Friday, September 30, 2011

I had to revise the initial birthday bonanza due to time constraints.



My birthday is today (the first) so in celebration we will be having a giveaway and author appearances. Throughout the week we will be having many authors over talking about their October book release and talking about birthdays! For every comment this week you get an entry to win one of 3 books or a swag package.

For every 50 entries I will be adding a winner. That means if 100 entries (roughly 20 people) enter to win there will be 3 winners of books. So spread the word!

1st winner will pick their book, 2nd winner will chose from remaining 2, and 3rd winner will win the remaining book.

Swag package will be won whether or not there are 100 entries.

What’s up for grab’s?

Leigh Fallon’s Carrier of the Mark (ARC)

Mike Mullin’s Ashfall

and

Courtney Walker’s On the Fringe

Plus a swag package including a Hex Hall t-shirt, book marks, and more!


Birthday Bonanza Giveaway

10:00 PM Unknown
I had to revise the initial birthday bonanza due to time constraints.



My birthday is today (the first) so in celebration we will be having a giveaway and author appearances. Throughout the week we will be having many authors over talking about their October book release and talking about birthdays! For every comment this week you get an entry to win one of 3 books or a swag package.

For every 50 entries I will be adding a winner. That means if 100 entries (roughly 20 people) enter to win there will be 3 winners of books. So spread the word!

1st winner will pick their book, 2nd winner will chose from remaining 2, and 3rd winner will win the remaining book.

Swag package will be won whether or not there are 100 entries.

What’s up for grab’s?

Leigh Fallon’s Carrier of the Mark (ARC)

Mike Mullin’s Ashfall

and

Courtney Walker’s On the Fringe

Plus a swag package including a Hex Hall t-shirt, book marks, and more!


Thursday, September 29, 2011





Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View.


This week's question:

What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

Answer:

I’m horrible at this type question, but I’m gonna go with the Hex Hall series and would cast Britt Robertson of Life Unexpected and the new series The Secret Circle. Of course she would have to dye her hair darker, but I think she’s just the right mixture of spunky and cute to play Sophie.







This week’s question:

How do you feel about the censorship of the freedom to read? Do you think the education system needs to be more strict on what children are exposed to in books?

Answer:

I pretty much ignore it as much as possible. I’m a liberal democrat and a bibliophile so of COURSE it annoys me, but it doesn’t really affect me. When I was a kid no one told me I couldn’t read something. The closest to be told no to reading something would be in 5th grade when my aunt gave me a copy of Anne Frank unabridged. It has quite a descriptive entry about the female anatomy. And when I took it school I was told to keep it at home.

That being said, I don’t think the school should decide what children can and cannot read. I don’t think the educational system is in charge of what my (future) children are exposed to.

I live in Texas. The state that influences textbooks the most. Honestly, that alone terrifies me. Intelligent design is taught in some public schools as fact and evolution is ignored. Private schools are primarily religious schools and in a family where acceptance of all cultures is going to be of utmost importance. I am against the educational system telling my children that one religious belief is the most legitimate. And through removing books on a often religious basis they are telling them that they can’t read these books because gay is wrong, sex is something to be ashamed of, and real issues shouldn’t be discussed.

So no, I don’t approve of banning books in any way.

I do think books should have a rating system like every other type of media. I’m aware this is a sticky situation, but there is no way parents can pre-read every book that children read and books are the only sort of media that I can think of that don’t have their own rating system.

Wow, that went long.

Follow Friday

11:00 PM Unknown




Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View.


This week's question:

What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

Answer:

I’m horrible at this type question, but I’m gonna go with the Hex Hall series and would cast Britt Robertson of Life Unexpected and the new series The Secret Circle. Of course she would have to dye her hair darker, but I think she’s just the right mixture of spunky and cute to play Sophie.







This week’s question:

How do you feel about the censorship of the freedom to read? Do you think the education system needs to be more strict on what children are exposed to in books?

Answer:

I pretty much ignore it as much as possible. I’m a liberal democrat and a bibliophile so of COURSE it annoys me, but it doesn’t really affect me. When I was a kid no one told me I couldn’t read something. The closest to be told no to reading something would be in 5th grade when my aunt gave me a copy of Anne Frank unabridged. It has quite a descriptive entry about the female anatomy. And when I took it school I was told to keep it at home.

That being said, I don’t think the school should decide what children can and cannot read. I don’t think the educational system is in charge of what my (future) children are exposed to.

I live in Texas. The state that influences textbooks the most. Honestly, that alone terrifies me. Intelligent design is taught in some public schools as fact and evolution is ignored. Private schools are primarily religious schools and in a family where acceptance of all cultures is going to be of utmost importance. I am against the educational system telling my children that one religious belief is the most legitimate. And through removing books on a often religious basis they are telling them that they can’t read these books because gay is wrong, sex is something to be ashamed of, and real issues shouldn’t be discussed.

So no, I don’t approve of banning books in any way.

I do think books should have a rating system like every other type of media. I’m aware this is a sticky situation, but there is no way parents can pre-read every book that children read and books are the only sort of media that I can think of that don’t have their own rating system.

Wow, that went long.


Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.
He was wrong.
Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.
Where breaking the rules equals death.
But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.


While I know that some authors prefer silence when they write, I need music, and I create playlists for each book to help invoke in the mood. For my Tens List, I thought I’d list ten of the songs that featured prominently in my head while I was writing VARIANT.

The Rabbit Will Run by Iron and Wine


While there are some very literal lines here that relate to the Variant (like “I’ll jump over the wall and I’ll wait for you there” or “we’ve all found a reason for hiding a gun, we’ve helped out a few if we’ve hurt anyone. So be it, I’ve done what I’ve done.”) But I like this song more for the inevitability of it: a rabbit will run, because that’s a rabbit’s nature and you’re not going to stop it (which, I think, is representative of Benson). I also love the line “good dogs together go wild,” implying the mob mentality—that even if a dog is good, if you get it in a pack, it’ll do some pretty bad things. And that’s the whole crux of the school: if you cram otherwise-good people together in bad circumstances, there’s going to be trouble.

Going On by Gnarls Barkley


This is perhaps the most literal of the songs that influenced me. “You can stand right there if you want, but I’m going on, and I’m prepared to go it alone.” And I also love the sentiment “Anyone who needs what they want and doesn’t want what they need, I want nothing to do with.” I think that sums up Benson’s attitude really clearly: he’s not content with simply trying to make the best of a bad situation.

A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke


This one might seem a little out of place, because it the oldest of the bunch, and it sounds the oldest—a sound that doesn’t seem to really fit with the rest of this music, or the tone of the book. The song was a huge part of the civil rights movement, so I hesitate to put it on this list, because I don’t want to trivialize the point of the song. But on a superficial level, it reflects a lot of the hopeful/hopeless sentiments in the book. “Oh there are times that I thought I couldn’t last for long, But now I think I’m able to carry on. It’s been a long, a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will.”

Family Business by The Fugees

On a completely opposite note is Family Business, a song about gangs, drugs and poverty. This song influenced me a lot while I was contemplating gang life, both in the school and Benson’s street life before he ever got to the school. “Just walkin’ the streets death can take you away. It’s never guaranteed that you see the next day.”

Mad World by Gary Jules

This was more of a mood song than a literal one. It expresses utter hopelessness, where not only is it sad that “the dreams in which he’s dying are the best he’s ever had”, but it’s actually funny. “Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow. No tomorrow, no tomorrow.”

The Bourne Movies Soundtracks by John Powell

I don’t have much to say about these other than that they’re awesome. I have the soundtracks to all three movies, and I listen to them while I write to evoke a kind of eerie, fast-paced intensity.

Trouble by Coldplay

This is also more about mood than anything literal. He talks about being caught in the middle of a spider web, so he’s obviously in a terrible, dire situation, but the entire song sounds like an apology—that he’s done something to someone else that means more to him than his own danger “I never meant to cause you trouble, I never meant to do you harm.”

Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones

This song is interesting historically—it sparked a lot of outrage at the time it was released, changing the face of The Rolling Stones from just one of those terrible rock and roll bands to Satan worshippers who are trying to destroy our children. The song is written from the perspective of the devil, and he describes all of the things he’s been involved in: “I was ‘round when Jesus Christ had his moments of doubt and pain”, “Killed the czar and his ministers, Anastasia screamed in pain”, “I rode a tank, held a General’s rank, when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank”. But the thing that I find interesting, and why it influenced VARIANT is because of one line: “I shouted out ‘Who killed the Kennedys?’ When after all, it was you and me.” When asked about the song’s meaning Keith Richards famously said “Everybody’s Lucifer.” In other words, they’re saying we should have sympathy for the devil, because we all have the capacity to do terrible things. And that unleashed inhumanity is a big part VARIANT.

Grey Street by Dave Matthews Band

Man, the further I get into the list, the more I realize how much hopelessness played a part in VARIANT. I hope if doesn’t read as hopeless as this music makes it sound. Grey Street isn’t so much about a person thrust into a terrible situation, but about a person who is trapped in the hopelessness of normal life. “There’s an emptiness inside her, and she’d do anything to fill it in, but all the colors mix together to grey, and it breaks her heart.”

Saint Judas by Natalie Merchant

And, because I apparently can’t pick a single upbeat song, we’ll end with Saint Judas by Natalie Merchant, a song about the racial lynchings in the southern United States. But the part that really influenced VARIANT was the self-righteousness of the killings. “Saddle up your horses and wear your Sunday best, Sing your sacred harp, you’ll be holier than the rest as you shout your praises to the man who kissed the Lord, to the back-stabbing brother who betrayed all of this world.” In my mind, this is really The Society’s role—they’re doing horrible things, but they think themselves to be completely pious and correct.

Variant’s Playlist: Tens List

1:59 PM Unknown

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.
He was wrong.
Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.
Where breaking the rules equals death.
But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.


While I know that some authors prefer silence when they write, I need music, and I create playlists for each book to help invoke in the mood. For my Tens List, I thought I’d list ten of the songs that featured prominently in my head while I was writing VARIANT.

The Rabbit Will Run by Iron and Wine


While there are some very literal lines here that relate to the Variant (like “I’ll jump over the wall and I’ll wait for you there” or “we’ve all found a reason for hiding a gun, we’ve helped out a few if we’ve hurt anyone. So be it, I’ve done what I’ve done.”) But I like this song more for the inevitability of it: a rabbit will run, because that’s a rabbit’s nature and you’re not going to stop it (which, I think, is representative of Benson). I also love the line “good dogs together go wild,” implying the mob mentality—that even if a dog is good, if you get it in a pack, it’ll do some pretty bad things. And that’s the whole crux of the school: if you cram otherwise-good people together in bad circumstances, there’s going to be trouble.

Going On by Gnarls Barkley


This is perhaps the most literal of the songs that influenced me. “You can stand right there if you want, but I’m going on, and I’m prepared to go it alone.” And I also love the sentiment “Anyone who needs what they want and doesn’t want what they need, I want nothing to do with.” I think that sums up Benson’s attitude really clearly: he’s not content with simply trying to make the best of a bad situation.

A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke


This one might seem a little out of place, because it the oldest of the bunch, and it sounds the oldest—a sound that doesn’t seem to really fit with the rest of this music, or the tone of the book. The song was a huge part of the civil rights movement, so I hesitate to put it on this list, because I don’t want to trivialize the point of the song. But on a superficial level, it reflects a lot of the hopeful/hopeless sentiments in the book. “Oh there are times that I thought I couldn’t last for long, But now I think I’m able to carry on. It’s been a long, a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will.”

Family Business by The Fugees

On a completely opposite note is Family Business, a song about gangs, drugs and poverty. This song influenced me a lot while I was contemplating gang life, both in the school and Benson’s street life before he ever got to the school. “Just walkin’ the streets death can take you away. It’s never guaranteed that you see the next day.”

Mad World by Gary Jules

This was more of a mood song than a literal one. It expresses utter hopelessness, where not only is it sad that “the dreams in which he’s dying are the best he’s ever had”, but it’s actually funny. “Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow. No tomorrow, no tomorrow.”

The Bourne Movies Soundtracks by John Powell

I don’t have much to say about these other than that they’re awesome. I have the soundtracks to all three movies, and I listen to them while I write to evoke a kind of eerie, fast-paced intensity.

Trouble by Coldplay

This is also more about mood than anything literal. He talks about being caught in the middle of a spider web, so he’s obviously in a terrible, dire situation, but the entire song sounds like an apology—that he’s done something to someone else that means more to him than his own danger “I never meant to cause you trouble, I never meant to do you harm.”

Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones

This song is interesting historically—it sparked a lot of outrage at the time it was released, changing the face of The Rolling Stones from just one of those terrible rock and roll bands to Satan worshippers who are trying to destroy our children. The song is written from the perspective of the devil, and he describes all of the things he’s been involved in: “I was ‘round when Jesus Christ had his moments of doubt and pain”, “Killed the czar and his ministers, Anastasia screamed in pain”, “I rode a tank, held a General’s rank, when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank”. But the thing that I find interesting, and why it influenced VARIANT is because of one line: “I shouted out ‘Who killed the Kennedys?’ When after all, it was you and me.” When asked about the song’s meaning Keith Richards famously said “Everybody’s Lucifer.” In other words, they’re saying we should have sympathy for the devil, because we all have the capacity to do terrible things. And that unleashed inhumanity is a big part VARIANT.

Grey Street by Dave Matthews Band

Man, the further I get into the list, the more I realize how much hopelessness played a part in VARIANT. I hope if doesn’t read as hopeless as this music makes it sound. Grey Street isn’t so much about a person thrust into a terrible situation, but about a person who is trapped in the hopelessness of normal life. “There’s an emptiness inside her, and she’d do anything to fill it in, but all the colors mix together to grey, and it breaks her heart.”

Saint Judas by Natalie Merchant

And, because I apparently can’t pick a single upbeat song, we’ll end with Saint Judas by Natalie Merchant, a song about the racial lynchings in the southern United States. But the part that really influenced VARIANT was the self-righteousness of the killings. “Saddle up your horses and wear your Sunday best, Sing your sacred harp, you’ll be holier than the rest as you shout your praises to the man who kissed the Lord, to the back-stabbing brother who betrayed all of this world.” In my mind, this is really The Society’s role—they’re doing horrible things, but they think themselves to be completely pious and correct.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011



September 20th 2011, Greenwillow Books
432 Pages, ARC
First in the Fire and Thorns series
Young Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
 
Opinion:

Newly turned 16 year old princess Elisa is a gift from God. She bears the Godstone, a special honor. She is expected to perform a great service to the people, one she doesn’t even know yet. Married off to the king of Joya d'Arena, Alejandro, Elisa is thrust in a world she hardly recognizes. In trying to find herself, she also delves into her faith and develops the makings of a great queen.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a high fantasy novel set in a beautiful world the reader can’t help but experience along with her. If only I could have a taste of all the delicious pastries! I was captivated by the adventure and the unpredictable plot.

Elisa represents all the imperfect girls out there. She starts off lazy and fat but as the novel develops, she gains confidence in herself and her new body image, which I can easily relate to. There was romance, but an unexpected and sweet one, which also kept me guessing and still does.

I enjoyed the debut and am eager to read Rae Carson’s next book in the series.

Rating:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

10:00 PM Unknown


September 20th 2011, Greenwillow Books
432 Pages, ARC
First in the Fire and Thorns series
Young Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
 
Opinion:

Newly turned 16 year old princess Elisa is a gift from God. She bears the Godstone, a special honor. She is expected to perform a great service to the people, one she doesn’t even know yet. Married off to the king of Joya d'Arena, Alejandro, Elisa is thrust in a world she hardly recognizes. In trying to find herself, she also delves into her faith and develops the makings of a great queen.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a high fantasy novel set in a beautiful world the reader can’t help but experience along with her. If only I could have a taste of all the delicious pastries! I was captivated by the adventure and the unpredictable plot.

Elisa represents all the imperfect girls out there. She starts off lazy and fat but as the novel develops, she gains confidence in herself and her new body image, which I can easily relate to. There was romance, but an unexpected and sweet one, which also kept me guessing and still does.

I enjoyed the debut and am eager to read Rae Carson’s next book in the series.

Rating:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme by Breaking the Spine that allows us bloggers a chance to spotlight upcoming books that we are dying to read!

Rie’s Pick

January 1st 2012, Kensington-Brava
TBA, Paperback
Third in the Changeling Series
Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves
RUN

Shadow and moonlight merge beneath her bare feet,
the forest floor blurring as she flees the dogs and torches. Werewolf, monster -- those are the names given her kind by the humans who hate them.

HUNT

Kenzie Macleod has spent her whole life hiding what she is, and she’s not about to open up to any man, even one as powerfully attractive as wildlife expert Josh Talarkoteen. But legend says that a Changeling cannot escape the call of her true mate, even in the wilderness of backcountry Alaska.

MATE

An isolated archeological site, a terrified Changeling cub, a secretive research center -- as Kenzie and Josh face the ultimate betrayal, his obsidian eyes promise untold pleasure and hint at dark secrets of his own
 Why I can’t wait:

Umm…have I mentioned my complete love of this series? So yeah, I’m in love. It’s one the best written, seductive books I’ve ever read. The characters are so alive. The setting is so real. I adore Dani Harper. Any more squeeing I should do. Yeah, if you haven’t read this series yet you really must.


Pabkin’s Picks


November 8th 2011, Tor Books
320 pages, Hardcover
Fourth in the Mistborn Series
Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves

Fresh from the success of The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson, best known for completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time®, takes a break to return to the world of the bestselling Mistborn series.


Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.


Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice.


One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn, who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will.  After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.
Why I can’t wait:

This is an unanticipated treat! - or it was when I heard about it.  The Mistborn series was originally just supposed to be a trilogy.  So imagine my CRAZY delight when I found out during a book signing last year that he was actually going to write another Mistborn book in this same world.  Of course I was salivating!  This author though relatively new has become in my mind an overnight sensation! He is finishing up Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and has also released AWESOME books of his own.  If you are a fantasy fan you simple MUST read his Mistborn series.  You won't regret it!




October 4th 2011, Baen Books
376 pages, Hardcover
First in the Stephanie Harrington Series
Young Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves

Stephanie Harrington absolutely hates being confined inside her family’s compound on the pioneer planet of Sphinx, a frontier wilderness world populated by dangerous native animals that could easily tear a human to bits and pieces. Yet Stephanie is a young woman determined to make discoveries—and the biggest discovery of all awaits her: an intelligent alien species.
 
Treecats are creatures that resemble a cross between a bobcat and a lemur (but with six legs and much more deadly claws). Not only are they fully sentient, they are also telepathic, and able to bond with certain gifted humans such as the genetically-enhanced Stephanie. But Stephanie’s find, and her first-of-its-kind bond with a treecat, brings on a new torrent of danger. An assortment of highly-placed enemies with galactic-sized wealth at stake is determined to make sure that the planet of Sphinx remains entirely in human hands—even if this means the extermination of another thinking species. Stephanie and Lionheart are about to undergo the greatest test two alien species can ever face together: how to survive first contact and win a future with liberty and justice for all!
 
The first entry in the Star Kingdom teen series and the origin saga for the incredibly-popular, multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling Honor Harrington adult science fiction adventures. Young Stephanie Harrington is none other than the founder of a pioneering family dynasty that is destined to lead the fight for humanity’s freedom in a dangerous galaxy.

Why I can’t wait:

This is the start to a new series that I have been seriously anticipating.  For those of you who have been following Mission to Read for awhile you know that Rie likes paranormal, dytopians and YA.  Well I'm here to shake things up because while I like all of that too I have a love for fantasy (think Tolkien), horror, and yes science fiction!

I know this one is going to be awesome because one of my favorite authors Anne McCaffrey says its "Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!"  Plus - it sounds like its going to have the most awesome alien race in it! TREECATS! Come on you cat lovers - how can you beat sentient, telepathic cats? I just don't know if its possible.  You can bet I've got this baby on pre-order!!

Waiting on Wednesday

10:00 PM Unknown


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme by Breaking the Spine that allows us bloggers a chance to spotlight upcoming books that we are dying to read!

Rie’s Pick

January 1st 2012, Kensington-Brava
TBA, Paperback
Third in the Changeling Series
Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves
RUN

Shadow and moonlight merge beneath her bare feet,
the forest floor blurring as she flees the dogs and torches. Werewolf, monster -- those are the names given her kind by the humans who hate them.

HUNT

Kenzie Macleod has spent her whole life hiding what she is, and she’s not about to open up to any man, even one as powerfully attractive as wildlife expert Josh Talarkoteen. But legend says that a Changeling cannot escape the call of her true mate, even in the wilderness of backcountry Alaska.

MATE

An isolated archeological site, a terrified Changeling cub, a secretive research center -- as Kenzie and Josh face the ultimate betrayal, his obsidian eyes promise untold pleasure and hint at dark secrets of his own
 Why I can’t wait:

Umm…have I mentioned my complete love of this series? So yeah, I’m in love. It’s one the best written, seductive books I’ve ever read. The characters are so alive. The setting is so real. I adore Dani Harper. Any more squeeing I should do. Yeah, if you haven’t read this series yet you really must.


Pabkin’s Picks


November 8th 2011, Tor Books
320 pages, Hardcover
Fourth in the Mistborn Series
Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves

Fresh from the success of The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson, best known for completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time®, takes a break to return to the world of the bestselling Mistborn series.


Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.


Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice.


One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn, who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will.  After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.
Why I can’t wait:

This is an unanticipated treat! - or it was when I heard about it.  The Mistborn series was originally just supposed to be a trilogy.  So imagine my CRAZY delight when I found out during a book signing last year that he was actually going to write another Mistborn book in this same world.  Of course I was salivating!  This author though relatively new has become in my mind an overnight sensation! He is finishing up Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and has also released AWESOME books of his own.  If you are a fantasy fan you simple MUST read his Mistborn series.  You won't regret it!




October 4th 2011, Baen Books
376 pages, Hardcover
First in the Stephanie Harrington Series
Young Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves

Stephanie Harrington absolutely hates being confined inside her family’s compound on the pioneer planet of Sphinx, a frontier wilderness world populated by dangerous native animals that could easily tear a human to bits and pieces. Yet Stephanie is a young woman determined to make discoveries—and the biggest discovery of all awaits her: an intelligent alien species.
 
Treecats are creatures that resemble a cross between a bobcat and a lemur (but with six legs and much more deadly claws). Not only are they fully sentient, they are also telepathic, and able to bond with certain gifted humans such as the genetically-enhanced Stephanie. But Stephanie’s find, and her first-of-its-kind bond with a treecat, brings on a new torrent of danger. An assortment of highly-placed enemies with galactic-sized wealth at stake is determined to make sure that the planet of Sphinx remains entirely in human hands—even if this means the extermination of another thinking species. Stephanie and Lionheart are about to undergo the greatest test two alien species can ever face together: how to survive first contact and win a future with liberty and justice for all!
 
The first entry in the Star Kingdom teen series and the origin saga for the incredibly-popular, multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling Honor Harrington adult science fiction adventures. Young Stephanie Harrington is none other than the founder of a pioneering family dynasty that is destined to lead the fight for humanity’s freedom in a dangerous galaxy.

Why I can’t wait:

This is the start to a new series that I have been seriously anticipating.  For those of you who have been following Mission to Read for awhile you know that Rie likes paranormal, dytopians and YA.  Well I'm here to shake things up because while I like all of that too I have a love for fantasy (think Tolkien), horror, and yes science fiction!

I know this one is going to be awesome because one of my favorite authors Anne McCaffrey says its "Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!"  Plus - it sounds like its going to have the most awesome alien race in it! TREECATS! Come on you cat lovers - how can you beat sentient, telepathic cats? I just don't know if its possible.  You can bet I've got this baby on pre-order!!

Monday, September 26, 2011


Design



I've started a new feature. Great Design is a way for me to showcase other book bloggers that have put the effort forward to learn how to do great design work. If you would like to be considered for this feature please fill out the form!


Rabid Reads
Blog Button Created by Parajunkee
Rabid Reads

What resources have you used in your design? Is there any websites you'd recommend for resources?


A lot of my knowledge comes from experience. I recently celebrated my 1 year blogoversary so a big part of my design is based upon trial and error. I'm also studying part-time in Web Design. Back when I started Rabid Reads I wasn't even in school yet so my knowledge of CSS was tenuous at best. My strength is in the coding aspect of design not in graphics. Sure, I've played around with Photoshop quite a bit but making an image from scratch is beyond my capabilities (maybe my next challenge?). By being a Paranormal Book Review blogger I had a hard time finding graphics with a "supernatural" feel to them. I didn't want a cutesey blog. I wanted a RABID blog. LOL So when I stumbled across Rieka Rafita's scrap kits I was in heaven! I wanted my blog to have a Red Riding Hood feel to it and lo and behold she had a kit that fit perfectly! Just be sure to ask her permission before using any of her work. 

What do you like most about your design?


The fact that I did it all myself! My first blog design was done by Rachel over at Parajunkee's View. It was a great starting point for a beginner blogger but it's hard to get exactly what you want without doing it yourself. My top banner also holds a special place in my heart. I worked tirelessly on it until I got it just right. I couldn't be more proud of it and I've been receiving plenty of kudos from my followers. Sometimes I just load my blog in a web browser and admire it. Is that weird? Hehe

What has been the biggest difficulty in getting your design to be how you want it?


I had a few problem areas. Coding can be very finicky! One small out-of-place punctuation can make everything go awry! I had a hard time getting the center of my blog background to be all one color and the same width. Everything kept shifting and the main background even vanished for a while. Talk about a lesson in patience! Now that I've figured it out though I'll remember forever! However, my absolute biggest problem was cross browser compatibility. Unfortunately, the bulk of web surfers still use MS Internet Explorer (why that is still baffles me; try Google Chrome people!). My blog would display exactly as expected on every other platform, at every possible screen resolution, even mobile except when IE was involved. It's seriously the bane of my blogging existence! I had to research special code to compensate for its difficult temperament. Even now, the design isn't identical in all browsers but it's close enough that I've just accepted that it'll never be perfect.

Have you enjoyed learning about design?


Absolutely! Growing up I loved to draw and according to my art teachers I was pretty good at it too. Then the internet made its appearance (yes I just dated myself) and I was hooked on all things technology. I didn't end up studying Web Design right off the bat because back in the day there was crazy Math and Science requirements. Now it's much more lax. Unless you're designing software you don't need to be mad smart to get into a Design program. It was my mom who actually suggested that I study web design. Of course I ignored her at the time, but as I'm slowly learning the hard way, mother's are often times right! Sometimes it's a love/hate relationship. JavaScript for example is my arch nemesis! On the other hand, I'm rather enjoying PHP. Like everything else, learning about design has its ups and downs but overall its been a labor of love for me. Running Rabid Reads has given me even more motivation to continue. My friends and family are so proud. I'm always shocked when we're out and I catch one of them working it into the conversation.
Thanks so much for having me Rie! I really appreciate what you're doing to help promote fellow designers!

I personally adore Carmel and her designs! I totally agree with her on web browers, why people continue to use IE or even Firefox confuses me. Chrome is where it’s at people!


Thanks for being with us today Carmel!


Great Designs: Carmel from Rabid Reads

10:00 PM Unknown

Design



I've started a new feature. Great Design is a way for me to showcase other book bloggers that have put the effort forward to learn how to do great design work. If you would like to be considered for this feature please fill out the form!


Rabid Reads
Blog Button Created by Parajunkee
Rabid Reads

What resources have you used in your design? Is there any websites you'd recommend for resources?


A lot of my knowledge comes from experience. I recently celebrated my 1 year blogoversary so a big part of my design is based upon trial and error. I'm also studying part-time in Web Design. Back when I started Rabid Reads I wasn't even in school yet so my knowledge of CSS was tenuous at best. My strength is in the coding aspect of design not in graphics. Sure, I've played around with Photoshop quite a bit but making an image from scratch is beyond my capabilities (maybe my next challenge?). By being a Paranormal Book Review blogger I had a hard time finding graphics with a "supernatural" feel to them. I didn't want a cutesey blog. I wanted a RABID blog. LOL So when I stumbled across Rieka Rafita's scrap kits I was in heaven! I wanted my blog to have a Red Riding Hood feel to it and lo and behold she had a kit that fit perfectly! Just be sure to ask her permission before using any of her work. 

What do you like most about your design?


The fact that I did it all myself! My first blog design was done by Rachel over at Parajunkee's View. It was a great starting point for a beginner blogger but it's hard to get exactly what you want without doing it yourself. My top banner also holds a special place in my heart. I worked tirelessly on it until I got it just right. I couldn't be more proud of it and I've been receiving plenty of kudos from my followers. Sometimes I just load my blog in a web browser and admire it. Is that weird? Hehe

What has been the biggest difficulty in getting your design to be how you want it?


I had a few problem areas. Coding can be very finicky! One small out-of-place punctuation can make everything go awry! I had a hard time getting the center of my blog background to be all one color and the same width. Everything kept shifting and the main background even vanished for a while. Talk about a lesson in patience! Now that I've figured it out though I'll remember forever! However, my absolute biggest problem was cross browser compatibility. Unfortunately, the bulk of web surfers still use MS Internet Explorer (why that is still baffles me; try Google Chrome people!). My blog would display exactly as expected on every other platform, at every possible screen resolution, even mobile except when IE was involved. It's seriously the bane of my blogging existence! I had to research special code to compensate for its difficult temperament. Even now, the design isn't identical in all browsers but it's close enough that I've just accepted that it'll never be perfect.

Have you enjoyed learning about design?


Absolutely! Growing up I loved to draw and according to my art teachers I was pretty good at it too. Then the internet made its appearance (yes I just dated myself) and I was hooked on all things technology. I didn't end up studying Web Design right off the bat because back in the day there was crazy Math and Science requirements. Now it's much more lax. Unless you're designing software you don't need to be mad smart to get into a Design program. It was my mom who actually suggested that I study web design. Of course I ignored her at the time, but as I'm slowly learning the hard way, mother's are often times right! Sometimes it's a love/hate relationship. JavaScript for example is my arch nemesis! On the other hand, I'm rather enjoying PHP. Like everything else, learning about design has its ups and downs but overall its been a labor of love for me. Running Rabid Reads has given me even more motivation to continue. My friends and family are so proud. I'm always shocked when we're out and I catch one of them working it into the conversation.
Thanks so much for having me Rie! I really appreciate what you're doing to help promote fellow designers!

I personally adore Carmel and her designs! I totally agree with her on web browers, why people continue to use IE or even Firefox confuses me. Chrome is where it’s at people!


Thanks for being with us today Carmel!


Sunday, September 25, 2011


August 2nd 2011, Vanguard Press
288 pages, Paperback
FSB Associates
Adult Fiction

Humans and Demons and Elves

When Nicole Whitcomb's car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger.

Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension.

Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live alone in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret--or secrets--is he hiding?


Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from--but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her--a profoundly meaningful experience that is destined to change their lives forever.

As the sexual tension between them builds, however, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns her host's terrifying secret, there is nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and Michael may be the only one who can save her life.
  Cover Review:

Beautiful snowy cover and I adore the bloody snow.You can find a rewarding career working for publishers creating eye catching book covers like this with this graphic design college.

Opinion:

This is a artistic and beautiful love story (not romance) much like the character of Michael. I didn’t fall in love with Nicole. This was primarily due to the fact that she was hiding so much of herself until the end. It was great character development, but left me just being meh about her.

The love story is at the center of this book and could have easily been simply a contemporary love story with both parties having dark secrets from their past. The tale of Michael’s past was on of my favorite parts of this book.

The book built a great foundation for love through admiration, trust and honesty. This happened mostly from Michael’s side, but at the very end we finally got to touch on Nicole’s truth.
.
This is a love story, but is not a romance. A heartbreakingly beautiful love story at that.

Rating:


Nocturne by Syrie James

10:00 PM Unknown

August 2nd 2011, Vanguard Press
288 pages, Paperback
FSB Associates
Adult Fiction

Humans and Demons and Elves

When Nicole Whitcomb's car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger.

Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension.

Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live alone in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret--or secrets--is he hiding?


Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from--but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her--a profoundly meaningful experience that is destined to change their lives forever.

As the sexual tension between them builds, however, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns her host's terrifying secret, there is nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and Michael may be the only one who can save her life.
  Cover Review:

Beautiful snowy cover and I adore the bloody snow.You can find a rewarding career working for publishers creating eye catching book covers like this with this graphic design college.

Opinion:

This is a artistic and beautiful love story (not romance) much like the character of Michael. I didn’t fall in love with Nicole. This was primarily due to the fact that she was hiding so much of herself until the end. It was great character development, but left me just being meh about her.

The love story is at the center of this book and could have easily been simply a contemporary love story with both parties having dark secrets from their past. The tale of Michael’s past was on of my favorite parts of this book.

The book built a great foundation for love through admiration, trust and honesty. This happened mostly from Michael’s side, but at the very end we finally got to touch on Nicole’s truth.
.
This is a love story, but is not a romance. A heartbreakingly beautiful love story at that.

Rating:


Saturday, September 24, 2011



Banning books is one of those things I usually ignore to the best of my ability in order for it to not raise my blood pressure. This conservative undertaking is like watching Fox news or hearing finger nails on a chalkboard. Since today is the kick off the week long celebration of those books that have been banned I thought I’d do a post on some of my favorites that have been frequently banned within the last few years. All books are pulled from ALA Frequently banned list and if I’ve reviewed it a link to the review.

2010- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- Why this book is banned is beyond me. This book is about striving to take care of ones family even if that means death. About questioning a corrupt government and about what it means to be a friend. How any of these are things that you wouldn’t want your children to exhibit is beside me.

2009- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- This book was one that was required reading within my school, but it is another one that has a great message behind it. How judgments, not only about race, can create travesties that would not happen otherwise.

2008- Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- I haven’t read any of the books on the list for this year, but this one is a book I must read after Ginger at G-reads review and constant love of this book.

2007- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman- This one has a label of being atheist fiction, since the author is atheist and the structure of the schooling is much like the Catholic church. First of all how can something be pulled on religious rights? I’m pretty sure we have religious freedom in this country. But other than that how can a book that portrays undying friendship and the sacrifices one must make in order to protect those friends be seen as anything other than good?

What books have been banned that you don’t think should have been? Which book is your favorite from the banned book list?

Banned Books

1:35 PM Unknown


Banning books is one of those things I usually ignore to the best of my ability in order for it to not raise my blood pressure. This conservative undertaking is like watching Fox news or hearing finger nails on a chalkboard. Since today is the kick off the week long celebration of those books that have been banned I thought I’d do a post on some of my favorites that have been frequently banned within the last few years. All books are pulled from ALA Frequently banned list and if I’ve reviewed it a link to the review.

2010- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- Why this book is banned is beyond me. This book is about striving to take care of ones family even if that means death. About questioning a corrupt government and about what it means to be a friend. How any of these are things that you wouldn’t want your children to exhibit is beside me.

2009- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- This book was one that was required reading within my school, but it is another one that has a great message behind it. How judgments, not only about race, can create travesties that would not happen otherwise.

2008- Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- I haven’t read any of the books on the list for this year, but this one is a book I must read after Ginger at G-reads review and constant love of this book.

2007- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman- This one has a label of being atheist fiction, since the author is atheist and the structure of the schooling is much like the Catholic church. First of all how can something be pulled on religious rights? I’m pretty sure we have religious freedom in this country. But other than that how can a book that portrays undying friendship and the sacrifices one must make in order to protect those friends be seen as anything other than good?

What books have been banned that you don’t think should have been? Which book is your favorite from the banned book list?

Thursday, September 22, 2011




Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View.

This week's question:

Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep on revisiting it?


Answer:

Rie- I don’t really re-read series, but anything by historical author Julie Garwood.

Pabkins- Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files and Kim Harrison’s The Hallows.


This week’s question:

Reading Challenges: Did you sign up for any this year? 

How has your progression been?

Answer:

Rie- Yes, a shitload of them, but I forgot which ones and haven’t kept up with.

Pabkins- I’m a total newbie and haven’t a chance to sign up for any.

                                         

Follow Friday

11:02 PM Unknown



Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee's View.

This week's question:

Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep on revisiting it?


Answer:

Rie- I don’t really re-read series, but anything by historical author Julie Garwood.

Pabkins- Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files and Kim Harrison’s The Hallows.


This week’s question:

Reading Challenges: Did you sign up for any this year? 

How has your progression been?

Answer:

Rie- Yes, a shitload of them, but I forgot which ones and haven’t kept up with.

Pabkins- I’m a total newbie and haven’t a chance to sign up for any.

                                         

Wednesday, September 21, 2011



September 6th 2011 by Simon & Schuster
512 pages, ARC Paperback
Won from Goodreads, First Reads Contest
First in Hunter Chronicles
Middle-Grade Fiction


Humans and Demons and Elves

ONE BOY. UNTOLD ENEMIES. A WHOLE WORLD TO SAVE. TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

Eleven years ago, a shattered band of ancient hunters captured an unimaginable evil and Phineas T. Pimiscule rescued his nephew, Sky, from the wreckage of that great battle. For eleven years, Sky Weathers has studied traps, puzzles, science, and the secret lore of the Hunters of Legend, believing it all a game. For eleven years, Sky and his family have hidden from dark enemies while, unbeknownst to Sky, his uncle Phineas sacrificed everything to protect them. For eleven years, Sky Weathers has known nothing of that day. But on the eve of Sky’s twelfth birthday and his family’s long-awaited return to Exile, everything changes. Phineas has disappeared, and Sky finds himself forced to confront the mysterious secrets he’s denied for so long: why did his family leave Exile on that day so long ago? What, exactly, has Phineas been preparing him for? And, the biggest mystery of all, who is Sky really and why does everyone want to kill him?!

Opinion:

I won this ARC from a First Reads, Goodreads contest shortly after I started using my Goodreads account more actively.  Oddly this is the same time I found out about the book blogging world.  It took quite some time for the ARC to arrive – in fact it arrived just one week before the actual book was to be released.   Given how fat this book is for middle-grade fiction, it took me quite some time to finish it – 20 days infact.  Now normally 500 pages wouldn’t phase me, but I was in one of my moods of wanting to craft rather than read and I didn’t fancy the idea of a “children’s” book at the moment. 

So my thoughts on this book – I enjoyed it, I really did.  There was plenty of mystery, action, riddles to solve, snarky humor and my favorite thing – MONSTERS!  Who doesn’t love a good bit of monster action?  I know I do – heck I collect them!  Plus it’s so nice when a book keeps you guessing right til the very en- d.

  There were often moments when I couldn’t get at all what might happen next.  It was full of plenty of unexpected moments and had just enough hints here and there for you to have those “ah hahs” and know that the scene is being set up for later on and that perhaps that bit you ought to hang onto and remember.  I really liked that and I think the younger audience will enjoy that.  It helps you to get into the story and think you are solving the puzzles right along with the main character.

Now with all that said - I didn’t really start enjoying it thoroughly until one third of the way in.  I think I was turned off to the fact that it was so thick for the genre it is aimed at.  I kept thinking while reading it that its target age group didn’t seem to fit quite right.  I have two twin nephews that are 9 years old – I don’t think they could pick this hefty book up until they were at least 14 which is the tail end of the age range it is categorized in.  Though I do think they would enjoy it if I read it aloud to them (accompanied with all the funny voices of course). 

One concern I had was I don’t think the mental images of most of the characters were built well enough.  I could only successfully conjure up mental pictures of three of the characters.  A few times I went back to the physical descriptions of the children so I could better get a mental grip of them again.  The small bits of backstory you got on each character helped add mystery to the story but I often wished there were a bit more by the time the book ended.  One in particular I felt lacked in background so much so that it made it difficult for me to latch onto her emotionally (Crystal). 

In the end, I would definitely recommend this book to readers that enjoyed the Harry Potter series.  I really like the main character Sky a lot as well as his supporting cast and think he was a well rounded out character.  He had a good balance of redeeming qualities and flaws which made him very endearing.  I definitely plan to read the next one in this series!

Rating:



Return to Exile by E.J. Patten

10:12 PM Unknown


September 6th 2011 by Simon & Schuster
512 pages, ARC Paperback
Won from Goodreads, First Reads Contest
First in Hunter Chronicles
Middle-Grade Fiction


Humans and Demons and Elves

ONE BOY. UNTOLD ENEMIES. A WHOLE WORLD TO SAVE. TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

Eleven years ago, a shattered band of ancient hunters captured an unimaginable evil and Phineas T. Pimiscule rescued his nephew, Sky, from the wreckage of that great battle. For eleven years, Sky Weathers has studied traps, puzzles, science, and the secret lore of the Hunters of Legend, believing it all a game. For eleven years, Sky and his family have hidden from dark enemies while, unbeknownst to Sky, his uncle Phineas sacrificed everything to protect them. For eleven years, Sky Weathers has known nothing of that day. But on the eve of Sky’s twelfth birthday and his family’s long-awaited return to Exile, everything changes. Phineas has disappeared, and Sky finds himself forced to confront the mysterious secrets he’s denied for so long: why did his family leave Exile on that day so long ago? What, exactly, has Phineas been preparing him for? And, the biggest mystery of all, who is Sky really and why does everyone want to kill him?!

Opinion:

I won this ARC from a First Reads, Goodreads contest shortly after I started using my Goodreads account more actively.  Oddly this is the same time I found out about the book blogging world.  It took quite some time for the ARC to arrive – in fact it arrived just one week before the actual book was to be released.   Given how fat this book is for middle-grade fiction, it took me quite some time to finish it – 20 days infact.  Now normally 500 pages wouldn’t phase me, but I was in one of my moods of wanting to craft rather than read and I didn’t fancy the idea of a “children’s” book at the moment. 

So my thoughts on this book – I enjoyed it, I really did.  There was plenty of mystery, action, riddles to solve, snarky humor and my favorite thing – MONSTERS!  Who doesn’t love a good bit of monster action?  I know I do – heck I collect them!  Plus it’s so nice when a book keeps you guessing right til the very en- d.

  There were often moments when I couldn’t get at all what might happen next.  It was full of plenty of unexpected moments and had just enough hints here and there for you to have those “ah hahs” and know that the scene is being set up for later on and that perhaps that bit you ought to hang onto and remember.  I really liked that and I think the younger audience will enjoy that.  It helps you to get into the story and think you are solving the puzzles right along with the main character.

Now with all that said - I didn’t really start enjoying it thoroughly until one third of the way in.  I think I was turned off to the fact that it was so thick for the genre it is aimed at.  I kept thinking while reading it that its target age group didn’t seem to fit quite right.  I have two twin nephews that are 9 years old – I don’t think they could pick this hefty book up until they were at least 14 which is the tail end of the age range it is categorized in.  Though I do think they would enjoy it if I read it aloud to them (accompanied with all the funny voices of course). 

One concern I had was I don’t think the mental images of most of the characters were built well enough.  I could only successfully conjure up mental pictures of three of the characters.  A few times I went back to the physical descriptions of the children so I could better get a mental grip of them again.  The small bits of backstory you got on each character helped add mystery to the story but I often wished there were a bit more by the time the book ended.  One in particular I felt lacked in background so much so that it made it difficult for me to latch onto her emotionally (Crystal). 

In the end, I would definitely recommend this book to readers that enjoyed the Harry Potter series.  I really like the main character Sky a lot as well as his supporting cast and think he was a well rounded out character.  He had a good balance of redeeming qualities and flaws which made him very endearing.  I definitely plan to read the next one in this series!

Rating:



After internet was installed it went back out six hours later. Long story short, 4 technicians and countless hours with customer service we just at 9 p.m. tonight got service back up and running.

So yeah, sorry about not having anything up. I’ll be getting a review from Pabkins up for review later today.

Because of this delay the birthday bonanza will not be starting until October 1st and ending on the 8th.

Everything should come back to normal immediately.


Okay…finally back

7:24 PM Unknown
After internet was installed it went back out six hours later. Long story short, 4 technicians and countless hours with customer service we just at 9 p.m. tonight got service back up and running.

So yeah, sorry about not having anything up. I’ll be getting a review from Pabkins up for review later today.

Because of this delay the birthday bonanza will not be starting until October 1st and ending on the 8th.

Everything should come back to normal immediately.


Tuesday, September 20, 2011



October 17th 2010, Deadite Press
308 pages, Paperback
Personally purchased through Amazon during one of my zombie binge buying sprees – Hey what can I say – a girl’s gotta be prepared!
Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves
Battle Royale meets Return of the Living Dead in this post-apocalyptic action adventure.

Twenty people wake to find themselves in a boarded-up building in the middle of the zombie wasteland. They soon realize they have been chosen as contestants on a popular reality show called Zombie Survival. Each contestant is given a backpack of supplies and a unique weapon. Their goal: be the first to make it through the zombie-plagued city to the pick-up zone alive. But because there's only one seat available on the helicopter, the contestants not only have to fight off the hordes of the living dead, they must also fight each other.

Zombies and Shit is Mellick's craziest book to date. A campy, trashy, punk rock gore fest that is as funny as it is brutal, as sad as it is strange. An edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that twists the zombie genre into something you've never seen before.
 
Opinion:

Heads up to those with a delicate stomach! – This zombie book steps over the edge of graphic and a few times into the realms of disgusting!

This is one of the strangest books I have yet to read, with that said I got a huge flipping kick out of it!  If you think you can handle some really crazy stuff and you are jonsezing for some zombie action – you should definitely give this book a try.  It is a quick action packed read.

One of the things I loved about this book was the photo roster at the beginning of the book (and throughout the book).  It shows you thumbnail black and white sketches of all 20 zombie survivalists.  As you progress through the book it shows you the photo roster again a handful of times with the people that have had their goose cooked blacked out.  An important thing to note is this book swaps points of view almost every chapter to a different character.  One moment you think you know what is going to happen but the fact of the matter is – you really just can’t – not with this author Mellick.

Some of this had me laughing out loud, while a few short bits had me biting back the bile rising in my throat.  I think it gives you a real glimpse into what could potentially happen if the zombie crud were to really hit the fan.  It’s sick, twisted, with dark humor and a few unexpected heartwarming moments.  This goes way beyond gritty.  I highly recommend it to the veteran zombie fan who is in need of something new!

Partly in honor of my first review here at Mission to Read – my sister Rinni has handmade an awesome Zombie plush bunny!  Just pop on over to her blog for quite a few chances to win this adorable yet creepy little critter!


Click here to go to RINNI’S PLAYGROUND for a chance to win!


Rating:



Today is the start of September Zombies over at VVB32 Reads - She has a ooey gooey pile of zombie goodness over there - so check her out!  Quite a few bloggers, including myself, have written "I'm trapped" posts for the event!

Zombies and Shit by Carlton Mellick III & Zombie Plush Giveaway!!

12:00 AM Unknown


October 17th 2010, Deadite Press
308 pages, Paperback
Personally purchased through Amazon during one of my zombie binge buying sprees – Hey what can I say – a girl’s gotta be prepared!
Adult

Humans and Demons and Elves
Battle Royale meets Return of the Living Dead in this post-apocalyptic action adventure.

Twenty people wake to find themselves in a boarded-up building in the middle of the zombie wasteland. They soon realize they have been chosen as contestants on a popular reality show called Zombie Survival. Each contestant is given a backpack of supplies and a unique weapon. Their goal: be the first to make it through the zombie-plagued city to the pick-up zone alive. But because there's only one seat available on the helicopter, the contestants not only have to fight off the hordes of the living dead, they must also fight each other.

Zombies and Shit is Mellick's craziest book to date. A campy, trashy, punk rock gore fest that is as funny as it is brutal, as sad as it is strange. An edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that twists the zombie genre into something you've never seen before.
 
Opinion:

Heads up to those with a delicate stomach! – This zombie book steps over the edge of graphic and a few times into the realms of disgusting!

This is one of the strangest books I have yet to read, with that said I got a huge flipping kick out of it!  If you think you can handle some really crazy stuff and you are jonsezing for some zombie action – you should definitely give this book a try.  It is a quick action packed read.

One of the things I loved about this book was the photo roster at the beginning of the book (and throughout the book).  It shows you thumbnail black and white sketches of all 20 zombie survivalists.  As you progress through the book it shows you the photo roster again a handful of times with the people that have had their goose cooked blacked out.  An important thing to note is this book swaps points of view almost every chapter to a different character.  One moment you think you know what is going to happen but the fact of the matter is – you really just can’t – not with this author Mellick.

Some of this had me laughing out loud, while a few short bits had me biting back the bile rising in my throat.  I think it gives you a real glimpse into what could potentially happen if the zombie crud were to really hit the fan.  It’s sick, twisted, with dark humor and a few unexpected heartwarming moments.  This goes way beyond gritty.  I highly recommend it to the veteran zombie fan who is in need of something new!

Partly in honor of my first review here at Mission to Read – my sister Rinni has handmade an awesome Zombie plush bunny!  Just pop on over to her blog for quite a few chances to win this adorable yet creepy little critter!


Click here to go to RINNI’S PLAYGROUND for a chance to win!


Rating:



Today is the start of September Zombies over at VVB32 Reads - She has a ooey gooey pile of zombie goodness over there - so check her out!  Quite a few bloggers, including myself, have written "I'm trapped" posts for the event!

Monday, September 19, 2011



Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.


After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.


To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.
 10 Facts from Braden (the main character of Witch Eyes)

1. Translating Latin that was originally translated (poorly) from Sumerian is the most monotonous job in the world. I'd rather be reading Moby Dick and writing a research paper. Or building a paper mache volcano or something.

2. You misuse magic at a football game one time, and you're not allowed out of the house for six months.

3. The one and only time I tried to be a vegetarian, I only did it to drive my uncle crazy. I lasted three long days until he grilled hamburgers. My mind was willing, but my stomach was weak. Touché, Uncle John.

4. Not only can I burp the alphabet, but I can burp the winners of every cycle of America's Next Top Model.

5. I own more pairs of sunglasses than shirts.

6. The scariest thing I've ever seen is the...phantom of this little girl who lived down the street from us. The house was always arctic, and she sat in one of the windows, screaming and pounding her fists against the glass in slow motion. However she died, it was bad. Now she can't leave.

7. Growing up, my uncle always tried to teach me to play soccer. I just wanted to go back to my book.

8. I've lost track of how many times I've almost died.

9. I hate tomatoes, but love tomato sauce.

10. If I could join any team at school, I would run track. Running is the perfect activity, you put distance between yourself and where all your problems started.

Guest Post: 10 Facts about Braden from Witch Eyes

8:01 PM Unknown


Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.


After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.


To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.
 10 Facts from Braden (the main character of Witch Eyes)

1. Translating Latin that was originally translated (poorly) from Sumerian is the most monotonous job in the world. I'd rather be reading Moby Dick and writing a research paper. Or building a paper mache volcano or something.

2. You misuse magic at a football game one time, and you're not allowed out of the house for six months.

3. The one and only time I tried to be a vegetarian, I only did it to drive my uncle crazy. I lasted three long days until he grilled hamburgers. My mind was willing, but my stomach was weak. Touché, Uncle John.

4. Not only can I burp the alphabet, but I can burp the winners of every cycle of America's Next Top Model.

5. I own more pairs of sunglasses than shirts.

6. The scariest thing I've ever seen is the...phantom of this little girl who lived down the street from us. The house was always arctic, and she sat in one of the windows, screaming and pounding her fists against the glass in slow motion. However she died, it was bad. Now she can't leave.

7. Growing up, my uncle always tried to teach me to play soccer. I just wanted to go back to my book.

8. I've lost track of how many times I've almost died.

9. I hate tomatoes, but love tomato sauce.

10. If I could join any team at school, I would run track. Running is the perfect activity, you put distance between yourself and where all your problems started.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Yay! I'm officially moved! I adore the new place. The carpet! OMG its like walking on air and although it is much smaller(1800 sq. feet smaller to be exact) it will be a breeze to maintain.

I will not be getting internet until tomorrow, so posts resume on Tues.

I'll post pics of the new place as soon as I get my bookshelves together.

Moved

12:45 PM Unknown
Yay! I'm officially moved! I adore the new place. The carpet! OMG its like walking on air and although it is much smaller(1800 sq. feet smaller to be exact) it will be a breeze to maintain.

I will not be getting internet until tomorrow, so posts resume on Tues.

I'll post pics of the new place as soon as I get my bookshelves together.

Friday, September 16, 2011


I will be hosting a feature Little Known Blogs, in order to give the spotlight to blogs that I love that deserve a little more attention. In order to be considered for this feature you must have less than 200 followers and have great content. If you’d like to be considered for this feature please fill out the form!. Every entry to the Little Known Blog field enters you to win a new design if you click that you want to be entered.

This month’s feature:

Once Upon A Time


Why did you start your blog?

Originally, my blog was started as a personal blog. I had a gaming blog and I wanted a spare blog to just post my thoughts, somewhere a little more private, but as time went on I started using the space more and then I got back into reading and I joined Goodreads and discovered In My Mailbox which, despite not really being a book blogger specifically when I started that one, was a fun bit of content for me as a book buying addict. It really was more of a gradual transition from one interest to another as opposed to a direct reason. But primarily, I love reading and for some reason, I love writing reviews.

What is your favorite part of blogging?


The community, hands down. When I first started browsing book blogs I was so daunted I didn't know where to look. There are literally hundreds, probably thousands, of book blogs out there that I was a little scared, but it's really not that bad. Once you start networking and joining in with memes and read-a-thons and other events going on around the blogosphere all the time, you start to meet people and talk to them and there are some really fantastic people in this community. I haven't noticed any drama or bad feelings yet and I'd like to keep it that way. It's fun and it's friendly.

What book is your current obsession? (The one that you're so in love with at the moment)


Mmm this changes from week to week! Haha. And I'm so busy getting through my review pile before I can dig into anything specific at the moment. But I am really craving fantasy, particularly the epic kind. It's my main love, and not just in fiction, and I haven't read any in months! I need my 'magic-sword-wielding hero going on an epic quest to do stuff with dragons and dark lords while a wizard accompanies him and maybe there are elves and dwarves' fix.

What do you when you aren't blogging or reading?


I'm a casual gamer. I absolutely love fantasy MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online.. that doesn't sound right, but 'online games'), my main one being World of Warcraft which I go off and then get back into regularly, but I also enjoy Lord of the Rings Online, Guild Wars, Rift.. I can only afford one subscription fee though and don't have the computer space for all! Fantasy RPGs though, not that I've completed many of the single player kind. Had Dragon Age for a very long time and still haven't bothered to finish. Consoles aren't really my thing. Though Facebook has gone and got me back into The Sims. Hoping to get some of the expansions and stuff packs to go with my Sims 3 at some point.

What post should we go check out?


I started a series a while back, mostly aimed at folk in the UK because that's where my expertise lies, called Budget Booking. I haven't been able to continue with it yet but my first post on libraries did go up.

Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen.


Married With Zombies has been described as a romantic comedy. I prefer to think of it more like when chick lit meets the zombie apocalypse. Does that sound like basically the same thing? Perhaps, though to me it doesn’t particularly feel like a romance as much as a story about zombies with a couple going through marital problems in its midst. Each chapter gives you a new piece of marital advice for the couple living through the zombie apocalypse. These are both fitting and funny.

This is a story about a couple who are on the brink of divorce. Weekly, they see an overpriced marriage counsellor, and they are very close to giving up on each other when things start to get a bit weird. First off, they find their marriage counsellor tucking into her previous clients and have to fend her off with her own shoe before she can eat them too. Once they escape, they discover that this wasn’t just a one off thing but is in fact widespread throughout Seattle and they know they have to get out and fast. Who would have thought that all their relationship needed was a zombie apocalypse? Married With Zombies is all about Sarah and David’s journey to find safety and their family and the obstacles they have to overcome along the way.
The story is told from the perspective of Sarah, the female protagonist, with a little bit of hindsight. Though she never really says how long has passed in this one, it does give a nice touch of a developing story and it’s comforting to know that she survives at least this book, else of course she couldn’t be telling us what happened. The thing I like the most about Sarah and David is how they are just normal people with normal problems stumbling through this apocalypse together and in the face of survival, they become a little badass. Not ridiculously so, they still have their close calls and they go through an awful lot just to stay alive and that’s what makes them so perfect. Their flaws. They’re frightened, shaking, sick, in shock, as any normal person would be if suddenly their normality was overrun by zombies.

Sarah’s voice sprinkles humour throughout the story, making light of the horrible situations they inevitably keep coming across, which is especially welcome if you’re a little squeamish. There’s a lot of brain splatter and goo. Though it is a very well-balanced story. The zombie genre is treated with respect, and when the situation gets a little too horrible, Sarah ceases joking about it. Jesse Petersen gives Married With Zombies great attention to detail. She considers the little things that a lot of writers wouldn’t. Such as, you start shooting zombies, you have an efficient way to get rid of zombies, but if you’re not careful you will run out of ammo and the noise and commotion will draw more to you.

There are an incredible amount of pop culture references in here, which reminds you that this novel doesn’t take itself too seriously which was something that I particularly loved about it, though I sometimes felt that there were a few too many. I also found some of the dialogue a little bit limp. It wasn’t all bad, but these are the kinds of things that took away a little from my enjoyment of the novel.

Married With Zombies is a fun and easy to read story that I would definitely recommend to zombie fans, you will notice a lot of the same old zombie tropes in this series but the way in which it is written and the characters in it and the way they handle their situation is what makes it a great read. If you aren’t a zombie fan, read this, and you soon will be.

Little Known Blogs: Hannah from Once Upon a Time

9:52 PM Unknown

I will be hosting a feature Little Known Blogs, in order to give the spotlight to blogs that I love that deserve a little more attention. In order to be considered for this feature you must have less than 200 followers and have great content. If you’d like to be considered for this feature please fill out the form!. Every entry to the Little Known Blog field enters you to win a new design if you click that you want to be entered.

This month’s feature:

Once Upon A Time


Why did you start your blog?

Originally, my blog was started as a personal blog. I had a gaming blog and I wanted a spare blog to just post my thoughts, somewhere a little more private, but as time went on I started using the space more and then I got back into reading and I joined Goodreads and discovered In My Mailbox which, despite not really being a book blogger specifically when I started that one, was a fun bit of content for me as a book buying addict. It really was more of a gradual transition from one interest to another as opposed to a direct reason. But primarily, I love reading and for some reason, I love writing reviews.

What is your favorite part of blogging?


The community, hands down. When I first started browsing book blogs I was so daunted I didn't know where to look. There are literally hundreds, probably thousands, of book blogs out there that I was a little scared, but it's really not that bad. Once you start networking and joining in with memes and read-a-thons and other events going on around the blogosphere all the time, you start to meet people and talk to them and there are some really fantastic people in this community. I haven't noticed any drama or bad feelings yet and I'd like to keep it that way. It's fun and it's friendly.

What book is your current obsession? (The one that you're so in love with at the moment)


Mmm this changes from week to week! Haha. And I'm so busy getting through my review pile before I can dig into anything specific at the moment. But I am really craving fantasy, particularly the epic kind. It's my main love, and not just in fiction, and I haven't read any in months! I need my 'magic-sword-wielding hero going on an epic quest to do stuff with dragons and dark lords while a wizard accompanies him and maybe there are elves and dwarves' fix.

What do you when you aren't blogging or reading?


I'm a casual gamer. I absolutely love fantasy MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online.. that doesn't sound right, but 'online games'), my main one being World of Warcraft which I go off and then get back into regularly, but I also enjoy Lord of the Rings Online, Guild Wars, Rift.. I can only afford one subscription fee though and don't have the computer space for all! Fantasy RPGs though, not that I've completed many of the single player kind. Had Dragon Age for a very long time and still haven't bothered to finish. Consoles aren't really my thing. Though Facebook has gone and got me back into The Sims. Hoping to get some of the expansions and stuff packs to go with my Sims 3 at some point.

What post should we go check out?


I started a series a while back, mostly aimed at folk in the UK because that's where my expertise lies, called Budget Booking. I haven't been able to continue with it yet but my first post on libraries did go up.

Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen.


Married With Zombies has been described as a romantic comedy. I prefer to think of it more like when chick lit meets the zombie apocalypse. Does that sound like basically the same thing? Perhaps, though to me it doesn’t particularly feel like a romance as much as a story about zombies with a couple going through marital problems in its midst. Each chapter gives you a new piece of marital advice for the couple living through the zombie apocalypse. These are both fitting and funny.

This is a story about a couple who are on the brink of divorce. Weekly, they see an overpriced marriage counsellor, and they are very close to giving up on each other when things start to get a bit weird. First off, they find their marriage counsellor tucking into her previous clients and have to fend her off with her own shoe before she can eat them too. Once they escape, they discover that this wasn’t just a one off thing but is in fact widespread throughout Seattle and they know they have to get out and fast. Who would have thought that all their relationship needed was a zombie apocalypse? Married With Zombies is all about Sarah and David’s journey to find safety and their family and the obstacles they have to overcome along the way.
The story is told from the perspective of Sarah, the female protagonist, with a little bit of hindsight. Though she never really says how long has passed in this one, it does give a nice touch of a developing story and it’s comforting to know that she survives at least this book, else of course she couldn’t be telling us what happened. The thing I like the most about Sarah and David is how they are just normal people with normal problems stumbling through this apocalypse together and in the face of survival, they become a little badass. Not ridiculously so, they still have their close calls and they go through an awful lot just to stay alive and that’s what makes them so perfect. Their flaws. They’re frightened, shaking, sick, in shock, as any normal person would be if suddenly their normality was overrun by zombies.

Sarah’s voice sprinkles humour throughout the story, making light of the horrible situations they inevitably keep coming across, which is especially welcome if you’re a little squeamish. There’s a lot of brain splatter and goo. Though it is a very well-balanced story. The zombie genre is treated with respect, and when the situation gets a little too horrible, Sarah ceases joking about it. Jesse Petersen gives Married With Zombies great attention to detail. She considers the little things that a lot of writers wouldn’t. Such as, you start shooting zombies, you have an efficient way to get rid of zombies, but if you’re not careful you will run out of ammo and the noise and commotion will draw more to you.

There are an incredible amount of pop culture references in here, which reminds you that this novel doesn’t take itself too seriously which was something that I particularly loved about it, though I sometimes felt that there were a few too many. I also found some of the dialogue a little bit limp. It wasn’t all bad, but these are the kinds of things that took away a little from my enjoyment of the novel.

Married With Zombies is a fun and easy to read story that I would definitely recommend to zombie fans, you will notice a lot of the same old zombie tropes in this series but the way in which it is written and the characters in it and the way they handle their situation is what makes it a great read. If you aren’t a zombie fan, read this, and you soon will be.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Did I mention I’m moving? Yeah, like a million times huh? Okay, so I’ve been kinda unsettled for the past month, but we are FINALLY finishing moving on Saturday, but the hard part has just began, so yeah. New content is a no, but I wanted re-run the review of Unearthly, because I’m simply in LOVE with Tucker.


January 4th 2011, HarperTeen
435 pages, Hardcover
Won from The Reading Housewives
First in the Unearthly Series
Young Adult Fiction


Humans and Demons and Elves

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.


Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.


As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?


Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.
 
Opinion:

Swoon! I’m in love. In love with so many aspects of this book. The writing is superb and placed me directly into this story. I was not a bystander, but an active watcher. A best friend ready and willing to help Clara. That is how much Cynthia Hand’s writing put me into the book.

Oh and then there is this guy. He’s handsome, funny, and country. He’s the type of guy all girls should fall for. The down to earth, stand beside you through everything guy. Yes, he’s a beta in so many ways, but alphas are overrated. Tucker has to be the best book boyfriend ever.

Clara, oh Clara, she can indeed get all wrapped up in herself (what teen can’t) , but she once she awakens to the fact that her loved ones need her she’s the first on the scene regardless if that means falling from grace. (Btw not a spoiler, but she would if it meant saving someone she loves.)

Her best friends aren’t really there in the most adventurous parts of the book, but are still some of the best sidekicks ever. From angelic Angela to bossy Wendy. Angela is the drill sergeant of the bunch. When Clara needs to be woken up she has no problem in doing so. Wendy so wants her brother happy that she’ll cause fights in order for Clara to wake up to the fact that Tucker is standing right there. She’s not only a great friend, but an awesome sister.

So yes I’m being all fan girl, but it’s like the best book I’ve read in weeks. I had fallen into a reading slump and this quickly put me back in the glowy “aren’t books great.” mode. I freaking LOVE this book and I will trade in my dog and I’ll play Rumpelstiltskin for an early look at the next in this series. 
Oh, did I mention I'm on team Tucker? LOL!


Rating:





Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (re-run review)

4:42 AM Unknown
Did I mention I’m moving? Yeah, like a million times huh? Okay, so I’ve been kinda unsettled for the past month, but we are FINALLY finishing moving on Saturday, but the hard part has just began, so yeah. New content is a no, but I wanted re-run the review of Unearthly, because I’m simply in LOVE with Tucker.


January 4th 2011, HarperTeen
435 pages, Hardcover
Won from The Reading Housewives
First in the Unearthly Series
Young Adult Fiction


Humans and Demons and Elves

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.


Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.


As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?


Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.
 
Opinion:

Swoon! I’m in love. In love with so many aspects of this book. The writing is superb and placed me directly into this story. I was not a bystander, but an active watcher. A best friend ready and willing to help Clara. That is how much Cynthia Hand’s writing put me into the book.

Oh and then there is this guy. He’s handsome, funny, and country. He’s the type of guy all girls should fall for. The down to earth, stand beside you through everything guy. Yes, he’s a beta in so many ways, but alphas are overrated. Tucker has to be the best book boyfriend ever.

Clara, oh Clara, she can indeed get all wrapped up in herself (what teen can’t) , but she once she awakens to the fact that her loved ones need her she’s the first on the scene regardless if that means falling from grace. (Btw not a spoiler, but she would if it meant saving someone she loves.)

Her best friends aren’t really there in the most adventurous parts of the book, but are still some of the best sidekicks ever. From angelic Angela to bossy Wendy. Angela is the drill sergeant of the bunch. When Clara needs to be woken up she has no problem in doing so. Wendy so wants her brother happy that she’ll cause fights in order for Clara to wake up to the fact that Tucker is standing right there. She’s not only a great friend, but an awesome sister.

So yes I’m being all fan girl, but it’s like the best book I’ve read in weeks. I had fallen into a reading slump and this quickly put me back in the glowy “aren’t books great.” mode. I freaking LOVE this book and I will trade in my dog and I’ll play Rumpelstiltskin for an early look at the next in this series. 
Oh, did I mention I'm on team Tucker? LOL!


Rating:





Tuesday, September 13, 2011


I was so excited that I got Mickey from I’m a Book Shark for my interview partner as we’ve been twitter buddies for some time.
Red-headed mid-twenties book lover, girlfriend of boyfriend, mother of reptiles (plus two puppies and a cat), full-time employee, and addict of dessert.
Rie: Which 3 bloggers would you say influenced you the most in your book blogging experience?

Mickey: Anna from Anna reads was the first blog I came across, so her blog has a lot of influence on mine. After her blog was The Broke and the Bookish, and then Ashley from The Bookish Brunette.

Rie: I so agree with Ashley! She's such a new blogger and yet has influenced so many people. Love her!

Mickey: Me too! Her blog is so spunky and fun!

Rie: She is not afraid to speak her mind. That's for sure!

Mickey: It's an admirable quality :)

Rie: It is. She's just so real.

Mickey: Are there other blogs that have influenced you?

Rie: I would say Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers as hers is the first I saw, and Parajunkee. Her BB101 posts are so helpful and helped become interested in graphic design. When I was featured on Follow Friday it helped me to grow my readership.

Mickey: Oh absolutely. I am forever grateful for Parajunkee and her #FF!! Great choices.

Rie: Parajunkee is always so friendly and has the greatest features and is willing to help bloggers out at any time. She is truly dedicated.

Mickey: I completely agree. Her advice has helped me immensely.

Rie: How do you keep involved in the blogging community from day to day? Any tips on keeping the google reader tamed?

Mickey: I keep involve by participating in the memes and features, posting on Twitter, and keeping my Facebook blog page up-to-date. And I'm not the one to ask about the Google reader. I'm so bad about checking up on blogs I follow!! I have no time with work and reading for my own blog. I do try to check the links in my comments though.

Rie: Twitter is my favorite way to keep in touch with the people in the book blogging community. Who are some are your favorites to follow? I too am simply dreadful at keeping up with google reader. 1,000 posts per day on average is simply too many!

Mickey: Even Twitter has been hard for me to keep up with lately! But I do love to follow authors like Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, and Tahereh Mafi. It's so fun to see their personalities outside of their novels!

Rie: Oh, I so agree. Getting to know the authors behind the books has been one of the best things about twitter. Do you also use youtube to get to know authors better? I simply adore Jackson Pearce's youtube videos.

Mickey: Oh wow! I was not aware. I will SO have to check that out!! Do you get to do author interviews for your blog? That is one of the coolest things about blogging!

Also, I just read Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce and will most likely check out Sweetly :)

Rie: Omg yes! I so love interviewing authors. I haven't in awhile, but most authors are so willing to help in any way they can. Some view authors as intimidating, but I do not have this problem at all. They are WAY less intimidating than publishers. At least to me.

Mickey: I am pretty shy and get very discouraged by 'no' or no reply at all, but I've found that most authors are very willing like you said. It's still astonishing to me the contact they have with their readers! Before blogging, I didn't know that this awesome world existed.

Rie: I haven't really ran into a no. A few haven't replied, but I simply move on. There are so many authors/books and so little time! Once you put forth the effort to get into this community it is one of the most welcoming.

Mickey: I so agree! Speaking of so many books, how do you handle your TBR pile? It seems like it never ends, which is fantastic but stressful.

Rie: But on the flipside, if you anger the book bloggers whether you be a columnist (like the WSJ), author, or blogger we band together in our fury. We can make real change when we set ourselves to it.

Mickey: So so true! That was an amazing reaction we had :)

Rie: Right now, I'm not managing my TBR at all (bad blogger, bad), because I'm moving. I usually keep my books on my bookcase in order of when they must be read for review and then often steal books from the middle when I can simply resist no longer. Right now that would be Sweetly. I need to read a few others, but I got hooked by that beautiful cover.

Mickey: I'm kind of bad that way too. I have three different lists and a calendar to keep me in line, but it doesn't always work! Sometimes I cannot resist, or I want to read books that came out a while back. It's not easy!

Rie: I've found that if I stress too much I will simply stop reading. So if there isn't a date set in stone (like for book tours), I'll just read and not feel guilty.

Mickey: That's good advice. I stress too easily, and it also turns me off of reading completely. Ahh the pros and cons of book blogging :)

Rie: There are certain drawbacks, but overall blogging has been such a great experience.

BBAW Interview: Mickey from I'm a Book Shark

3:36 AM Unknown

I was so excited that I got Mickey from I’m a Book Shark for my interview partner as we’ve been twitter buddies for some time.
Red-headed mid-twenties book lover, girlfriend of boyfriend, mother of reptiles (plus two puppies and a cat), full-time employee, and addict of dessert.
Rie: Which 3 bloggers would you say influenced you the most in your book blogging experience?

Mickey: Anna from Anna reads was the first blog I came across, so her blog has a lot of influence on mine. After her blog was The Broke and the Bookish, and then Ashley from The Bookish Brunette.

Rie: I so agree with Ashley! She's such a new blogger and yet has influenced so many people. Love her!

Mickey: Me too! Her blog is so spunky and fun!

Rie: She is not afraid to speak her mind. That's for sure!

Mickey: It's an admirable quality :)

Rie: It is. She's just so real.

Mickey: Are there other blogs that have influenced you?

Rie: I would say Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers as hers is the first I saw, and Parajunkee. Her BB101 posts are so helpful and helped become interested in graphic design. When I was featured on Follow Friday it helped me to grow my readership.

Mickey: Oh absolutely. I am forever grateful for Parajunkee and her #FF!! Great choices.

Rie: Parajunkee is always so friendly and has the greatest features and is willing to help bloggers out at any time. She is truly dedicated.

Mickey: I completely agree. Her advice has helped me immensely.

Rie: How do you keep involved in the blogging community from day to day? Any tips on keeping the google reader tamed?

Mickey: I keep involve by participating in the memes and features, posting on Twitter, and keeping my Facebook blog page up-to-date. And I'm not the one to ask about the Google reader. I'm so bad about checking up on blogs I follow!! I have no time with work and reading for my own blog. I do try to check the links in my comments though.

Rie: Twitter is my favorite way to keep in touch with the people in the book blogging community. Who are some are your favorites to follow? I too am simply dreadful at keeping up with google reader. 1,000 posts per day on average is simply too many!

Mickey: Even Twitter has been hard for me to keep up with lately! But I do love to follow authors like Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, and Tahereh Mafi. It's so fun to see their personalities outside of their novels!

Rie: Oh, I so agree. Getting to know the authors behind the books has been one of the best things about twitter. Do you also use youtube to get to know authors better? I simply adore Jackson Pearce's youtube videos.

Mickey: Oh wow! I was not aware. I will SO have to check that out!! Do you get to do author interviews for your blog? That is one of the coolest things about blogging!

Also, I just read Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce and will most likely check out Sweetly :)

Rie: Omg yes! I so love interviewing authors. I haven't in awhile, but most authors are so willing to help in any way they can. Some view authors as intimidating, but I do not have this problem at all. They are WAY less intimidating than publishers. At least to me.

Mickey: I am pretty shy and get very discouraged by 'no' or no reply at all, but I've found that most authors are very willing like you said. It's still astonishing to me the contact they have with their readers! Before blogging, I didn't know that this awesome world existed.

Rie: I haven't really ran into a no. A few haven't replied, but I simply move on. There are so many authors/books and so little time! Once you put forth the effort to get into this community it is one of the most welcoming.

Mickey: I so agree! Speaking of so many books, how do you handle your TBR pile? It seems like it never ends, which is fantastic but stressful.

Rie: But on the flipside, if you anger the book bloggers whether you be a columnist (like the WSJ), author, or blogger we band together in our fury. We can make real change when we set ourselves to it.

Mickey: So so true! That was an amazing reaction we had :)

Rie: Right now, I'm not managing my TBR at all (bad blogger, bad), because I'm moving. I usually keep my books on my bookcase in order of when they must be read for review and then often steal books from the middle when I can simply resist no longer. Right now that would be Sweetly. I need to read a few others, but I got hooked by that beautiful cover.

Mickey: I'm kind of bad that way too. I have three different lists and a calendar to keep me in line, but it doesn't always work! Sometimes I cannot resist, or I want to read books that came out a while back. It's not easy!

Rie: I've found that if I stress too much I will simply stop reading. So if there isn't a date set in stone (like for book tours), I'll just read and not feel guilty.

Mickey: That's good advice. I stress too easily, and it also turns me off of reading completely. Ahh the pros and cons of book blogging :)

Rie: There are certain drawbacks, but overall blogging has been such a great experience.
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