Saturday, April 6, 2013

manda-rae's Haul

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

Happy Saturday everybody.  I'll be working today instead of reading.  And then I'll probably be outside enjoying the sun (even though it's only reaching the fifties here).  I hope everyone has a happy weekend!

From the Library: 

  • Lust for Life by Jeri Smith-Ready
    • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
      • The last book in the WVMP series.  Vampires!  This series has been amusing to read even though I don't care for the main character.  I definitely read it for the side characters and the actual story, haha.
  • Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine
    • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
      • The last book in this series was probably my favorite book in the series.  I was so happy even though it didn't end how I wanted it to.  So of course I'm looking forward to this one.

manda-rae's Past Week

Reviews:

Giveaway:

Friday, April 5, 2013

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa


Genre:  YA Paranormal Dystopian
Blood of Eden Series, Book 2
Expected publication date:  April 30, 2013

Description (taken from Goodreads):
Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

First off, I have to say something about the cover.  It's not near as striking as the first book's cover.  So my main motivation to read this one came directly from the first book's plot.  Because holy crap, that was a good read!

We get to see more of the characters from the first book.  Kanin, Sarren, Zeke, a pesky little raider king, Salazar, and more that I don't really want to divulge in (because you might hit me with a shoe if I gave too much away).  This book works on adding dimension to these characters.  And like the first book, this book involves a journey.  A journey to find Sarren and beat the crap out of him (well not really, but I wish it were so).  More like trying to find a cure for the new Red Lung strain that's killing off the blood supply.

Honestly, I thought this book was alright while reading it.  In the back of my mind, I kept thinking, "That's it?!  Something else has to happen!  Something big that's going to blow me away!  Now happen, now!!!"  Well, it does happen.  And now I need to read the third one right now...  Grr...


Thanks goes to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for my review copy.

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Pivot Point by Kasie West


Genre:  YA Paranormal Fantasy

Description (taken from Kasie West's website):
Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through...and who she can't live without.

What a very refreshing read.  Wouldn't it be awesome if every time you were given a choice, you could see the outcome of those choices prior to making your choice?  That's exactly what Addie can do.  She lives in a world filled with paranormals.  Each person has a gift from persuasion to telekinesis to even erasing memories.  Sounds awesome, right?  Except how do you really know what you're feeling is coming from you and not someone else making you feel that way?

Each chapter is from one of the outcomes of who she chooses to live with.  Both lives play out simultaneously.  And when those lives begin to intersect, things can get confusing.  Sometimes I had to stop myself and try to remember which parent she's living with to determine which reality this was.  And while the big climatic plot was just okay, I felt the jumping between two lives was awesome.

And even if you're just having fun and not totally invested in the characters, the ending will kind of rip your heart up.  I guess I realized just how invested I was with her parallel worlds when they started to shatter, and she had to pick one.

Would I recommend this?  Yes, it's such a fun, refreshing and very riveting read!  I'll be on the lookout for the second one...


Challenges:  Paranormal and Debut Author Challenges

Saturday, March 30, 2013

manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.
How's everyone's Saturday going?  The sun is shining here, and the snow in my yard is finally beginning to melt (there's about a foot of it left).  So I'm kind of excited.  I finished The Eternity Cure yesterday. Now all I want to do is break things and gush about the book.  Maybe I'll go take my dog on a walk instead...

From the Library:

  • City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster
    • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
      • I had the chance to preview the first chapter for this book.  And I honestly liked the beginning and wanted to keep reading.  So I had to pick it up...
  • Mind Games by Kiersten White
    • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
      • The plot intrigued me.  I also heard Kiersten White's other books are good (if you'd like to throw them at me, I'd totally be okay with it because then I'd get to read them).  But I was kind of surprised to see how small this book looks.

Swag:

  • Kept and Coveted by Shawntelle Madison Bookmarks
  • Infinity Bracelet and Card from Jordan Dane, part of the Indigo Awakening Tour

manda-rae's Past Two Weeks

Reviews (I must be in a 'seconds' mood):
Guest Post:
Giveaway:

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Insurgent by Veronica Roth


Genre:  YA Dystopian
Divergent Series, Book 2

Description (taken from Veronica Roth's website):
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

First off, I have to state that the Divergent series is one of the most thrilling, action-packed dystopian series out there.  I enjoyed it, however like the first novel, I still had some issues.  This book picks up from where Divergent left off.  We also get to learn a little more about what it means to be Divergent.  And as we meet new people, get to know old, our loyalties will be tested, and we must pick a side in the end.

My biggest problem with this series is Tris.  I do not like her character a whole lot.  I had this issue with the first novel, but I just feel like she doesn't show any emotion, and she's pretty much nuts.  And unlike the first novel, I really did not like the dynamic between Tris and Four in this novel.  The whole let's make out, now let's keep secrets, let's not tell each other anything, but hey we can keep making out, but I don't know if we really like each other, but hey kissing's good.  It got old for me.

As far as the plot goes, Veronica Roth does an excellent job at seeding in bits and pieces for the reader to figure things out.  As for me, I had the plot figured out from the beginning (like the first novel).  However I don't really have any predictions for the next novel because I'm too busy scratching my head thinking, "Say what?  That really just happened?"

Go read these books if you like dystopian novels.  They're jam-packed with action, and you really won't be disappointed (even if my review makes you feel that way).


Challenges:  TBR Pile and Dystopian Reading Challenges
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