manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.

I'm currently in Georgia picking up my new used car.  It'll be a fun 14 hour drive home to Wisconsin on Sunday.  But anyways, I will enjoy my time with my family while it lasts.  Hope everyone had a good book week (and got more reading time in than I did)!

Gifted (from the Holiday Card Exchange hosted by Turning the Pages):

• Christmas Card from Pragya at Reviewing Shelf - This card came all the way from India.  It's traveled further than I've ever traveled in my life.  Holy smokes.  Happy this gal thought of me!  Thank you!

From the Library:

• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• Did you know there's a movie coming out?  When I went to see The Hobbit, the preview for this movie along with the preview for Star Trek was the highlight of my night (I'm really not a fan of LOTR which also extends to The Hobbit).  So yes, I'm looking forward to the movie.  And no, I haven't read the book yet...
• Foretold: 14 Tales of Prophecy and Prediction edited by Carrie Ryan
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I must admit that I do not do well with short story compilations.  But I really grabbed this book for the sole purpose of reading Richelle Mead's short story.  Who knows, I may read the whole book, but I'm not sure that I may pull much from it.

Purchased (e-edition):

Cora: The Unwilling Queen by Amy Hutchinson

Amazon | Goodreads

The cover and the description made me grab it instantly.  I mean, who doesn't like a good Persephone/Hades retelling?





manda-rae's Past Week

Reviews:

• Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey
• As They Slip Away by Beth Revis
• What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

The Dog: Gizmo

Well, he's old news.  But since he decided to show up in everyone of my shots, I thought I'd get an actual picture of him.  He decided to lick my Beautiful Creatures book after I took the picture.  I think he's decided on what I'm reading next...

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Genre:  YA Fantasy/Dystopian

Hybrid Chronicles, Book 1

Kat Zhang's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Kat Zhang's website):

I shouldn't exist... But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

I didn't realize that this is from Eva's point of view.  The soul that doesn't control her body.  Instead, she spends her life watching Addie live it.  I can't imagine that would be like to have a passenger seat in my own life.  To watch myself interact with people I hate, kiss ugly boys, etc...

So the whole idea of having two souls in one body is super original.  It's a weird concept to grasp.  And I had a very hard time accepting it throughout the novel.  And that's probably why I didn't like it as much.  Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of twists/turns that occur in this book to keep you interested.  It's just you only see a glimpse of explanation when it come to two souls and settling.  And I never really understood what was so wrong with not settling.  So it was hard for me to believe the story line I guess.

For a unique concept and interesting plot, I definitely recommend this one.  Just keep an open mind and cross your fingers that the second book does a better job at explaining things.

Challenges:  Dystopia Reading Challenge

As They Slip Away by Beth Revis

Genre:  YA Science Fiction

Across the Universe Series, Book 0.5

Beth Revis' website

Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Taking place on the spaceship Godspeed before Amy Martin wakes up and Elder takes leadership, this novella describes life at the Hospital during Eldest's reign. Focusing primarily on background characters, readers will see fan-favorite characters Harley, Orion, Victria, and more.

Selene is a singer on a spaceship that only values people who can provide important skills that enhance survival. As her friends--fellow "loons" in the Hospital--start to join apprenticeships to turn their skills into valuable labor, Selene is sent with a handful of other students to learn about the importance of art from the Recorder, Orion. The assignment pairs her with a young sculptor, Luthor, and their dangerous romance proves just how terrifying living trapped on a spaceship under the rule of a heartless dictator could be.

This tragic tale explores the background of a previously unknown character, linking the history of the ship and its residents to Amy and Elder, giving depth to the world of Godspeed.

Woah...  This is a very short novella, but it is super emotional.  It gives more background knowledge to the ship, Godspeed.  And we also get a feel of what life is like for its crew.  However, it's too short (like all novellas).

I finished reading this book with a sour taste in my mouth.  Having your actions and self-worth be weighed against what you can do for the ship is awful.  My rights to live and be happy shouldn't be any less than another person's just because that person is smarter and can contribute more.  Agh, this book got a strong reaction from me.

But I finished it wanting to know more about these side characters.  Beth Revis could probably write a whole new series from Harley or Kayleigh's point of view.  Granted if she wrote something from Luthor's point of view, I would probably burn the novel before ever reading it....

As They Slip Away by Penguin Young Readers Group

Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey

Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy

Agent of Hel Series, Book 1

Jacqueline Carey's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload; not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess.

To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly.

But when a young man from a nearby college drowns—and signs point to eldritch involvement—the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake. Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime—and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon.

This book is the beginnings of a new paranormal series.  And since I liked Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series, I thought I'd give it a try.  But I don't think I connected with the book as well as I could have.  It could definitely be that I read it at the wrong time in my life, or I just really couldn't connect with the characters.

Pemkowet: the paranormal tourist city.  And Daisy is right in the middle acting as a liaison for the human community and the human community.  Life kind of gets complicated when you're a half-breed.  And did you know that Daisy has a tail?  Personally, I found the tail moments a little annoying.

Anyways, this city has your fairies, vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and paranormal underworld.  This book does a really good job of giving you a glimpse of all the different paranormal creatures, but it doesn't seem to go into enough depth.  One of the ghouls, Stefan, was totally eye-catching.  I wanted to know more about his story, but we don't really get into it.  And the steamy werewolf: Cody?  Same issue here.

This book is very much an introduction into a new paranormal world.  It's an easy read, a nice paranormal who-dun-it plot, but it doesn't really go into much depth.  I think I'd be more attached to the second book if I decide to pick it up...

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge

manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.

I've been working a lot of overtime at work in an attempt to afford my new used car...  But I have been reading a little bit in my spare time.  Hopefully, the reading continues or picks up a bit.  Happy weekend everybody!

From the Library:

• Scorch by Gina Damico
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• Croak was a really cute read.  So I absolutely couldn't resist when I saw the second one come out.  Unfortunately, this a series not many have read, and I think a lot of people should pick up the first one.  I'll let you know how the second one goes.

manda-rae's Past Week
(It's kind of pathetic, but it's a result of my horrible bad luck with cars...)

Memes:

• Waiting on Wednesday: Vortex by Julie Cross

Promos:

• Bringing YA to You (It's a group of authors letting you vote where they should go next for a tour stop.)