08T01:26:00.001-05:00

This weeks Teaser Tuesday is an exerpt from Need by Carrie Jones. Teaser Tuesday is brought to us by Should be Reading.

My Teaser:

"That is an excellent idea. Maybe I could do a snow dance."
She laughs. "Your dad taught you that?"
"Yep. You drop an ice cube into the toilet and dance around chanting, 'Snow. Snow. Snow'." (Page 15, Carrie Jones).

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 -13

2011-03-07T15:10:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone! These are my plans for this week:

What I Read:

-Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
-Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

What I am Reading:

What I plan to Read:

-Need by Carrie Jones
-Captivate by Carrie Jones
-Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey

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

So what are you reading this week? :3

This meme is brought to us by: Sheila at Book Journey.

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

2011-03-06T17:20:00.000-05:00

Rating: 4.75

Re-Read? Definitely re-readable!

Recommend? I recommend the Wicked Lovely series to older teens who love the paranormal. Especially those who love the fey!

Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 336

Synopsis:

The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.
Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything.
The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

My Thoughts:

First off, I have to say I deeply enjoyed Darkest Mercy. It had to be one of my favorite installments in the whole series. It had a very satisfying ending that I'm sure left most all readers happy in at least some aspects. It was utterly fantastic and I have to say I loved the whole series and I'm sad that it is over. That being said, here is my super-inappropriate-pleasedon'ttakethisserieousbecausei'msureiamtheonlyonewhothinksthis-sad-rant-thatihopedoesn'tcontainspoilersbutjustincasebewarned:

Keenan is my absolute favorite character in this whole series and my biggest disappointment was that I really really DISLIKED the way things ended in almost all aspects concerning him. There was a particular point in the book where I just had to come to terms with certain changes in events, but really-- they just kept piling up when it came to my dear Keenan. I felt that instead of being happy for him at the end, I was merely accepting his fate, even though most people would agree that it was a good ending for him (trying to keep this spoiler free is REALLY HARD). If you have read my past reviews on this series, you would understand my stance on who he should really belong with, but alas-- I cannot control their feelings anymore then I can force Melissa Marr to write the ending as I wish it. END-RANT.

Ahem, now that that's out of my system, back to the review (I apologize that this review is so informal-- books that really stir me up bring out this side of me). Darkest Mercy was a really hard book for me to put down-- I would have easily read it in one sitting if not for the fact it was midterm week. It was captivating, emotional, and definitely attention grabbing-- All wrapped up in one of the prettiest dust jackets of the series (and that's saying something). I read a lot of books and I have to say this book (and series) has definitely left an impression on me that goes deep enough to ensure I'll be stalking Melissa Marr's career till the end of forever.

Darkest Mercy was a brilliant end to an altogether fantastic/sexy/unique series.

Read my reviews for the rest of the Wicked Lovely series: Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, and Radiant Shadows.

Details:

Cover: 5.0

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 5.0

Source: Purchased from Store.

In My MailBox -18

2011-03-06T04:33:00.002-05:00

Only one book this week-- but hey. Isn't it pretty?

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (hardback)

Synopsis:

There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world.

People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it. Then, at last, they found the cure. Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen.

Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But then, with only ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable...

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren.

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

2011-03-03T10:45:00.013-05:00

Rating: 4.0

Re-Read: This is actually the second time I've read this book so I would definitely say this is re-readable!

Recommend: This book was a little more sexy then some other YA books, so I would put an older teen rating on it.

Release Date: April 20, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 352

Synopsis:

Hunger for nourishment. Hunger for touch. Hunger to belong.
Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers. Those same cravings also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies—including Devlin, the assassin who is brother to the faeries' High Queen. Ani and Devlin are drawn together, but as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

My Thoughts:

Radiant Shadows is the fourth installment in Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series. Unlike books one, three and five, Radiant Shadows does not follow Keenan and Ash's story, but rather a side story. The new POVs, however, are just as essential as our main protagonists and story line. We follow Ani, a half-ling of the hunt and Dark Court and Devlin of the High Court-- Both Reason and Chaos' Brother-son.

Radiant Shadows definitely had a different feel then any of the prior books. It started up kind of slow for me, but then it really picked up pace and there was just a ton of action. It was almost hard to keep up with, with the constant changes in POV. It was also rather confusing at times, but further reading cleared up any confusion. I feel as though the storyline went everywhere and everything you knew about the courts just flew out the window with all the new information. It was definitely jarring.

Radiant Shadows is definitely important to the story line, though I cannot say why without spoilers. Lets just say things will never be the same and the mortal world just became that much more dangerous. I found Devlin's relationship to Rae and Ani interesting-- I'm kind of confused as to what exactly it means for all three of them, but I loved being able to see Niall and Irial's relationship develop. I hope we learn a bit more about it in Darkest Mercy.

Radiant Shadows left me hungry for more and I can't wait to begin Darkest Mercy, Melissa Marr's final installment in the Wicked Lovely series!

Details:

Cover: 4.0

Plot: 4.0

Characters: 4.0

Writing: 4.0

Source: Received from Publisher.

Final Cover for The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab!!

2011-03-02T14:56:00.003-05:00

The final cover is finally released!! To read more about it, check out Victoria's post: HERE!

Personally, I LOVE it and I cannot wait to get my hands on it! :3

Oh! And there's a widget!

Countdown Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Waiting on Wednesday -23

2011-03-02T03:28:00.003-05:00

So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev

Release Date: September 13th, 2011

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Synopsis:

Things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Something's happened to the Théâtre Illuminata, putting the only home she's ever known in limbo. Her mother's sanity is fraying under the strain, her father has vanished and an angry goddess is out for revenge. Bertie is caught between her duties and her dreams, just as her heart is torn between Ariel and Nate. But hope glimmers in a Distant Castle, and if Bertie can put on the performance of her life, maybe she can win the magical boon that may save them all. (From Lisa's website).

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

I am so super excited about this book! The cover is soooo gorgeous... I can't wait!

Pre-order it here: Amazon

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

Eli's Weekly Post -18

2011-03-01T11:53:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! It's that time of the week!

I just wanted to post an update to say there probably won't be a review posted until later this week (or this weekend). I have four midterms this week and I am super stressed and

cramming like crazy! The good news is that next week is spring break so I will have plenty of time to post and read!

I AM SO EXCITED, OMG.

Ahem. Excuse my outburst! xD

Anywhooo, I was at Delia's today (the clothing store) at the mall and two interesting things happened to me. The first was that we had a tornado warning and they had to evacuated the mall and put everyone in a storm shelter. That was interesting. And crowded and slightly scary. Thankfully it didn't last too long. The second, is that before I left, I grabbed one of Delia's free catalogs and found something pretty neat in it! An advertisement for Laurie Faria Stolarz's Touch novels! I love when I find random book advertisements-- and I LOVE this series, so even better!! Just thought I would share. xD

Also, I'm slowly but surely getting everything on my sidebars updated. If you would like to be added to either my blog button list or to my blog roll, feel free to let me know and I'll add you. :)

Hope everyone is having a great week!

What are you reading Mondays -12

2011-02-28T11:53:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone! These are my plans for this week:

What I Read:

-Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman

What I am Reading:

What I plan to Read:

-Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

-Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

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

So I know my sidebar says I'm reading Darkest Mercy right now and the reason this post says I'm reading Radiant Shadows is because I started Darkest Mercy, then decided I wanted to re-read Radiant Shadows since it has been so long since I've read it. I wanted to refresh my memory on a few things. :3

This meme is brought to us by: Sheila at Book Journey.

In My MailBox -17

2011-02-27T12:01:00.000-05:00

Here is what I got this week!

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr (hardback)

Synopsis:

The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything.

The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey (hardback)

Synopsis:

Sadima, Franklin, and Somiss, driven out of Limòri by a suspicious fire, are living in a cave hidden within the cliffs that overlook the city. Somiss is convinced the dark passages of the caves were the home of ancient magicians, and his obsession with restoring magic deepens. Sadima dreams of escape -- for her, for Franklin, and for the orphaned street boys Somiss has imprisoned in a crowded cage. Somiss claims he will teach these boys magic, that they will become his first students, but Sadima knows he is lying.

Generations later, Hahp is struggling to survive the wizards' increasingly dangerous classes at the Limòri Academy of Magic. He knows the fragile pact he has forged with his secretive roommate, Gerrard, will not be enough to put an end to the evil. It will take all the students acting together to have any chance of destroying the academy. Building trust, with few chances to speak or plan, will be almost impossible, but there is no choice.

The worlds of Sadima and Hahp move closer together in the second compelling installment of Kathleen Duey's brilliant trilogy, which began with the National Book Award finalist Skin Hunger, praised by Holly Black as "beautifully written, fierce, and unforgettable."

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren.

Please Excuse the Dust....

2011-02-25T12:10:00.001-05:00

While I update my blog for the new year! I also have a few questions for my followers, if you guys wouldn't mind answering them real quick. They'll only take a second and it will really help my update!

1) What do you think about the layout of my blog? Should I give it a make over?

2) Is it hard to navigate my blog? If so, what do you find hard to find?

3) Is my layout messy? (Obviously it is at the moment, but I mean is there too much stuff going on?)

4) Do you have any suggestions for the layout for my blog or for my reviews that would enhance your reading experience?

FIN!

Thanks everyone! I would love you all so much if you could please fill this out!

Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman

2011-02-24T14:30:00.007-05:00

Rating: 4.5

Re-Read? This is definitely re-readable and worth the purchase.

Recommend? I definitely recommend this to anyone whether they are fans of the supernatural, psychological thrillers, or just plain YA books.

Release Date: April 12, 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 304

Synopsis:

You are indestructible. Three whispered words transfer an astonishing power to Jacob Fielding that changes everything. At first, Jacob is hesitant to use the power, unsure of its implications. But there's something addictive about testing the limits of fear.

Then Ophelia James, the beautiful and daring new girl in town, suggests that they use the power to do good, to save others. But with every heroic act, the power grows into the specter of a curse. How to decide who lives and who dies?

In this nail-biting novel of mystery and dark intrigue, Jacob must walk the razor thin line between right and wrong, good and evil, and life and death. And time is running out. Because the Grim Reaper doesn't disappear. . . . He catches up.

My Thoughts:

When I originally purchased Thirteen Days to Midnight, I had no idea what it was really about. It seemed like a promising story and lately I have been really into reading books with male protagonists, so when I picked this one up, I decided to give it a chance. And I am glad I did!

Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman is an YA psychological thriller with a hint of the supernatural. Sounds like a great combination right? It was fantastic! I loved how Carman kept you guessing throughout the whole book, giving you snippets of information without revealing anything big. Enough to keep you guessing, but not enough to let you guess correctly! I read the book in two sittings (and I would have read it in one if I was not distracted by school work!) and my how time flies while reading this book.

I really liked the main character Jacob and his bestie, Milo. I was never super fond of Oh-- she seemed VERY full of herself to me and I felt like she was a bit possessive (though I guess I can understand why) so she was not to my taste. I also like a lot of the side characters and they all seemed so real to me (especially Ethan-- who DOESN'T know a jerk like him?).

I definitely think Thirteen Days to Midnight was a great pick-up and hope to read more from Patrick Carman in the future!

Details:

Cover: 5.0

Plot: 4.5

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 4.0

Source: Purchased from store.

Eli's Weekly Post -17

2011-02-23T13:02:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone!

Miss me? Haha! I apologize that I haven't posted in a very long time. I have been incredibly busy with school, but I recently decided it was about time that I rejoined the blogging community. Thank you everyone who continued to follow me! I think as a reward for following me, I will give away a few books for my followers! And of course, I welcome new followers. I promise to be good from now on! It will also be a contest celebrating my 400 followers-- Please keep an eye out this week for the contest to be announced. I promise you won't regret it. :)

So how has everyone been? I would love a status update! :D

Waiting On Wednesday -22

2011-02-23T12:39:00.006-05:00

Defiance by Lili St. Crow

Release Date: April 19th, 2011

Publisher: Razorbill

Synopsis:

Now that sixteen-year-old Dru's worst fears have come true and Sergej has kidnapped her best friend Graves, she'll have to go on a suicidal rescue mission to bring him back in one piece.

That is, if she can put all of Christophe's training to good use, defeat her mother's traitor, Anna, once and for all, and manage to survive another day...

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

I am really loving this series! If you haven't started it yet, check out Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow. It is fantastic!

Pre-order it here: Amazon

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

Dragon*Con and The Decatur Book Festival-- Part One

2010-09-11T11:53:00.002-04:00

Dragon*Con and The Decatur Book Festival both took place this past weekend in Atlanta and this year I made the effort to attend both of them!

Dragon*Con, if you're not familiar, is a Sci-fi convention that is held in Atlanta annually. I attended Saturday with fellow book blogger Danni from the Romantic Harbor. After we waited in line for two hours to get our tickets (OMG) we finally got into the con and were able to take a look around. Our first event was a signing with Sherrilyn Kenyon, author of the new YA series The Chronicles of Nick, but also a romance series called the Dark Hunters.

Sherrilyn was fantastic! Not only did she take her time with each of her fans, but she insisted on hugs and would sign anything you gave her! She even signed my Dragon*Con Pass! They also were giving away posters of Infinity (the first book in the Chronicles of Nick) and I was able to grab two. I will be giving one away as part of the giveaway when I get to 400 followers! So keep a look out for that! After her signing, we attended her Q&A, which was a lot of fun!

(Me-left, Sherrilyn Kenyon-right)

After Sherrilyn's events, we attended an event where Kathleen Duey (author of Skin Hunger) was part of the panel. It was called Images of Love and it was mostly about how books these days (like Twilight) affect young and impressionable girls. We discussed positive and negative aspects about Edward being so pushy and Bella being such a weak heroine. It was a very interesting event, and afterward I was able to talk a bit with Kathleen Duey. She was so nice and I was able to get a picture with her!

I also met another book blogger there -- The Literary Omnivore. We exchanged links and I'm glad to have another Atlanta blogger friend!

(Kathleen Duey-left, Me-right)
Stay tuned for my next post, where I went to the Decatur Book Festival and met Cassandra Clare, Michelle Zink, Jackson Pearce, and more!

The Book Blogger Hop 9/10- 9/13

2010-09-10T17:10:00.002-04:00

The Book Blogger Hop is happening this weekend (Sept 10-13) and is a great way to find new blogs to follow and make new friends! Jennifer at Crazy For Books hosts it every week, Friday-Monday and this is my first time participating!

The Question this week is...

Post a link to a favorite post or book review that you have written in the past three months.

My favorite review from the past three months is my Mockingjay review, which you can find: HERE.

I'm hoping to find some new blogs to follow and read by participating! If you are also partisipating, let me know! I'm interested to know who does this weekly! :)

Waiting On Wednesday -21

2010-09-08T11:47:00.000-04:00

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Release Date: December 28th, 2010

Publisher: Dial

Synopsis:

Finn has escaped from the terrible living Prison of Incarceron, but its memory torments him, because his brother Keiro is still inside. Outside, Claudia insists he must be king, but Finn doubts even his own identity. Is he the lost prince Giles? Or are his memories no more than another construct of his imprisonment? And can you be free if your friends are still captive? Can you be free if your world is frozen in time? Can you be free if you don't even know who you are? Inside Incarceron, has the crazy sorcerer Rix really found the Glove of Sapphique, the only man the Prison ever loved. Sapphique, whose image fires Incarceron with the desire to escape its own nature. If Keiro steals the glove, will he bring destruction to the world? Inside. Outside. All seeking freedom. Like Sapphique.

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

I'm really interested to see where this story goes, so I can't wait to get my hands on Sapphique!

Pre-order it here: Amazon

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

Waiting On Wednesday -20

2010-09-01T09:56:00.000-04:00

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Release Date: October 12th, 2010

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Synopsis:

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.
Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

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The Maze Runner was amazing, and I'm sure this will be fantastic as well!

Pre-order it here: Amazon

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

Teaser Tuesday -14

2010-08-31T20:30:00.002-04:00

This weeks Teaser Tuesday is an excerpt from Jealousy by Lili St. Crow. Teaser Tuesday is brought to us by Should Be Reading.

My Teaser:

"I also caught a breath of warm apple spice, and the fang marks on my left wrist gave a throbbing flare of heat.
Oh. 'Hello?' I whispered." (Page 71 by Lili St. Crow).

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!

Privacy Policy

2010-08-30T13:42:00.003-04:00

Welcome to The Tainted Poet's Young Adult Book Review. This site is directed at mid to older teens and is not intended for anyone under the age of 13. Most of the books reviewed and discussed at The Tainted Poet are intended for older teens and usually include paranormal, sci-fi, and romance, some of which is not appropriate for children.

Contests and Email Addresses

The Tainted Poet never saves or distributes the email addresses collected for contest purposes. Everyone who participates in a contest has the option of emailing me personally with their entry for privacy purposes. In fact, I have began using forms here at The Tainted Poet so that emails are no longer on display in the comments section. If I do ask for emails to be placed in the comments section, after the contest is closed, all comments will be hidden.

When mailing a book, I will always ask for confirmation that you are either eighteen or have a parents permission to give me an address to mail the book to. I have to take your word for this, so please be honest. Again, I do not save the addresses sent to The Tainted Poet and the emails are deleted after the book is sent.

Parents: Feel free to email me at taintedpoet@gmail.com if you have any additional questions or wish to know if my blog is appropriate for your teen.

Free The Hunger Games poster!

2010-08-29T11:44:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to give a shout out that Hot Topic is giving away a free The Hunger Games poster when you bring in a coupon that you get from an app on facebook (see above for the poster)! I got mine today and it's AWESOME! So if you live near a Hot Topic and you love The Hunger Games, I suggest you check this out!

Click here to go to the app and get the coupon!

"May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor"

In My MailBox -16

2010-08-29T01:08:00.012-04:00

Hello everyone! Here is what I got this week!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Hardback)

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. (Amazon).

You can find my review of Mockingjay HERE.

Jealousy by Lili St. Crow (paperback)

Synopsis:

It’s a good thing Dru Anderson is fast. Because the sucker chasing her isn’t slowing down—and he won’t rest until he has tasted her blood and silenced her heart . . .

Dru’s best friend, Graves, and her strange and handsome savior, Christophe, are ready to help her take on the ultimate evil. But will their battle for Dru’s heart get in the way of her survival? (Amazon).

I'm about to start reading this now and I'm excited!

In My Mailbox was created by: The Story Siren.

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

2010-08-28T11:55:00.001-04:00

Rating: 4.5

Re-Read? This whole series is definitely re-readable and I suggest buying it instead of borrowing! You'll want to keep it!

Recommend? I recommend The Hunger Games trilogy to anyone and everyone.

Release Date: August 24th, 2009

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages: 400

Synopsis:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. (Amazon)

My Thoughts:

Mockingjay is a thrilling and terrifying conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy. Throughout the whole novel, I was torn between worrying about Katniss, Peeta, and Gale while trying to understand how so many things can go wrong for one person. With adventure, tragedy, and a sprinkle of love thrown in, Mockingjay will definitely keep you turning the page.

I have such a love for both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, that I was really hoping Mockingjay would meet up to my high expectations. In fact, going into Mockingjay, I was sure it was going to be just as fantastic-- it's the conclusion to The Hunger Games! Enough said, right? Well, while Mockingjay was suspenseful, engrossing, and concluding, it was missing that spark that made The Hunger Games the sensation that it is. I wouldn't call Mockingjay a disappointment. It definitely held up to the standard that The Hunger Games set. I was just missing the emotional connection that truly held me in both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. For me, that connection was missing in Mockingjay.

Mockingjay was a lot more mature then the previous novels. There was definitely more gore and other terrifying happenings. The book took a totally different spin then I thought it was going to-- It really took me by surprise. While I wasn't completely happy with everything that happened, most of it was necessary and in the end the book had a pretty solid conclusion. I definitely enjoyed Mockingjay and The Hunger Games trilogy will continue to be one of my favorite book series... ever!

Details:

Cover: 5.0

Plot: 4.0

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 4.5

Source: Purchased from store.

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

2010-06-02T11:55:00.001-04:00

Rating: 4.0

Re-Read? I have actually already re-read bits and pieces. I have a few favorite parts I like to revisit.

Recommend? Spells is the second in the series, so I suggest reading Wings first.

Release Date: May 4th, 2010

Publisher: Harperteen

Pages: 368

Synopsis:

"I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't ‘steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask," Tamani said.

"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life—and especially her boyfriend, David—to return to the faerie world.

But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice—a choice that could break her heart. (From Amazon).

My Thoughts:

First off, I am going to try and write this review without fangirling all over Tamani. Do I love Tamani? Yes. Did Spells make me fall even deeper in love with his character? Of course! Well with one last fangirl squeal-- Tammmmmaaaaaanniiiii-- I shall begin this review.

Spells was just as enchanting as Wings-- even more so because the story delved deeper into all things fey, which I felt Wings lacked. With Laurel going to study in Avalon, of course she was going to get to know Tamani even more personally. I really loved the friction between them. It made the whole book that much more interesting! I guess I'll never get tired of love triangles. I can't exactly say poor David, because he IS the boyfriend, but I really couldn't begin to guess who she'll end up with by the end of the series.

While Spells has neither an exceptional writing style nor a completely original plot, I couldn't put the darn fluffy thing down. Spells wove a spell around me that was only released on that final page, WHICH, by the way, is a cliffhanger! I cannot express my impatience to read the next in the series. This is definitely a series to keep an eye on.

Details:

Cover: 4.5

Plot: 4.0

Characters: 4.5

Writing: 3.0

Source: Purchased from store.

Don't Mind The Dust...

2010-06-02T01:27:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

Just putting out a post that there will be a little construction here at The Tainted Poet and that I hope you guys don't mind the dust while adjustments are made. The layout should remain relatively the same-- I just need to do some cleaning around the place. TP is now a year old! Though, I missed my blogoversary in May (sad times), I shall still be giving away a few books to celebrate. Keep an eye out for them soon! :)

and the Earth Day winner is...

2010-06-01T16:07:00.000-04:00

Bee!

Congrats!! I'll be emailing you soon with details on your winning. Thank you everyone who participated!

Bee's winning entries:

1)
"Dusty winds and fire and fumes
They are making earth lose its plumes
Lets join hands and save our planet
Before it's too late to stop the damage."

"Do you see the volcanic ash?
It's because of earth's huge gash
Pollution and population
Development of harried nations
It all comes at the price
Of global warming twice at rise!
Don't you see what you're doing?
All this destruction- where it's going?
Awake, arise -it's time you do
Before it's too late to start anew!"

Gone by Lisa McMann

2010-05-27T17:05:00.006-04:00

Rating: 3.8

Series Rating: 4.5

Re-Read? I'm kind of itching to re-read the whole series, actually.

Recommend? Definitely recommend to anyone who has read Wake and Fade.

Release Date: February 9th, 2010
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 214

Synopsis:

The third and final book in the paranormal teen series that includes The New York Times bestseller Wake and Fade.

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

My Thoughts:

Gone, the final installment of the Wake trilogy by Lisa McMann, was an interesting wrap up to a heart stopping series. While Gone left some to be desired, McMann did a great job of answering some of those unanswered questions. However, I truly felt that Gone was more of a wrap-up then an actual crucial part of the plot. It didn't have any of those heart wrenching moments that Wake and Fade are infamous for.

In Gone, you learn a lot more about Janie and Cabel, while at the same time, nothing too big really happened. You see a lot of the aftermath of Janie being 'narc' girl from Fade and it was interesting to also learn a bit about her mother's past. Janie and Cabel are still having some relationship problems dealing with her future condition and Janie really is stuck at a forked path. How does someone decide between two equally horrible possibilities? Gone was just as captivating as the prior novels, just without any of that flare that made Wake and Fade stand out in YA.

With the length of Gone and Lisa McMann's captivating writing style, I had no problem reading Gone in one sit through. Gone was extremely interesting, just not quite up to par with Wake and Fade. However, the series in a whole was a wonderful read and I cannot wait to see what books Lisa McMann produces in the future.

Details:

Gone:
Cover: 4.5
Plot: 2.5
Characters: 4.0
Writing: 4.5

Series:
Covers: 5.0
Overall Plot: 4.0
Characters: 4.5
Overall Writing: 4.5

Source: Purchased from store.

First off...

2010-05-27T16:52:00.004-04:00

I want to apologize to everyone for my absence. I know I have stated previously that I would be returning soon and then failed to do so, so I am really sorry to those who were disappointed. A lot has been happening in my life in the past month, including my beloved Grandfather passing. Now my Grandmother is depressed and also dieing (from cancer) and my mother and I have been back and forth between South Carolina and Georgia helping her the best we can. This has left little time for updating my blog. However, the situation at home is a little more stable at the moment, so I believe that I can start getting online more often.

**Also, to those who have won contests on my blog and have yet to receive your prize, it will soon be on its way! Again, with all of the chaos my life has been recently, I have had little time to send them out.

Hope everyone's summer has been fantastic so far!

Happy Earth Day/Contest

2010-04-22T12:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Earth Day!

Hello everyone! Happy Earth Day! I hope everyone is doing something great for the earth today! Because I also want to do something great for the earth besides recycle and other various volunteer projects, I wanted to throw a contest and recycle some of my books to you! This will be a different kind of contest then I normally do.

This is how you get entries:

1) Post here! If you have a blog, you don't have to leave your email as long as I can find your blog from your post. If you don't, please leave me an email or twitter-- some way to contact you.

2) Keep posting here! For every post you leave, you get another entry. This is unlimited! However! There are rules. Earth, recycle or planet must somehow be used in your comment. No nonsense entries-- they won't count.

3) You get three entry points if you post a POEM you have written about either the earth or earth day or something about the planet. This can only be done once a day.

And thats it! Oh, you probably want to know what you're winning!

This contest ends May 5th 2010! So get entering! And yes it is opened INTERNATIONALLY! We all share this earth! :)

Radiant Shadows is out NOW!

2010-04-20T14:43:00.004-04:00

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr is now out in stores!

Just wanted to send out a reminder that this new title from Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series is now out! Happy Release Day Radiant Shadows and Melissa Marr!

Amazon: Shop now!

Eli's Weekly Post -16

2010-04-15T14:00:00.002-04:00

Oh jeez, I have been really slacking, haven't I?

I apologize for previous statements-- I really meant to post everyday this week. The last couple weeks of the semester are busy! I have finals coming up along with papers and projects due. I'm just drowning in school work. During the summer I should be able to post a lot more often. Sorry for the rant-- I just want everyone to realize that I won't be neglecting my blog like this for much longer. Hurray for that! I have a ton of reviews to post a long with a few interviews. I just need to find the time to clean/edit them. I might even be able to post one this weekend!

Oh! Just reporting-- I saw Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr in B&N the other day, so everyone who loves Melissa Marr like I do should head on out and buy it! :)

What are you reading Mondays -11

2010-04-12T11:10:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! These are my plans for this week:

What I Read:

-Eragon by Christopher Paolini (re-read)

-Eldest by Christopher Paolini (re-read)

What I am Reading:

What I plan to Read:

-Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

-Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

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

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

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

So sorry!

2010-04-11T22:05:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! I apologize for not posting for the past couple weeks. I have been super busy with tests and the like with college and I haven't had too many spare moments to post. However, expect this week to go on as normal and I'll be trying to post everyday! Thank you everyone for baring with me while I've been so inactive.

Also! I'm looking for more book blogs to follow, so if you have followed me and I haven't followed you back, I apologize! Post your link here and I'll follow you back straight away. Also, if anyone has a button that they would like to me to post in my button sections, just let me know! I would LOVE to add you! :)

Thank you everyone!

Why Read Poetry: A guest post with Amy Brecount White

2010-03-18T12:15:00.005-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the last stop in Amy Brecount White's Blog tour for her new novel Forget-Her-Nots, which released in stores March 2nd, 2010! I am lucky enough to have a guest post from Amy today giving her thoughts on Poetry, something very close to The Tainted Poet's heart.

Welcome Amy!

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

Why Read Poetry?

To start, let me say that I ADORE the name of this blog. The Tainted Poet. It’s so mysterious and full of possibilities. It makes me think of Lord Byron. It would also be a great name for a novel. Anything in the works, Eli? :) Now to the point….

Anyone who’s paid any attention to my blog or read Forget-Her-Nots knows that I have a thing for poetry. There are several wonderful poems quoted in FHN, and I’ve also hosted a LoveFlowerPoems contest on my blog (both reading and writing.) But poetry is difficult for lots of people. Sometimes, as with Shakespeare, it can seem like a foreign language. Poems often have to be read more than once to be understood. So why bother straining your brain?

First off, the language itself. Poetry is the tightest, most succinct, most resonant form of expression we have. Poets spin and toss and play with words more than any other writers. Sometimes the words nearly sing, especially if you read them aloud. (All poems should always be read aloud. You won’t get the rhythm and feel of the words rolling on your tongue otherwise.)

Secondly, the meanings. Poems are layered language. The poet has chosen his or her words so very carefully that they have tiers of meaning, which the reader must unfold. Look at this line from a Japanese Haiku poet named Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828).

“In the cherry blossom’s shade there’s no such thing as a stranger.”

On the surface, it’s very simple: one line, 12 words, seemingly straightforward. But what’s Issa really saying? Why can’t you be a stranger standing in the shade of a blooming cherry tree? The more you think about it, the more you realize that it’s about the power of beauty to overcome divisions between us. Wowed by the beauty of a cherry blossom, we reach out to one another to celebrate the fleeting moment. The rains will come and drive the petals to the ground. The hot sun will bake them. The blooms come only once a year, but for that moment, we are attuned to the wonder of the world, and appreciation for its beauty connects us all. All that in 12 words.

You might be wondering, did he really mean to say all that? I believe he did and more. Cherry blossoms have the special significance in the Japanese culture; they symbolize “the transient nature of life.” The Japanese even have a name for group excursions to view the blooms at their peak: hanami. They are also lovely to us Americans. Why else would thousands descend on Washington, D.C. to view the trees in bloom near our cherished national monuments. (I live outside D.C., so trust me, I know.) Find a cherry tree this spring and stand amidst its blooms and see if you feel what Issa means.

Thirdly, poems pack an emotional punch. They contain raw emotional truth. We often refer to poetry as the “language of love,” but it is truly the language of all emotions. Read these lines by William Wordsworth (1770-1850):

“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er hills and dales.”

Don’t you just know exactly how he feels? Haven’t you felt that loneliness at times? It’s a poignant, moving image.

And anyone who has loved someone can’t help but be emotionally moved when Shakespeare tells his own love in the most famous sonnet ever written that “thy eternal summer shall not fade.” Then he goes on to explain how his own words, the lines of this sonnet he just wrote, have immortalized her beauty and his love for her.

For me, every poem is like a gift. It’s wrapped up in paper and may have lovely bows that I need to untie to reveal its hidden treasure. The most wonderful poems you can unwrap again and again. So here are a few of my favorite poems I give to you today:

“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud/
[Poetic proof for the power of flowers to sway one’s mood.]

“Botanica” by Eve Alexandra. I just discovered this poet this year. I don’t know the whole meaning of this poem, but I could read it a hundred times without tiring of its sensual images and suggestiveness.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/17113

“Constantly Risking Absurdity” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. For me, this poem epitomizes the risks and rewards of the writing life in an amazing analogy. So fun!
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/constantly-risking-absurdity/

Come visit me at www.amybrecountwhite.com. And if you like these, I’m happy to recommend more poems I love.

Thanks so much for having me, Eli, in my grand finale for the SPREAD THE FLOWER LOVE BLOG TOUR!! Whew! This was fun.

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

Thank you so much for being here with us today, Amy! I LOVED your post!

Make sure to check out or buy Forget-Her Nots here: Amazon.

Also, to keep up with Amy's contest, I am giving you all a Scarlet Poppy! It means Fantastic Extravagance. Make sure you mention you got it from The Tainted Poet. ;)

Make sure to collect a virtual bouquet for Amy's contest, which you can find out more about on her blog! Not only can you find out more about her contest there, but also you can learn the meanings of various other flowers in her "The Language of Flowers" section. Make sure to check it out! http://www.amybrecountwhite.com/.

Waiting on Wednesday -19

2010-03-17T11:49:00.002-04:00

Only The Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Release Date: June 29th, 2010

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Synopsis:

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.

Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.

In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth. As they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past.

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

I LOVE all of Ally Carter's books, so I am super excited for the fourth Gallagher Girls book! Anyone else excited for this title? x)

Pre-order it here: Amazon

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

The Body Finder is OUT!

2010-03-16T17:44:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to make a quick post to let everyone who didn't already know that The Body Finder was released today in bookstores! Yaaay! Here's a quick synopsis for those of you who are unfamiliar with Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder:

Synopsis:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Click here to buy it at: Amazon