The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1) by Caitlin Kittredge

Title: The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1)
by Caitlin Kittredge

Hardcover, 512 pages

Published February 22nd 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers (first published February 20th 2011)

Plot:

In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.


Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

My Thoughts:

I'm lovin' all these dystopian novels that are out right now. This was one was so dark and twisted, which to me, made it stand out among some of the others. There is some very dark imagery in his novel, but I kind of expected that going in because I have read Ms. Kittredge's adult series. I very much appreciate a dark story. They really pull me into the world.

The main character is very caring and somewhat brainwashed in this novel, but she a little snark in there and isn't afraid to turn it on when it comes to her family. The journey this story takes you on is awesome! It will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you root for Aoife to succeed.

Read this one if you like dytopian, steam punk novels! 

STARCROSSED by JOSEPHINE ANGELINI - Review

Title: STARCROSSED
Author: Josephine Angelini
Hardcover, 496 pages

Expected publication: May 31st 2011 by HarperTeen

Plot:

How do you defy destiny?


Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

My Thoughts:

Gah! I love, love stories. Especially when the two people in the relationship want to kill each other all the time! LOL

This one was so good. I loved the spin on Greek mythology--very original. The first couple chapters really just help the reader get to know the main character and build repore with her, but then once we meet Lucas I was absolutely hooked. Romance makes or breaks a story for me and it definitely made the story here for me.
Read this one if you are a romance junkie!

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

Lost Voices (Lost Voices #1)

by Sarah Porter

Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: July 4th 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books

Plot:
Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?

My Thoughts:

This book has some pretty dark themes. There's abuse and neglect and a near rape scene, so even though the the protagonist in this story in only fourteen don't expect a fluffy story. I read this novel in one sitting and while I found some slow parts in the novel the main plot kept pulling me through. I just had to see how Luce was going to deal with the struggle and choice she was faced with. I loved the spin on the mermaid tale in this one, but this one isn't the typical type of book I like to read.

Read this one if you like novels like SPEAK and WINTERGIRLS with a supernatural twist.

Midnight Sun: Edward Attacks Bella In Bio Scene

YouTube has opened my eyes to a few little informational nuggets this week. Today I want to share a YouTube I came across of Edward attacking Bella in Bio. I never knew this was ever shot for the film, but if you read Midnight Sun then you already know Edward thought intensely about killing Bella in this scene. I just love anything visual, so I'm glad I came across this because let's be honest, any new Twilight scenes are fun for us YA people.



What do you guys think? Was this one a keeper??

Musical Motivation: Evanescence VS We Are the Fallen

VS

Okay, so may I live under a rock and I totally didn't know there was a huge battle going one between Evanescence and their former band mates who have started We Are the Fallen. The fans are apparently very passionate about this subject. Like most YA writers, I love Evanescence. There's just something so inspiring about songs about dark, twisted love. After all, isn't that what the Young Adult genre is all about?

So when I was browsing youtube to watch some Evanescence for some writing motivation this popped up:



After I watched that, I immediately looked up the new band.





I mean, I love Amy Lee and her style, but great music is great music. As long as it sounds amazing and inspires me, I love it. I totally think there's room for both bands because there's been such a huge void in the female lead Gothic rock since Amy Lee's band Evanescence hasn't put out a full record since 2006. I wish I would've known about We Are the Fallen's album release back in 2010.

So here it is my fellow writers and Evanescence fans. What do you think? Do you rock out when you write?

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma - Review

Forbidden

by Tabitha Suzuma

Published Orginally: May 27th 2010 by Definitions
My Copy Info: This edition: Hardcover, 464 pages; Publication date: June 28, 2011
Ages: above 16
Source: Galley Grab

Plot:

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives--and the way they understand each other so completely--has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.--Simon and Schuster

My Thoughts:

 

I go into every book with an open mind. Some books surprise me. I get into them and a fall in love with the characters even though the subject matter of the novel may be a little uncomfortable. That's exactly what happened with FORBIDDEN. Sure, I've heard of this one through the blogging community when it was released over in the UK, but never got the opportunity to read it for myself. Reviews vary for this novel. Some love it while others hate it. I'll admit it is hard to get over the fact that the love story in this novel is between brother and sister, and no, I don't mean step. I'm talkin' same momma and daddy here. Full on siblings.

 

Now I know what you're thinking, ewwww gross, how can people read something like that. It is pretty creepy. But I will say Ms. Suzuma did such an excellent job building the characters that it was easy to forget they were siblings. Their lives are just so messed up. Their dad wants nothing to do with them. Their mom is an alcoholic that stays gone most of the time, which leaves the two main characters alone, raising the younger kids in the family. The dynamics of the family are so crazy, it's believable that this incestuous love story could happen. It's like they are in their own little world and no one else can understand but each other.

 

For me the story really took off the last 3/4 of the book. That was where all the action was. It really hooked me in and I flew through the end. It was sooooooo sad. Be prepared for that. It was probably the saddest YA contemporary story I've ever read. Very realistic and I can totally see a situation like that happening in real life. 

 

All in all I say read it with an open mind. This is not a book that I think is suitable for the younger YA crowd, best to stick with 16 and up for this one. There is a gritty sex scene in this one and the subject matter in general is best suited for a mature reader.  

 

 

The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #2) by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey #2)

by Julie Kagawa

Paperback, 359 pages
Published August 1st 2010 by Harlequin Teen (first published July 27th 2010)

Plot:
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.


Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My Thoughts:

I'm a little late hoping on the Iron Fey ban wagon, but I love this series. Book #1 in this series totally hooked me in and this novel started off right where the first book left off. It was good to find out what was happening between Meghan and Ash. I'd missed them when I ended book one.

There's just something about a guy who tries to push the main character away because it's for his and her own good, but just can't fight his heart even though he knows the girl can throw his world off balance. This novel has that. In book one we really get to know Meghan and Ash and the short novella, Winter's Passage,  that falls between books one and two is a MUST READ. It lets you in on what happened on the rest of their journey to the Winter Kingdom and draws you further into the love story.

Ash is such a well developed character. He makes the story so enthralling, I literally carried this book around with me everywhere until I finished it. Not since Edward in Twilight has a love interest hooked me this way. He has so many inner demons and Meghan is the one person who can get beneath that frigid layer of ice that surrounds his heart. Love him!

Bottom line, I love this series and can't wait to read more. I've already read The Iron Queen and will post my review soon. I'm super excited that Ms. Kagawa is releasing a story soon from Ash's point of view. If you haven't read this series, DO IT!!

EReader Review: After 7 Months of Use

There are tons of people out there who are still resistant to the ereader. A lot of people I talk to have written ereaders off as a passing fad. To them books you can hold in your hand and smell are the ONLY way to read. I have to admit a year ago I was one of those people. I bucked the idea of losing my book case and all of the beautiful books it contained, but last year I took the ereader plunge. I felt like I really didn't have a choice because more and more advanced copy books were coming out as ebooks. Sites like NETGALLEY and GALLY GRAB allow more bloggers/book reviews to get their hands on advanced copies, but the catch is you have to read them on the computer, tablet or ereader. 

At first, I felt like the Kobo ereader I purchased was just another screen to stare at and I would HATE it, but then as I started to cart the little thing around I noticed it had some advantages. 

1.) It's smaller which also means lighter. 

I am a pediatric special needs nurse, which means the children I care for go to school. Now, I'm only there for their medical needs, but their educational needs are met by the teaching staff. So, while I'm sitting with them in ART, MUSIC, GYM ect. I need something to do. Sure I help out, but I want them to be independent, so I have to make myself busy. What's great about the ereader in this situation is that I can take it everywhere! I have like 300 books on mine right now. If I open one and start to read it and it's just not holding my attention, I have 299 more to pick from in one tiny little machine. No more of taking only one book with you and then you hate it. Cool right? 

2.) Nobody knows what you are reading. 



ARC I'm currently reading



I kind of like that. If you've been to my site before you know I primarily read young adult books. Which I'm not embarrassed about at all, but sometimes it's hard to explain to snooty literary types that you're an adult reading a teen book. Some people think it's weird. *insert eye roll here* So to avoid literary arguments about what other people think I should read, I just don't tell them it's YA. I tell them the basic plot instead. Sneaky, I know.

3.) Advanced copies galore!

If you are a new book reviewer and you are wondering how I get so many ARCs (check this post here), I want you to know that 60% of what I read is now ebooks.  A few of publishers, authors and publicist still send me actual printed books, but a lot of them are starting to branch out into ebooks. I really like digital galleys--retty much because of reason number one. When you get books sent to you, some of them may not necessarily be what you would pick to read on your own. You may find 20-50 pages into a novel that it just isn't for you.

4.) Self Published Works

This is a really big one for me right now. There are a TON of undiscovered jewels out there in self-published land. Several of these books have been agented before, which means it's not that they aren't wonderful novels, just means publishers didn't feel the book would sell in the current market. Look at authors like Amanda Hockings. She has a huge following and I've always wanted to read her series. With an ereader I can totally do that. I bought MY BLOOD APPROVES for only 99cents! Insane, right? You can't even buy a pack of gum for that price. I'm much more willing to gambleon an unhyped book for under 2 bucks! I think epublishing is going to change up the industry and allow more unknown authors to get discovered. Here are a few other kick ass ones I've found so far:

Lure by Stephanie Jenkins

The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto

Ordained (The Immortal Archives) by Devon Ashley

(If you don't have a kindle you can buy self published novels from Smashwords with just about any ereader)

5.) Buying Digitally



Purchased Tuesday!

With crazy high gas prices and my nearest bookstore being 20 miles away, buying digitally is a big sell. If I want a book all I have to do is go to a site that sells ebooks (Borders, Barnes&Noble, Amazon and Books on Board) and purchase it from there. After a few clicks it's magically in my digital library. And I didn't even leave the house. Pretty awesome!! Can't beat shopping in your pajamas!

I think I'm pretty much a digital reader lover now. With all the perks I can overlook the fact that much book shelf may eventually be a thing of the past.

Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Shout them out!

Happy Reading!

Annie

The Goddess Test

Synopsis:his novel was spot on. With so many authors jumping on the ePub bandwagon I've seen quite a distressing number of poorly edited novels. Which, even with a killer plot line and characters, the mistakes ruin the flow and kick me out of the story. I had no such troubles with this novel. I was fully suspended in Kate and Henry's world and loved every minute of it!

It's always been just Kate and her mo

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

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

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

My Thoughts:

AMAZING!!!! A MUST READ! I DEVOURED IT IN 24 HOURS! From a reader stand point this novel pulled me in from the first page. I was fully engrossed and chasing the plot as fast as my eyes could scan the pages. A wonderful change of pace from the typical teenage angst novel. No annoying love triangle to contend with. Just a spectacular love story with a back drop of the Greek gods and goddesses. I loved the trials and tribulations the main character Kate had to face. The characters were fully developed, believable and most of all lovable.

From an editing standpoint t

I can't wait for the sequel!

by Aimee Carter

Paperback, 304 pages

Published April 19th 2011 by Harlequin Teen

ULTRAVIOLET by R.J. ANDERSON

Title: Ultraviolet
Author: R.J. ANDERSON

Goodreads

Amazon purchase here

REVIEW

I read this book in 3 hours! Could NOT stop! Ignored my husband, kid, dishes etc...

Wonderfully written, enticing, poignant, soulful. I was deeply tethered to Alison from beginning to end. Her plight is written with such honesty you can't help but be emotionally drawn in. As a reader I shared her experiences, felt her confusion; the soaring highs and desolate lows. A difficult task for any writer.

Anderson does an exceptional job of putting the honest, raw emotion Alison, the main character, experiences on display. From the betrayal of her parents to the mental acuities in the institution. A bonus for me is when I can't decipher the ending until ... the ending, this book has that covered. I was left guessing until the very end about what was real and what was imaginary.

SYNOPSIS

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

This is not her story.

Unless you count the part where I killed her.

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

Paperback, UK , 416 pages

Expected publication: June 2nd 2011 by Orchard

The Undertakers: The Rise of the Corpses by Ty Drago

Title: The Undertakers: The Rise of the Corpses
Author: Ty Drago

Published April 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Synopsis:

On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, I found out my grouchy next door neighbor was the walking dead. When you turn around expecting to see something familiar, and instead see something else altogether, it takes a little while for your brain to catch up with your eyes. I call it the 'Holy Crap Factor.'A" Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers--a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters, who've banded together to battle the corpses.

Do you see the living dead?

It's bad enough that Will Ritter discovers his next-door neighbor has become a walking, talking corpse. But when his assistant principal and math teacher also look like something from a horror flick, he begins to seriously questions his sanity --- until the Corpses attack.

Don't call them zombies. Zombies are slow and stupid. These things aren't To make matters worse, only a few people, like Will, can actually see them. Forced to join a ragtag army of teenage resistance fighters called the Undertakers, Will finds himself in the middle of a war against an invasion of the living dead. And in this war, the Undertakers aren't just the first line of defense --- they're the only line of defense.

Goodreads

My Thoughts:

My first reaction to reading the back cover of this novel was pure intrigue. This novel is such a deviation from the norm of what I read but, completely to my surprise, peaked my curiosity to such a point that I had to spend the afternoon reading it. I am surprised at how much I enjoyed the unique world created by Mr. Drago. I'm more of a romance and mystery kinda gal but I couldn't resist the creative unfolding of Will Ritter's unusual circumstances. While there is a very slight hint at possible romances in later books, our hero is after all only twelve years old. The natural chemistry between all the characters shines through. I was only a few chapters in when I realized I was emotionally invested in the plight of these rebel Undertakers.

Mr. Drago does an exemplary job of slowly unfolding the connections between past and present events. He doles out the information as a reader I am craving to know while simultaneously keeping our main chracters in the dark just long enough that I'm fairly screaming at them to catch on...There is a complexity to the story that strongly reminds me of the Pendragon Series by DJ McHale.

I thoroughly enjoyed jumping on board the hero train and going for a very long ride. I cannot wait for the sequel to find out how the rescue of our planet by a ragtag bunch of teens turns out.

----Michele----

Read the 1st 100 Pages of Divergent!

Going stir crazy for tomorrows release of Divergent? Wanna check out the book that's been plastered everywhere? Well, my friends, today is your lucky day! Here's the link to read the 1st 100 pages of Divergent! You can get a jump start on that book you've been waiting for. Enjoy!!

Read 1st 100 pages of DIVERGENT!!

Humongo Blogaversary Giveaway!!!

Reading, Writing and Waiting is almost TWO years old!! YAYAYAYAYA!!! So for my blog's birthday I'm giving away (To one lucky US follower) some of my favorite books!!! See Below What's Up For Grabs!!

The First Group of books is open to US only because I physically bought all of these books! Lure is Open Internationally since it is an ebook! If I gain a ton of new followers during this contest I may throw in a book of choice for international giveaway from Book Depository.

To Enter:

1. Follow this Blog via GFC
2. Leave your email address in the comments section and let me know if you are US or international!


Extra Entries:

+2 Tweet the giveaway!
+5 Post my giveaway button or blog button on your blog's sidebar (located at the bottom & left side of this blog---you can use which ever fits!)
+5 Do a Blog post about it!

(Just leave me the links in the comment section for your entries to count)

Contest Runs May 1st through May 31st @ 11:59pm

Good Luck!!!!!!!

If You are at my site for the Spring Carnival Hop enter HERE!!! (You can enter both giveaways!!)

Spring Blog Hop!

Welcome To Our Stop on the Spring Blog Hop!!

                                           Contest Runs May 1st throught May 8th @11:59pm

Please visit our hosts:
Candace’s Book Blog http://www.candacesbookblog/, Reading Angel http://www.readingangel.com/, Pure Imagination http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/, and The Book Swarm http://www.bookswarm.blogspot.com/)



Books up for grabs! Lure ebook (this one is open internationally), Paperbacks (Open to US Only): Never Cry Werewolf, Griffin Rising, Zan-Gah books, Wings, A Certain Slant of Light)

Rules: Paper Back giveaway is for US only followers, the ebook is open internationally! 

To Enter:

1. Be a Follower on GFC on this blog

2. Leave a comment with your email address and tell me if you are US or international.

Number Randomizer Will Pick the winner. If the winner is an international follower, they will get the LURE ebook and a second winner will be drawn for the US package.

I will contact you if you win!

That's it!!!

Good Luck!! Happy Hopping!

Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter - Review

Title: Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1)

Author: C.C. Hunter

Paperback, 416 pages

Published March 29th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin (first published March 17th 2011)
Source: ARC review

Plot:
One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.


Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear Falls is exactly where she belongs…

My Thoughts:

This book started a little rocky for me, and at first I wasn't sure about it at all, but after I got into the novel (30-50 pages) I ended up loving it. This novel kind of puts me in mind of Hex Hall, which I absolutely LOVED, because of the camp of supernatural "freaks."

There were two things that kept me hooked in this one: Boys and the mystery of what kind of supernatural Kylie was.

Three potiental love interests in this book had me flipping the pages faster than I thought humanly possible. They all had likable quailties. Kylie could have easily picked any of the three as her main love interest and I would have still loved the possibilty that the other two were still on back-up. Such a great romance in there.

Kylie's supernatural ability makes her the freakiest freak at the school. Her power is as much a mystery to everyone else as it is to her. She didn't even really know she was gifted until she was shipped off to this camp. I love it when a main character is super special in some way.

Read this one if you like HAWT love interests and mutlitple supernatural creatures in one story.