Book Review: The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton

The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars


Publication Date: August 30th 2012 by Double Day

Blurb: For Mab Prowd, the practice of blood magic is as natural as breathing. It's all she's ever known. Growing up on an isolated farm with other practitioners may have kept her from making friends her own age, but it has also given her a sense of purpose - she's protective of the magic, and is able to practice it proudly and happily out in the open with only the crows as her companions. But one morning while Mab is attempting a particularly tricky spell, she encounters Will, a local boy who is trying to exorcise a few personal demons of his own. He experiences Mab's magic in a way his mind cannot comprehend and is all too happy to end their chance meeting. But soon, secrets that were kept from Mab by earlier generations of blood magicians are revealed, and she and Will are drawn back together, united against a dangerous force looking to break free from the earth and reclaim its own dark power.

My Review:

 ** I received a finished copy of this book from Random House U.K in exchange for an honest review.** 

 **Please note that my entire review may be based on a comparison to Tessa Gratton's debut,BLOOD MAGIC,because I just couldn't help it. >.<**

THE BLOOD KEEPER was better than it's first novel, BLOOD MAGIC,in so many ways.It had a lot more vibrant and clear voice in its journal entries and more admirable characters as well.The entire story was not that exceptional but the author managed to spice it up with her way of writing.While we do catch brief glimpses of some of the old characters from BLOOD MAGIC,the entire story focuses on the two new characters,Mab and Will.

At first I was a bit reluctant with this foreign setting as I thought that I might miss the old characters Silla and Nick,but as I proceeded on with the story I found Mab and Will so delightful that by the time I was done,I forgot all about my reluctance.I was more than eager to welcome these new characters to take Silla and Nick's place.

My favourite narrator of the story was Mab.She is one character that I will definitely remember.Her wild personality which later turned tame was much more exciting to read about than Silla's one (Her's WAS a bit morbid.) and she had a lot more interesting tricks up her sleeve.

I'd recommend this to readers who loved Blood Magic and even to those who did not,because trust me when I say that this book is a whole lot different than BLOOD MAGIC.

You can check out my review of BLOOD MAGIC HERE.


 

"Waiting On" Wednesday #10

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by breaking the spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

So technically I've got tons of titles which are on my wishlist but it's not possible to put so many of them in one post.So I'm just going to pick a few and put them together.

Red
by Alison Cherry
Expected Publication:  October 8th 2013 by Delacorte Press

From Goodreads:
Felicity St. John has it all—loyal best friends, a hot guy, and artistic talent. And she’s right on track to win the Miss Scarlet pageant. Her perfect life is possible because of just one thing: her long, wavy, coppery red hair.

Having red hair is all that matters in Scarletville. Redheads hold all the power—and everybody knows it. That’s why Felicity is scared down to her roots when she receives an anonymous note:

I know your secret.

Because Felicity is a big fake. Her hair color comes straight out of a bottle. And if anyone discovered the truth, she’d be a social outcast faster than she could say "strawberry blond." Her mother would disown her, her friends would shun her, and her boyfriend would dump her. And forget about winning that pageant crown and the prize money that comes with it—money that would allow her to fulfill her dream of going to art school.

Felicity isn’t about to let someone blackmail her life away. But just how far is she willing to go to protect her red cred?

Nantucket Blue
by Leila Howland
Expected Publication:  May 7th 2013 by Disney Hyperion

From Goodreads: For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

Belle Epoque
by Elizabeth Ross
Expected Publication: June 11th 2013 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

From Goodreads:When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive.

Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect adornment of plainness.

But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose. 

Inspired by a short story written by Emile Zola, Belle Epoque is set at the height of bohemian Paris, when the city was at the peak of decadence, men and women were at their most beautiful, and morality was at its most depraved. 


Awesome aren't they?There's more where these came from!Check out my WISHLIST for more of these titles! And I want them even more but can't have them because:
a) I don't have a publicity contact from either publishers.
b) They don't send internationally. :'(

So anyone willing to trade internationally for them?I'm only trading for a limited number of titles right now though.Yes,I want these beauties to be mine THAT badly.

So what's YOUR WoW this week?Do you have another title for me to add to my wishlist?Then leave the link below! :)
Happy Wednesday! xoxo
 

An Insight Of The Characters' World: Guest Post + Giveaway by A.G. Howard

This is a feature where I ask authors to do a guest post discussing about the background of their books and share their experiences in creating the world in which the characters are portrayed.This feature is mainly meant for authors who write YA/MG novels.For more information
,check out my blog page on this feature.


I would like to thank A.G. Howard for doing such a wonderful guest post for my blog.Today she shares her experiences in creating the characters' world for her debut,SPLINTERED,which will be in stores on January 1st,2013.Before moving on to the guest post,here's a little bit about A.G. Howard and her book.

SPLINTERED by A.G. HOWARD

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child. When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse

 

Contact info:

Goodreads

FaceBook

Twitter

Website

Now moving on to Anita's (A.G.Howard's) awesome guest post:

The idea for my Alice in Wonderland spinoff originated when I went to see the Tim Burton & Disney Alice adaptation. My main research was to re-read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. I’m a very organic writer and often write without a plot in mind, but with Splintered, there were a few things I went in knowing: 

1.    I wanted my main character, Alyssa, to converse with bugs and flowers, because the talking flower scenes in Carroll’s two books, the Disney cartoon, and the Tim Burton/Disney rendition, were some of my favorites. Also, I always remembered the scene from Through the Looking Glass when Alice is riding a train through the countryside and has a conversation with a gnat. Those were such quirky and indelible images that I just had to incorporate them somehow.

2.    I needed my heroine to be tied to the original tales in a very visceral way. Melanie Benjamin’s book, Alice I Have Been, sparked the idea to make Alyssa a descendant of Alice Liddell, the real-life girl who actually inspired Carroll to write his story to begin with. The blood tie to the Liddells became the basis for all of the weird aspects of Alyssa’s life, including the talking bugs and flowers.

3.    I wanted a colorful/vivid world edged with creepiness for my Wonderland setting. To help me visualize, I started gathering pictures into my Splintered synopsis and character folder of anything “Alice-esque” for inspiration. When I Googled for images, I sought out “gothic” Alice themes. If you’d like a peek at some of the images I drew inspiration from, hop over to my Warped and Wonderful Inspirations pinterest board. I found that I was drawn to pictures tinged with an “aura of Alice”, but completely different from the original. This led me to go one step further and not only warp the settings, but warp the original characters in unexpected ways—enough that it would throw my heroine and hero for a loop when they first saw them. But there needed to be an explanation for “why” everything was so different, so I came up with one. You’ll have to read the book to find out what that is. ;)

4.    I wasn’t going to rely on the Mad Hatter or Cheshire Cat as my heroine’s enigmatic guide in Wonderland (as other adaptations have). One of my favorite characters doesn’t get nearly enough screen time in the remakes that I’ve seen. So I chose him as the most pivotal player in Wonderland, and gave him a whole new identity and back story. :)

(I totally agree with Anita on this part ;) )

5.    I wanted the heroine, Alyssa, to turn to her mother’s copy of Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece to help her solve riddles and fix her life.  

The most important thing to me was that Splintered be a tribute to the original Lewis Carroll tales. If I can inspire even one person to read the original, I’ve accomplished my goal. ^.^ Thanks for having me over, Bonita!

And this guest post also comes with a giveaway!Anita was generous enough to donate the following stuff to three lucky international winners:

1)ONE signed hardcover of SPLINTERED 

2)A swag pack :(see picture below)

 

From left to right: ONE signed SPLINTERED bookmark,ONE vintage ALICE IN WONDERLAND gift tag,and ONE signed bookplate.

3) A SPLINTERED inspired key "necklace".

 

 To enter, use the rafflecopter below.Check the terms and conditions on the rafflecopter widget for the rules.Good luck on winning! :) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered by A.G. Howard

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publication date: January 1st 2013 by Amulet Books 

Blurb: Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

My Review:

**I received an  ARC (Uncorrected Proof) of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

SPLINTERED is probably one of my best 2012 reads.And I am absolutely not exaggerating when I say that.A.G. Howard's version of the world on the other side of the looking glass that Lewis Carroll had created for us so long ago is one that you'll keep wanting to relive over and over again until you have every nook and corner memorized in your head.I have read this book from the start to the finish THREE times and every time I read it,I still find new things that I haven't noticed or haven't thought of before.Remember when you look for a book to buy in hardcover that you'll re-read again and again whenever you've got spare time?Well SPLINTERED is definitely that type of book.It has the right amount of action,adventure,fantasy and yes,as I dare say it,romance.Though there is a slight love triangle alert.But then again,what YA novel is complete without a love triangle?Us teenagers devour those things along with hot guys. ;)

I also loved the author's new concepts of wonderland.The rabbit,the caterpillar,Cheshire Cat...all of the characters which we were familiar with from Alice In Wonderland are brought to a new light and given a new voice.It truly was absolutely fascinating getting to know them all over again.

And last,but not least,the best thing about SPLINTERED is probably its main characters which Carroll definitely should have included in his version of Wonderland.Their roles were set wonderfully to fit in with the story and all of their dialogues were really fun to read.Here's a bit more about them:

Alyssa: Descendant of Alice Liddell,the Alice from Alice In Wonderland.But she's totally different from the Alice we are familiar with.I bet Alice wouldn't dare step on a skateboard or get dreadlocks for her hair.*snickers* If Lewis Carroll was alive right now,he'd probably have a heart attack if he saw Alice's descendant.

"I have this character flaw?Called dignity?"

                                   -Alyssa,Splintered

Jeb: Alyssa's long-time crush.Hot guy alert!This guy's absolutely awesome(and the first fictional crush I've ever had who ISN'T a bad boy) but he's got a piercing on his lip so I'm not sure if my mum would approve of him.But he's totally swoonworthy.He's protective of Alyssa and is an artist too. Alyssa's quite lucky to have a guy like that by her side.To be frank,I'm jealous!

“I go where Al goes, dances-with-bugs. And just so you know, if anything happens to her,

I'll pin you by your wings to a corkboard and use you for dart practice.”

                                                                                                        -Jeb,Splintered

Morpheus: A mysterious character in Wonderland who gets Alyssa's heart racing.In other words,he's the bad boy of this story.Anything more than that would be counted as spoilers.

"Mysterious. Rebellious. Troubled. All those qualities women find irresistible."

                                                                                   -Morpheus,Splintered

SPLINTERED is one book you definitely do not want to miss out on.It will make you see Alice In Wonderland from a whole new aspect and who knows?Maybe it might make you pick up the unabridged version all over again,and this time not because it is included in your school curriculum.

Already excited to read SPLINTERED and can't wait?Check back at my blog tomorrow for an awesome guest post with A.G. Howard and an opportunity to win a signed hardcover of SPLINTERED along with other prizes.

Showcase Sunday #12

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books,Biscuits and Tea and its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.


So thanks to Random House U.K,I got THREE more review books this week:

ARC OF SKYLARK BY MEAGAN SPOONER (TO BE PUBLISHED BY CORGI ON FEBRUARY 2013)

ARC OF TIME BETWEEN US BY TAMARA IRELAND STONE (PUBLISHED BY DOUBLEDAY ON NOVEMBER 2012)

You can check out my review of TIME BETWEEN US here.                                                                                                                                                 


THE BLOOD KEEPER BY TESSA GRATTON

Other than that,I also got some Dualed bookmarks thanks to Elsie Chapman which I'll be giving away somewhere around January.Here's the pic:

 

Eeep!!!! Aren't they gorgeous?!!Keep an eye out for the giveaway post on January for a chance to make them all yours!!!Don't worry,it's international. ;)

Other than that,my mom and dad finally performed Hajj last month(yes,we're Muslims) and they got the opportunity to visit Jeddah,which is a really wonderful city in Saudi Arabia right along the coast of the Red Sea.So as souvenirs,they also bought me a couple of books.Here are the pics:                                                                                         

STARTERS BY LISSA PRICE
   
FREAX AND REJEX BY ROBIN JARVIS

So what's your haul this week?Feel free to let me know in comments!Happy Sunday! :) 

Book Review: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publication date: October 25th 2012 by Doubleday Children's

Blurb:  Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

My Review:

I received an ARC(Uncorrected Proof) of the Doubleday edition of this book from Random House U.K in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended to fans of contemporary romance,Nicholas Sparks and The Time Traveller's Wife.(Not necessarily in that order,since I'd suggest other readers to give this book a chance as well.)

Please note that even though I recommended this book to fans of Nicholas Sparks and The Time Traveller's Wife I have not yet read any of Nicholas Sparks' books nor watched The Time Traveller's Wife(yet). The first recommendation was there on the back of my ARC and the second one was by my contact from Random House U.K.

But moving on,Time Between Us is one of the very few contemporaries which I've actually enjoyed reading.I always try to steer clear of contemporaries,since I'm more of a dystopian and sci-fi lover but I've heard so many good reviews about this one that I decided to give it a shot.And yes,I am really glad that I read this because,honestly,this is one of the sweetest stories I've ever read.And after finishing the entire book in one sitting,I really felt like hugging my contact at Random House U.K for sending this book into my life.Sure, I may not be much of a romantic girl,to be honest I really don't get a single thing about romance,but this book was able to shimmy into my heart and I felt like I finally found my romantic side after all,even though I'm only fifteen and I'm sure I still have a lot of time left to find my romantic side.LoL!

I loved the author's character build-up,world building....everything!!!The story was wonderfully written and really easy to get into,which makes it a good book for impatient readers like me as well.The relationship between Anna and Bennett started out with ins-ta-love but that did not bother me at all since it was all so sweet.It had those heart-breaking climaxes but I promise you that the places where your heart broke will be mended in the end.To be honest,I found Anna to be a bit naggy at the beginning and was more eager to see everything from Bennett's P.O.V but that feeling eventually went away as the story progressed.But I definitely found Bennett to be a much more admirable character of the two.Time Between Us is a book that I'll definitely keep holding on to and who knows?Maybe I'll start reading more contemporaries and finally start borrowing some of those Nicholas Sparks books from my classmates.

Showcase Sunday #11

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books,Biscuits and Tea and its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.


So since the post office was closed this week due to Eid holiday,I did not get any new stuff this week.But my brother finally let me borrow a few of his books.

 Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade by Oliver Bowden

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood by Oliver Bowden

Assassin's Creed: Revelations by Oliver Bowden

The Rise Of Nine by Pittacus Lore

I've been wanting to read these for a long time and my brother took forever to finish them.But the important thing's that I finally got my hands on them.Can't wait to start reading!

What's your haul this week?Leave the link in comments so that I can check it out.Happy Sunday!

Book Review: Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

My Rating: 3 of 5 stars


Publication date:  26 April 2012 by Corgi (First published May 24th 2011 by Random House Books for Young Readers)

Blurb: My whole body shivered. I was about to find out if magic was real. The electric thrill of terror was sharp on my tongue. I cut deep.

The murder of her parents has left Silla damaged and lost, and her insistence that her father is not to blame alienates her from her friends and family. When a mysterious spell book arrives, Silla hopes it will lead to some answers about her parents' killer. In her first attempt at magic, in an old graveyard near her home, she is overseen by Nick, the new boy in town who has a chilling past of his own. Together, they must contend with a deadly immortal woman who will stop at nothing to possess the book of spells.

My Review: 

**Thank you Random House India for providing a review copy of this book.**

I really didn't know what to make of Blood Magic.It had a lot of highs and lows.While I was quite impressed by the fact that the author was able to come up with something unique in the paranormal area other than vampires and werewolves,I felt that the entire story could have been a whole lot better.The ins ta-love wasn't very realistic and the story wasn't that well plotted.But each and every scene was well written,even though the plot itself didn't reach up to my expectations.Tessa Gratton's writing has that hair raising quality.And I absolutely loved the entire concept of the story.I haven't really read any YA novels about this type of sorcery or alchemy(call it whatever you like) before,so I was really impressed.The best parts of the story was probably Josephine's journal entries.Especially the opening entry of the story.The entire story focuses on that entry,and as you dig deeper,you find how much significance that opening entry holds,even though it just consists of one sentence.

“I am Josephine Darly, and I intend to live forever.” 

Just a simple sentence,but it speaks of so much ambition,has so much inner meanings,and that itself is what draws you into the book.So you can see what I meant when I said that the book had so many highs and lows.It either catches the limelight or shrivels to dust.But this book is absolutely worth reading,as it's not everyday you find such a well-written book.I'd recommend it as a borrow-from-friend/library material,just to be on the safe side.Definitely reading the sequel,The Blood Keeper,which is already out.My contact from Random House U.K is sending me a copy.Eeep!!!!I have really high hopes for it because it sounds more interesting.Fingers crossed!

Book Review: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars


Publication date:  October 11th 2012 by Corgi

(first published October 9th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers)

Blurb:  

Manhattan lies underwater.

The corrupt rulers of this new city live high above the flood and survive by channelling the energy of the mystics- a magic-welding underclass who are forced to live amongst the poor in the squalor of the Depths.

 High in Aeries,Aria Rose's fiance has promised that their marriage will unite two of the city's ruling dynasties.But the gaps in Aria's memory tell her that this romance isn't all it seems-the appearance of Hunter,a gorgeous rebel mystic and passionate revolutionary,is about to change the course of her life for ever.

My Review:

**I received a finished paperback copy of this book from Random House U.K in exchange for an honest review.**

So long story short,Mystic City is sort of like a dystopian spin-off of Romeo & Juliet,excepting the fact that Juliet got waay too many bumps on her head so now she can't remember anything about her precious Romeo.Boo-hoo! :(

No but seriously,the romance in Mystic City is kind of cheesy but in a good way,one which made me smile.I finished Mystic City in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it,from the cheesy romance on the first page till the cheesy romance on the very last page.I actually found myself reacting strongly to every scene of the story.To be honest,I even found myself CRYING at one point for poor Aria and her tragic life and repetitive amnesia. If it weren't for everything else,I would've just considered Mystic City as plain cheesy but it has a perfect combination of everything.The entire story was wonderfully plotted,the characters were perfectly put in their roles and most of all,the author swept me off my feet with his magical play upon words.(My very own prince charming!**giggles**)And I'm sure that it's really difficult for a male to write a story from a female's point of view since both genders have different psychologies,or in other words,different ways of thinking.But Theo Lawrence mastered it all and Aria's voice throughout the story turned out to be vibrant, colourful and convincing.It was Aria's voice that helped me imagine her version of New York clearly.And to me,reading a story is not fun until I manage to get myself dragged into the story-world.In the case of Mystic City,that was not a problem.And to let everyone in on a secret,the cover contributed to my imagination as well.I am so glad that I was not tricked by the cover this time!Hehe!

But there's more to Mystic City than just dystopia and romance.It also comprises of fantasy,sci-fi and a bit of para normalcy as well.The mystics are a beautiful race and I hated the way how they were treated with injustice.The best way to describe them is magical,like the characters in the bed-time stories we cherished when we were younger,except that in this case, the mystics are here to replace those characters which we have outgrown.

Recommended to fans of Dystopia,Romance,Fantasy and Paranormal novels,Mystic City is an emotional thrill ride and a battle for love which you do not want to miss!!

Showcase Sunday #10

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books,Biscuits and Tea and its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.


Here's my haul for this week:

An ARC of Touch Of Death by Kelly Hashway for review along with lots of swag thanks to Spencer Hill Press.

 A review copy of Blood Magic by Tessa Graton along with a Rapture postcard thanks to Random House India.

An ARC of Splintered along with a bookmark and a Splintered inspired key "necklace" thanks to A.G. Howard.

Happy Sunday!So what's your haul this week?




 

Book Review: Falling To Ash by Karen Mahoney

Falling To Ash by Karen Mahoney

My Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Publication date:  September 27th 2012 by Corgi Childrens

Blurb:  You can’t choose your family... living or dead.

Trapped between two very different worlds, newly made vampire Moth is struggling to find her place in either. Not only does she have to answer to her strict Irish-Catholic Dad, but her over-protective maker, Theo, is intent on making her the star attraction in his powerful Boston vampire clan. Moth will have to pull off the double-act of the century to please both of them...

Adding to her problems is the dangerously attractive Jason Murdoch, a trainee vampire hunter who loves to play cat and mouse in his spare time (Jace = cat; Moth = mouse). But when the teenagers of Boston’s wealthiest families start to disappear, it forces Moth and Jace into an uneasy truce. Will they be able to solve the mystery behind the disappearances—before someone winds up undead?

My Review:

Thank you Random House U.K for the review copy.

While Falling To Ash did not have that one-of-the-best-books-I-have-ever-read effect on me,it wasn't half bad.The story had a relatively good character buildup,and the narration was pretty good as well.The book also has a drop-dead-gorgeous cover which everyone can already see but it's just that the book did not actually reach my expectations.Don't get me wrong.The book is quite well written.It's just that it had so much more potential.If only the book had a better plot,I would have given it a five-star rating on the spot.

What I liked most about the book was probably the character building.I loved the voice of the main character,Moth.She was the one character who made my day with her good sense of humor.And there is this other character who reminded me of some good old times.That would be Jace.Even though he's really different from Cassandra Clare's Jace in The Mortal Instruments series,he still reminded me of him.Reading about the new Jace A.K.A wannabe vampire hunter according to Moth was an absolute delight.

So here's the thing.While I may not have liked this much I'd still ask people to give it a shot,specially fans of vampire books and paranormal romance since I have a feeling that they might like it better than I did.Trust me,while it might not be one of the best books you've ever read,it's still worth a shot.Borrow from a friend or a library if you're still unsure. 

Showcase Sunday #9

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books,Biscuits and Tea and its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.


So this week I got myself tons of stuff.Here are the review copies I got thanks to Random House U.K.

 The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Falling to Ash by Karen Mahoney

I've already finished reading Mystic City and am almost done with reading Falling To Ash.Keep an eye out for my Mystic City review sometime soon!I also got an ARC of Amber House along with a gorgeous card thanks to Tucker Reed,Larkin Reed and Kelly Moore.Here's the pic:

Amber House by Tucker Reed,Larkin Reed and Kelly Moore

 

I  will start reading this as soon as I'm done with the Random House Books.In the meantime guys,Happy Sunday!And I can't promise you that I'll be able to check out your posts today since I've got to study for a test but if you leave your links I'll check them out tomorrow. :)

Blog Tour: Promo stop for Demon Royale (The Dream Slayer Series, #2) ,Guest Post and Giveaway

Title: Demon Royale (The Dream Slayer Series, #2)

Age Group: YA

Genre: Paranormal

Author: Jill Cooper

Release date: Oct. 10, 2012

Event date(s): Oct. 12, 2012

DREAM SLAYER (Book, #1) will be FREE Oct. 12-14, 2012.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15753987-demon-royale

Author Links:
website
facebook
goodreads

Book Links:



Book Description:
The only thing worse than dying, is running away…
Since becoming employed by a supernatural protection agency, Natalie Johnson’s life has been more interesting than ever. While most teens are working on their summer tans, Natalie works on slaughtering the undead lurking just outside her town’s borders.
The workload takes more than just a toll on her love life, it dampens her spirit and her health, as the town is plagued by a mysterious murderer intent on stealing the residents’ souls. Natalie’s investigation is hampered by her declining health and the sicker she gets, the more inadequate she feels.
Guilt over her inability to act, weighs heavily on Natalie’s shoulders during a time when her strength is needed more than ever. As some of those closest to her begin to lose faith, she must make the hardest stand yet to save the soul of the one person she can always count on:
The Slayer.

Trailer: 
  Giveaway(is international):

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Writing Demon Royale (Or how I panicked about getting it wrong)
(GUEST POST BY JILL COOPER)
In Dream Slayer Natalie Johnson is a day dreamer who creates a world of fantastical adventures.  Her dreams create chaos in the real world as everyone’s nightmares, deepest fears, manifest around them. When it’s over she discovers her real power, strength, but people suffer along the way.
And some die.
I had setup a platform for a series about two kick butt heroines. I know where they will end up in Book three and ultimately where the series will end. But how do I get them there?
Initial I had a kick butt plot setup where Natalie springs into action, kills a lot of demons, saves her friends from sacrifice, and eats a lot of pancakes. It was great, it was exciting. My husband loved it, but I wasn’t sure.
It was missing something.
I wasn’t sure what it was missing at first. It seemed like a logical step in Natalie’s progression. She’s learning to fight and figuring out who she is; her relationship with her boyfriend, and along the way she saves the world. Again.
But there was no compassion for the fallen. No remorse for the damage and death she had caused in the first book. I realized I had focused all her attention on learning to fight, to become an effective undead killer, and I needed to put that focus on her emotions.
So I kept some aspects of the plot I loved (like the pancakes, demonic squirrels) and I started over. In Dream Slayer, Natalie had never questioned her destiny because there wasn’t time. The city was at stake! There was evil all around.
Now in this highly personal novel for Natalie it gives her the opportunity to mourn the lost and gives her the chance to decide, ‘is this what I really want’? Is she comfortable being a hero, a leader?
While there is still a lot of danger, evil, and the world is again at risk, it is a smaller journey for Natalie as she comes to grips with her life and the past choices she’s made. As she gets sicker and she begins to lose strength, she always loses resolve. When you’re the hero with no one else to reside on what should she do? What would you do?

Annabelle's Story Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway

Hi guys!Today I'm taking part in the Annabelle's Story Blog Tour.My tour stop comprises of an awesome guest post and giveaway.Before that,here's a bit about Leigh Michael and her Annabelle's Story series.

Series Summary: 

Annabelle Walsh thought she had it all. She was the star of her swim team, had a loving family, a great boyfriend, and to top it off, she’d be starting at UCLA in the fall. One day, she’d be referred to as Dr. Annabelle Walsh.

She was living every girl’s dream – until her life was turned upside down. All starting with finding out that she's not just a human, but also a water spirit. Half-human, half-sprite to be exact. Although not just any sprite, Annabelle is prophesied to be the only one who can save both the sprites and mankind.

With a mix of current events, anecdotes from Greek mythology, tidbits of folklore, and Leigh’s own imagination, we join Annabelle in her journey to restore order beneath the sea. Each step of the way her mind, body, and soul are pushed to the limit begging the question, how much can one half-human, half-sprite take?

Purchase Information:

Sprite (Annabelle’s Story Part One) can be purchased at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Kin (Annabelle’s Story Part Two) can be purchased at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

 Author Bio:

Leigh Michael is an author of YA fiction. She's worked within the advertising world for nearly a decade before writing her debut series, Annabelle's Story. Leigh lives in Washington, DC with her husband and goldendoodle. Please learn more about Leigh and her works at www.LeighMichaelBooks.com.

 

Links:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Email

Amazon

Smashwords

Goodreads

 Annabelle's Story on the Big Screen  

(Guest Post by Leigh Michael)

Not many books see the light of day as feature films. In fact, I once read that the percentage of novels that do is less than 1.7%. This is a quote from over two years ago. Plus, it’s just someone’s best educated guess. Still... it goes without saying that Annabelle’s Story probably won't be coming to a theater near you. I can still dream up who’d be cast in each role though, right? Take a look below to see who’d play Annabelle, Adrian, and Blake in Sprite (Annabelle's Story Part One) and in Kin (Annabelle's Story Part Two).

Annabelle

Name: Elizabeth Olsen

Known for: Martha Marcy May Marlene and Liberal Arts

Height: 5'7"

Age: 23

Why Annabelle?: Her light hair, blue eyes, and fair skin make her the perfect Annabelle look-alike. Elizabeth's innocence is a quality I find endearing, allowing the viewer to grow with Annabelle each step of the way. Not to mention, Elizabeth is a statuesque beauty who could launch bodysuits into the next big thing in high fashion.

Adrianus (Adrian)

Name: Christian Alexander

Known for: General Hospital

Height: Hmm, not sure

Age: 22

Why Adrian?: Born in Greece, Christian is made for the role of Prince of Tritonis. Grow out his hair, throw some water on him, and slap on some fins and Christian is transformed into the jovial merman who Annabelle quickly claims as her partner in crime.

Blake

Name: Jeremy Sumpter

Known for: Soul Surfer and Friday Night Lights

Height: 6'2"

Age: 23

Why Blake?: In Sprite, Blake is described as having "sandy blonde hair, chiseled abs, and a killer smile." From the looks of things, he's already got 2 of the 3. And if I were a betting lady, I'd say those chiseled abs aren't a stretch. He's the perfect "boy next door" with a "bad boy" twist.

           Giveaway!!!!!!

Enter for a chance to win digital copies of Sprite and Kin here.Giveaway lasts till the 2nd of November and is international.Cheating disqualifies all entries.If winner does not reply within forty-eight hours,another winner will be chosen.Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below.Good luck! :)

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