manda-rae's Haul

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

Hello, hello!  It's been a while since I've done one of these posts.  My Saturdays have just been super busy.  And the amount of books I've received in the past couple of weeks just kept piling up.  So here's to hoping I get lots of reading done this week.

For Review:

• Sea Change by SM Wheeler
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• This coming-of-age read sounds like a tale of adventure, a fun-filled journey full of fantasy.  From the reviews, I found that people either really loved it or just didn't click with it.  I'm definitely intrigued and looking to find out just what this book is all about.  Thanks goes to Tor Books.

Gifted:

• Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen (signed) plus swag
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• One day, I received a huge box in the mail.  When I thought I was getting swag in the mail, I was super surprised to see a book included.  And then I saw this little guy, and let me tell you: there's a reason I love seeing the physical copy over the e-copy.  It's gorgeous.  And I got some magnets, a candle, a tea bag, and a spiffy thank-you note.  Cool beans!  Thanks goes to Amy Joy Lutchen for this box of goodies!  You can check out my review of Renhala or look into her next novel, Golden Dunes.

From the Library:

• Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• This was one of the books that I have finished prior to posting this.  I'm so happy to see the Sookie Stackhouse series come to a close.  And while I wasn't expecting much with this last novel, I'm still happy I read it and got a nice-ish ending.  Now off to watch True Blood.

• Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• Since my reading load was beginning to lighten slightly, I though I'd put in some requests that have been sitting in my tbr pile for a while.  Needless to say, I was surprised to find the tbr ones at the library in addition to (what felt like) a million new release that I'd have to read asap.  Gah, I need more time for the series with lots of books that I love dearly.
• Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• Feels like forever go that I read the first book in this series.  It was around the time that I first started this blog.  The book was awesome.  Let's hope this one is as well.
• If I Die by Rachel Vincent
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I've been holding off on this one for a while.  I've received a few spoilers, and I feel like crying before having read it.  Should I feel this way?
• Goddess by Josephine Angelini
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I'm currently reading this one now, and I can't seem to find enough time for it.  All I want to do is keep reading.  Nope, work and sleep isn't important at all.  Must read.  Now.
• Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I read this last weekend while on vacation at a cabin.  Instead of watching tv, I opted to go outside, read, and get eaten alive by mosquitoes.  Needless to say, I didn't notice the mosquitoes until after I finished the book, and I was in pain for a couple of days (due to the mosquitoes, not the book).

For Review (e-edition):

The Devil You Know by JM Gregoire

Amazon | Goodreads

This seems like a good paranormal read that leaves the high school life, boys, and insta-love behind.  Maybe I'm in the mood for a good adult read.  The protagonist is a thief, something that my bad side only wishes I could do well (well, somedays, I wish this).  Thanks goes to JM Gregoire.

Sia by Josh Grayson

Goodreads

It was the cover that grabbed my attention with this one.  And then I read the description.  Someone who was once popular and a bully forgets who she once was and tries to fit as something not that.  I guess this one just kind of struck me, and now I want to read it.  Thanks goes to Josh Grayson.

manda-rae's Past Four Weeks

Reviews:

• The Grimm Diaries Prequels by Cameron Jace
• Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
• Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace
• Rush by Eve Silver
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• The Fault in our Stars by John Green
• Aquifer by Jonathan Friesen
• Fevered Souls Season One by SK Falls

Memes:

• Waiting on Wednesday: Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz
• Waiting on Wednesday: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
• Waiting on Wednesday: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Announcements:

• Pure Textuality Convention

Fevered Souls Season One by Sk Falls

Fevered Souls Season One:
Possession, Betrothal, Illumination, Initiation, and Judgment
Genre:  Adult Paranormal Romance

SK Falls' website

Amazon | Goodreads

Description (taken from SK Falls' website):

After I left for college, I thought I’d never see Eden again. But I found myself headed back four years later, destitute and unable to find a job anywhere else. Still, I was adamant nothing would keep me there for long.

Then I met the intoxicating Dax Allard. Copper-colored eyes, skin that emanated an exceptional heat, and a host of strange talents… It wasn't long before I was drunk on him.

But Dax’s past was darker than mine, teeming with ancient secrets. Falling for him could cost me my life.

I had two choices: walk away or deal with the perilous consequences.

It was no choice at all.

This collection of novels is rather short and dives straight into the story.  So it kind of feels like no words are wasted.  I wasn't left bored at all.  It was kind of refreshing in fact.

Cara, after graduating college, returns to her small town after unsuccessfully finding a job.  How many of us can fill those shoes (I can)?  While attempting to find a decent paying job in her home town, she cones across Dax Allard.  His immediate reaction to her is uncalled for and bizarre.  And her reaction to him is curiosity and the need to know more.  As the novel moves on, we get answers to these reactions and just can't seem to get enough of Cara and Dax.

The story flows smoothly.  It's an easy read.  Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it didn't constantly remind me of an adult-versioned Twilight.  There were just too many similarities for my taste.  And I think that's what sort of hurt the book for me.  Because I constantly made the comparison.  That and the whole forbidden love thing is frustrating...  But I absolutely loved the paranormal pieces.

Do I want to keep reading this series?  Yes, I felt like the writing kept pulling me in.  I would recommend it to those jumping on a plane and have a couple of hours to read.  However, I'm just worried that the plot is going to unfold in the same ways as Twilight did.  Because that's where my hunch is...

Thanks goes to SK Falls and Xpresso Book Tours for my review copy.

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it spotlights upcoming books that we as readers are anxiously awaiting...

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White
Genre:  YA Mythology
Kiersten White's website
Expected publication date:  September 10, 2013
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

Ooh, Egyptian gods you say?  Count me in...

Aquifer by Jonathan Friesen

Genre:  YA Dystopian Fantasy

Jonathan Friesen's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Jonathan Friesen's website):

Only He Can Bring What They Need to Survive.

In 2250, water is scarce, and those who control it, control everything. They'll do anything to maintain their power---deceiving, dividing families, banning love ... killing those who oppose them. Above all, they seek to control knowledge and communication---ensuring the truth that will bring their downfall will never be known. But one person verges on discovering it all.

Sixteen-year-old Luca becomes the Deliverer, the one chosen to make the yearly pilgrimage: He must descend to the domain of the hideous 'Water Rats,' creatures who mine the essential water and pump it to the desperate 'Toppers,' in exchange for light. But when Luca meets a Water Rat who captures his heart and leads him to secrets---secrets about a vast conspiracy, and about himself---the net around him tightens.

Luca and those around him must uncover and share the truth needed to overthrow tyranny---even as they fight for their lives.

So the premise of this book is really good.  But I had a hard time following the execution.  To put it simply, it was too wordy for me, and I wasn't a fan of the ending.

Luca lives in a world where fresh water is scarce.  He lives in a society where feelings aren't allowed and water is rationed off.  The only fresh water comes from underground in the Rat territory.  Only Luca and his father know how to get down there and must make the trek once a year to keep the peace and make the life-saving trade: light for water.  But in this world of deceit and control, Luca finds nothing is as it seems.  The Rats aren't as scary as they seem to be.  The all-controlling Council aboveground doesn't have the control it wants, and Luca finds he is in their way.

This book has a lot of control that we see in dystopian societies, but I had a hard time following it sometimes.  There's the Council that controls everything and the Amongus who enforce it.  It was hard to separate the two in my mind.  And when we enter Rat Territory deep in the caves of the earth, it seems like a beautiful, fantasy place.  Usually I love fantasy and can't enough of it, but I had a really hard time following it this time around.

If it weren't for the ending, I would have enjoyed this book more.  It seemed like the ending was in left field, there was no way to predict it (and it didn't fit with the story in my mind).  So in essence, I think that's what made me think "so-so" in regards to this book.

Thanks goes to Zondervan Publishing for providing me a review copy.

Challenges:  Dystopia Reading Challenge

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Genre:  YA Contemporary

John Green's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

This book made me feel like I was getting into a teenager's head.  And not just any teenager, someone who's known for a long time that she's going to die.  The writing was beautiful.  The emotions were there.  The philosophical thoughts were amazing...

Hazel has been fighting cancer for quite some time.  A miracle has given her a few extra years to live, and she spends it fighting off her parents' ideas of her having a social life.  That is, until she meets Augustus and gets a social life.  Augustus and Hazel share their love of books and games, and they begin a quest to find someone who has been a big influence them.  It puts them on a ride called life, and only something like this could be as crazy as we expect it and as unplanned for as well as planned.

Personally, I loved Hazel's thoughts on life.  In the beginning she mentions the only thing worse than being a terminally-ill kid is being the terminally-ill kid's parents.  While I'm definitely not terminally ill, I do remember saying something along those lines in regards to my syndrome.  We also get to see how society treats her, and how we, as a society, can't really handle different people, especially the different that we think are dying soon.

This book is beautiful.  I can't really think of a word that describes it more perfectly than that although it doesn't really describe it perfectly.  I dont know.  Everyone says you need to read this one, and they're right.  You do need to read this one.

Challenges:  TBR Pile Reading Challenge