Shades of Atlantis Blog Tour!

I wanted to give all my lovely followers a heads up about this blog tour! It's the first blog tour that I'll ever be a part of and I'm super duper excited. The tour doesn't stop here until April 11, but it starts on Friday (April 1st). So for that reason, I wanted to let you know in advance so you can follow along with the tour each day rather than have to flip back through the other blogs. I know, I'm so considerate ;).

Here's the tour schedule:
(all links go directly to blog tour posts)

April 1: Mundie Moms

April 2: Once Upon a Twilight - Guest Post

April 3: Good Choice Reading

April 4: Frenzy of Noise - Character Interview

April 5: Girls Just Reading

April 6: Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my

April 7: CSI: Librarian

April 8: YA Bound

April 9: YA Booklover Blog

April 10: The Reading Fever

April 11: At Home Between the Pages (here)

April 12: Books and Shtuff

April 13: Bookworm Lisa

April 14: Moonlight Book Reviews

April 15: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

April 16: Diva's Bookcase

April 17: Ticket to Anywhere

April 18: The Crazy Bookworm

April 19: A Trail of Books Left Behind

April 20: A Tale of Many Reviews (host) - Video interview with author

So make sure you follow along! The book is really awesome, I enjoyed it a lot. I'll be posting my review on my tour date (April 11) and also putting up information on how you can win awesome stuff. Yes of course there's a giveaway! And it's BIG. So make sure you check back and follow along! It'll be lots of fun :)

Teaser Tuesday (14)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

Just to warn you, I'm cheating for my Teaser Tuesday this week by sharing more than 2 sentences. Don't hate me! It's worth it!

I’m finally reading Maggie Stiefvater’s debut novel, Lament. I honestly don’t know why I waited so long, but I’m so happy I’m reading it now. I love her writing! Here’s my teaser this week:

I lay on the marble forever while the gravestones outside marked time, the moon’s shadow moving around them, lighting the other side of their worn surfaces and illuminating Christian names that hadn’t been used in decades. Cold crept through me, passing from the marble into my veins. Every moment that I lay on the cold stone, hoping and dreading that Luke would pull me from the ground, images of death flew through my head. No. Not just death. Murder.



Hehehe I hope that whet your appetite a bit. I am loving this book. Maggie’s writing is amazing, it just drags me in and doesn’t let me go. I was up until 2 AM on Sunday night reading because I didn’t want to put it down. Yes, I had class in the morning, but I just wanted to learn more and more about Luke and Deirdre!

Ok, I’m feeling generous. I want to give you another quick snippet to show you Maggie’s awesome writing. It’s a very different mood from the first:

I sighed. I wanted to take this moment, wrap it in paper, and give it to myself as a gift every time I felt crummy.

I just read this line last night and I love it. It’s such an obscure thought, but at the same time, it’s something that everyone would love to be able to do, once you think about it: Take a happy moment and wrap it up so you can cheer yourself up with that moment when you’re feeling down. Sigh. Love it.

Anyway, feel free to share your teasers with me! I’d love to see what you’re reading!

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Make sure you check back next week. I'll be sharing a teaser from Amy Plum's debut novel, Die For Me.

Impromptu Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my impromptu giveaway! It was short, quick, and easy, and I had fun so I hope to do more of them in the future! The winner was chosen by Random.org and here's who the it is!

Deea from Deea's Journal!






She chose Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, which is a great choice (Goodreads | Book Depository). I loved this book, Deea, and I hope you do, too!! Make sure you check out her blog when you have a chance.

Thanks again to everyone who entered! I hope you all have a great week!

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



I’m expecting a bunch of stuff in the mail right now. Most of it is swag stuff that I’ve won in various contests. Honestly, I had a couple lucky days and won a bunch of stuff, so I’m super excited to get it all and see what I’ve won! Here’s what came in my mailbox this week:

Won
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney (from Terry Lynn Johnson)
{Goodreads | Book Depository}
Mumford & Sons CD (from Kristi Cook twitter contest)

For Review from GalleyGrab
The Summer of Firsts and Lasts by Terra Elan McVoy
{Goodreads | preorder from Book Depository}

In my opinion, the CD counts because I won it from Kristi Cook (author of Haven) along with some swag in a twitter contest. It just came before everything else. The Iron Witch looks like a great book, too. I really love that cover. And all those swirls and things in the corners also cover the entire inside covers. It’s pretty neat. I’m really excited to read it. Terry was also nice enough to send me a sampler of her first book, Dogsled Dreams, an MG about a girl who wants to be a famous dog sled racer. She also sent me a Dogsled Dreams bookmark (not pictured). I requested The Summer of Firsts and Lasts because it’s a story about three sisters and a summer that changes them. I’m one of three sisters, so I think it would be neat to read about a family somewhat like mine! It sounds really cute, too.

What did you get this week?

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P.S. While you're here, why not enter my impromptu giveaway that ends tonight (Mar 27) at midnight EST! You could win a book of your choice from The Book Depository!

Impromptu Giveaway!

Yes, that's right everyone! I've randomly decided to do a giveaway! I feel a little bad because I'm so busy with school that I can't find much time to read, which means less reviews for you lovely people to read. And so to make up for school being lame, IMPROMPTU GIVEAWAY!

What can you win?

One person will win a book of their choice, up to $15 CDN, from The Book Depository. Since I'll be ordering from The Book Depository, this giveaway is open internationally to wherever they ship for free. You can check here to see if you're eligible.

No extra entries, no need to follow. Just fill out the form below!

Contest closes on March 27 at 11:59 pm EST.

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




My Waiting on Wednesday this week:
The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter
Publication Date: April 19, 2011

Synopsis:

Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now 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.

If she fails...

From Goodreads

I love mythology. I feel like I always have. Or maybe it's just been since high school... Anyway! There are a lot of books coming out now that are retellings of myths and fairytales, in case you haven't noticed. THE GODDESS TEST is one of them and it sounds really awesome. I really like the cover, too. The font is beautiful and the colour looks awesome. I can't wait to see what it looks like in reality. Also, I love how the model is wearing clothing that looks more ancient rather than modern. Awesome!

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



Here's what's in my mailbox this week!

For review
Solid by Shelley Workinger (from author)
{Goodreads | Book Depository}

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (from publisher through NetGalley)
{Goodreads | preorder from Book Depository}

If I haven't said how much I love authors, then here it comes!! Shelley contacted me last week because I had added SOLID to my to-read list on Goodreads and she wanted to know if I wanted a copy of it. Her second novel, SETTLING (sequel to SOLID) is coming out this summer and she was clearing out proof copies of SOLID, so she offered a copy to me. I have to admit, I totally fangirled. A lot. I've never had an author contact me asking if I wanted a copy of their book before (Proof that I'm still a newbie blogger, clearly). If this doesn't prove to you that authors are amazing, check this out, too:

YEAH. SHE SIGNED IT TOO. More fangirling definitely happened when I opened this up. This is my first signed book, too! Man I feel like SUCH a newbie!

Anyway, even though my mailbox only gave me two books this week, I am so happy with what I got! I can't wait to read these books, they sounds awesome.

What did you get this week?

On My Wishlist (7)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

On my Wishlist this week:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Synopsis:
Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

From Goodreads

I really like Cassie's writing, but I haven't taken the time to enjoy it! I've read City of Bones and since City of Fallen Angels is coming out very soon, I've been wanting to finish the series! However, I lent my copy of City of Ashes to my friend who I won't see until the end of April, so I'll have to wait a bit longer. The point is that I am a big fan of Cassie and want to read all that she writes. That's all. :)

What's on your wishlist this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!





My Waiting on Wednesday this week:
Betrayal by Mayandree Michel
Publication Date: April 1, 2011

Synopsis:

At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.

After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is – a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for – safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.

In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.

From Goodreads

I heard about this from Fragments of Life’s WoW last week and decided I had to read it. I love mythology and YA, so I think these types of books are perfect. Luckily for me, there are a lot of YA paranormal novels coming out that center around mythology. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter, Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, and Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs to name a few. I’m excited for ALL of these books, so keep an eye on my blog because all of these will be featured for WoWs at some point or another!

Since I posted a book trailer with my WoW last week and a lot of people seemed to like that, I’m going to do it again! Here’s the trailer for BETRAYAL:



What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Teaser Tuesday (13)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

I’m currently reading Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates for a book tour that I’m part of in April. It’s the first ever book tour that I’m participating in so I’m really excited. Right now, I’m about halfway through the book and it’s a real roller coaster ride and a great story! Here’s my teaser for the week:

Chris moved nearer, and I felt the palm of his hand push against my hip. His stale breath blew in my face. I grimaced, closing my eyes and turning my head sideways, searching for some air not contaminated by him.





The thing I like about this book is that it has a lot of little differences from typical YA paranormal stories, but they make a big difference. For example, the love interest isn’t a high school student like the main character, he’s 21-years-old. Also, the whole story doesn’t take place in the same small town typical of these stories, but it changes around halfway to London. I like the way that’s done.

If you want to see a list of the blog participating in the blog tour, check out Carol's site here. More information is to come.

Feel free to share links to your teasers! I’d love to see what you’re reading.

Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Wither
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: March 22, 2011
Genre: YA, dystopian
Pages: 356
Series: The Chemical Garden Trilogy
1. Wither
2. Untitled
3. Untitled

Synopsis:
What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

From Goodreads

I loved this story. I’ve realized recently that I’m becoming a fan of dystopian stories, which I’ve never read until now. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that there are so many of them coming out right now, but either way, I’m quickly becoming addicted. WITHER is a great story about Rhine, a 16-year-old girl who is abducted and taken to a grand estate to be the bride of some rich, young man. While here, she experiences sister wives, attendants, domestics, a comfortable room, a life free of danger and a man who loves her. But all she can think is: I need to get out. And I don’t blame her. Aside from the close bonds she forms with Jenna, one of her sister wives, and Gabriel, an attendant she becomes attracted to, Rhine can only think about her twin brother who is now alone and probably heartbroken without her.

Lauren’s writing is magical. She knows just the right words to use to make me feel everything Rhine feels. The emotions were portrayed amazingly. I could never imagine being in any position like Rhine's, but I could sympathize with her because of the way Lauren wrote. She made me feel like I was there with Rhine the whole time - that whatever Rhine went through, I went through it, too. And it hurt to watch poor Rhine cry through the night or stand in front of her father-in-law in fear, knowing I couldn’t do anything to help her! When those emotions are pulled out of me when reading a book, I know that the author is an amazing writer.

The whole concept of the story was great. I loved the way Lauren didn’t feel the need to take the first hundred pages explaining the world. Slowly, but surely, we learned about Rhine’s world and how things worked there. There were also a couple flashbacks so we could see the way Rhine and her brother Rowan were living before she was swept up by the Gatherers. I prefer this way of learning about the dystopian world because it doesn’t make the beginning drag and it prevents a lot of information from being thrown at you all at once, which can be overwhelming and also boring.

If I didn’t love a character in this book, then I hated them with as much passion. There were not many characters who were just kind of there and didn’t make me feel for them in any way. They all felt like real people to me. The one character who I couldn’t decide whether to love or hate was Linden, Rhine’s husband. I really wanted to hate him because it was his fault Rhine was stuck in that estate in the first place, but he didn’t make it easy. He was such a sweet, fragile young man, and as you learn later on… well you’ll have to read it yourself if you want to know why it’s hard to hate Linden Ashby. Even Rhine found it hard to hate him eventually...

Ok, I need to talk about Gabriel. I really liked him as a love interest for Rhine. The weird thing is that he wasn’t actually in a lot of the book as a character, but he was very often there as an idea or a thought. Let me explain. Even though Rhine and Gabriel didn’t interact a lot, Rhine thought of him often. For example, if she didn’t see him for a while, she worried about him. There were always occasions where Rhine was thinking about Gabriel even though he wasn’t around her very much. I think that’s what made me like them together so much: the fact that he was sort of a light in this dark place for her. I really hope their relationship grows in the next book.

I was happy with the way this book ended. I am so ready for the next book to come out, although I can’t find any information about it anywhere. Even though I finished this book over a week ago, I still find myself thinking about it and what is going to happen next. What if he...? Will she...? Does he...? So many questions that I can’t finish because I want to avoid spoiling it for you all! Seriously, if you’re into any kind of dystopians that also include romance, pick this one up when it comes out next Tuesday. You don’t want to miss it.

As a bonus, VLC Productions and Simon & Schuster just released the book trailer for WITHER yesterday. Check it out here.

Can't wait much longer? Preorder WITHER from The Book Depository!

Book Trailers!

As you may know from a previous Waiting on Wednesday post, I am anxiously awaiting the release of Jennifer L. Armentrout's debut novel, HALF-BLOOD. It's got mythology and forbidden romance and it seriously sounds like an awesome book. To help with the long wait, Jennifer has posted a teaser trailer as well as an epic contest over on her blog.



Oooh I'm so so SO excited!! If you want to keep to date with HALF-BLOOD news and also enter the epic contest Jennifer is hosting, check out her blog here.

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Also on the agenda today was the book trailer release for Lauren DeStefano's awesome dystopian debut, WITHER. Check it out:



The trailer was created by the lovely Vania of VLC Productions (follow her on twitter!) and I think she did such an awesome job. I finished the book last week and I think that the trailer really conveys the mysteries of Rhine's world.

Check out The Chemical Garden Trilogy fansite to see lots of teasers! They're also hosting a comment contest, but it ends tomorrow so go comment lots! (It's open internationally!)

I loved reading WITHER. Make sure you check back tomorrow for my review!

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



This week I got one book I bought, one ebook I bought, and one book that I won! Check it out:

Won from YAgazine
Don't Stop Believin': The Unofficial Guide to Glee by Erin Balser and Suzanne Gardner {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Thanks YAgazine and ECW Press!

Bought from Book Depository
Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany {Goodreads | Book Depository}

Bought from Smashwords
The Forest of Adventures by Katie M. John {Goodreads | Smashwords}

Have to make this short and sweet! I got The Forest of Adventures last week from Smashwords. It's a really great price, only $1.99! Go pick it up! I just finished reading 13 to Life a couple weeks ago so I had to pick up Secrets and Shadows ASAP. It came in the mail on Monday. I'm also pretty excited to read the Glee guide. I probably won't read it cover to cover, but it'll be fun to look up certain episodes or interviews to see some behind-the-scenes work on the show.

What did you get this week?

On My Wishlist (6)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

On my wishlist this week:
The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
Publication Date: July 27, 2010

Synopsis:
Haven Moore can't control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother's house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

From Goodreads

“What if love refused to die?” and “Do you believe in love at first sight?” are some of the taglines for this book. Also, as a bonus, here’s the quick little trailer for this book:



I remember hearing about this book back when it came out and I was just discovering the world of book blogging. I’m pretty sure I first saw it on Lavender Lines, since she was one of the first book bloggers I found (through our mutual love of Maggie Stiefvater, of course). Anyway, I instantly wanted to read it! Don’t ask me why I never picked it up because I don’t have an answer to that question. Maybe it’ll have to be an insta-buy on my next shopping trip...

What’s on your wishlist?

Review: Haven by Kristi Cook

Title: Haven
Author: Kristi Cook
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: February 22, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 416

Synopsis:
One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

From Goodreads

When Violet’s stepmother gets a new job in New York, she’s given the choice to stay in Atlanta with her Gran or move to New York and basically start over. As soon as she sees the flyer for Winterhaven, her mind is made up. She knows that this school is where she belongs, she just doesn’t know why. She makes new friends and eventually starts to understand her new school. Then there’s Aidan Gray. She can’t help but feel the “Aidan Effect” each time he is within proximity of her - which is at least two classes every day. As much as she feels afraid of him for some reason, she also can’t seem to stay away from him.

I loved all of Kristi’s characters. Each character had their own “talent or gift,” but each also had their own personality to go along with it. Having so many supporting characters, it’s amazing that none of them really resembled one another - each was individual in their own way and either had their own charm or... not. To me, all of Violet’s friends seemed like true friends, the kinds you want to be friends with. They worried about her when she had a vision and were supportive of her when she needed them. There was definitely great characterization in this book.

The relationship between Aidan and Violet was fun to be a part of. I think that their relationship was really believable. If Aidan was being a jerk or being secretive or whatever, Violet took offense to it. Most girls would. Depending on the circumstances, most girls won’t be mad one second and then all “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean it” the next like you see in some books. It sometimes happens in reality, yes, but when you see it too often in books it’s irritating. Violet and Aidan had issues and they were more or less realistic, considering the fact that they’re at a school for people with psychic gifts. But that’s besides the point.

Another thing I liked about this book is that it had all the best parts of other books rolled into one. There were moments where I was like “hey, I recognize this...” and it would remind me of Twilight or Fallen or Angelfire. But it’s not as if Kristi stole any ideas (Angelfire just came out one week before Haven), they were just familiar and all these parts pulled HAVEN together perfectly.

I loved the way the story unraveled towards the end. I don’t want to give anything away, but the world that Kristi created and the paths she put her characters on were original and well thought out. I sometimes felt like I knew what was going to happen because Violet has visions and she's adamant that they always come true, but even the visions can be misleading and I didn’t know what was going to happen. But I enjoyed it all to the very end!

HAVEN is a great debut novel for Kristi Cook. She has definitely made a name for herself in the YA community. I really hope that she writes a sequel because, even though the story ended nicely, there are still so many places she could take Violet and Aidan. There are a lot of unanswered questions and it would also be nice to find some answers. Kristi said that she hopes there’s a sequel as well, but she’s not sure yet. Let’s all cross our fingers that we get to see more of Violet and Aidan!

If you'd like to read Haven, pick up a copy for yourself!

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




My Waiting on Wednesday this week:
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Publication Date: April 12, 2011

Synopsis:
WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce's world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed 'brat' has trained into one of three groups-Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms.

Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember. As a Huntress, her purpose is clear--to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing's going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade.

When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce's troubles are just beginning. Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn't like following orders. At first she thinks he's crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don't always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth.

Her partner confuses her; she's never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as to using his knives with feral grace. As Deuce's perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy... but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she's ever known.

From Goodreads

To be honest, this isn’t the type of book I’d usually read, but I saw the trailer over at PageTurners Blog last week and was instantly sold. Take a watch:



It looks awesome, right?? I don't even know what else to say! It just looks like it'll be a great ride and I can't wait to read it.

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Teaser Tuesday (12)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

So, I just finished reading Wither on Sunday night, but I haven’t picked up a new book yet and I still wanted to use it as a teaser. So here is my teaser from Lauren DeStefano’s Wither:

“What is is?” Cecily says. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s the virus,” Vaughn says. I supposed he’s trying to sound remorseful but all I see is a giant cartoon snake flicking his tongue. Jenna’s life is nothing to him.





Oh man, it’s so sad when Jenna gets sick. I don’t really want to say much about it right now and spoil anything, but it was a very emotional book! Lauren DeStefano made sure that you as a reader could really feel the emotions of her characters. It was beautifully written.

I hope to get a review written and posted soon, but I’m also very busy with school so I apologize if it takes me a little longer than normal!

Feel free to share links to your teasers. I’d love to see what you’re reading!

In My Mailbox (10)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



Compared to last week, my mailbox this week was small. I got approved for a couple eARCs from NetGalley, and that’s all. Still, they’re really great ARCs! Check out what I got:

For Review from NetGalley
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini {Goodreads | Book Depository (preorder)}
Die for Me by Amy Plum {Goodreads | Book Depository (preorder)}

These books look SO good! I love their covers, too. You should check out the UK covers on Goodreads! Man they are so awesome. I love stories that incorporate mythology, and especially stories that have forbidden love, which is basically STARCROSSED. Sounds like a great book, I’m excited to read it. The synopsis for DIE FOR ME on Goodreads is a little vague, but go here to Amy’s website for a better one! Sounds like something I’m really going to enjoy! Also, it’s set in Paris and there’s a hot french boy. Just sayin’ ;-). Both books are the firsts of a series (Starcrossed and The Revenants series). I’m definitely excited to read these two books from two awesome debut authors!

What did you get this week?

On My Wishlist (5)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

On My Wishlist this week:
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Synopsis:
Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

From Goodreads

This book sounds like one that’s right up my alley: YA paranormal romance. And not only does it center on one paranormal creature, but many, which is something I really like. I think it’s more realistic to have all of them exist rather than just one. Regardless of the fact that me and PARANORMALCY are a perfect fit for one another, I just never picked it up. I know I’d enjoy it, but it somehow never made it to my shopping basket. That is why it’s on my wishlist this week! Hopefully I pick it up soon.

What’s on your wishlist?

Title and Cover Reveals

There has been a lot of activity around the internet involving title releases and cover releases. Every so often I like to highlight these on my blog. I thought this week would be a good one to sum up what’s been flying around this week.

For starters, Maggie Stiefater, author of the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy, and Lament and Ballad, has been hinting about this SECRET NOVEL of hers for the past few months. The curiosity has been killing me and I’m sure other Maggie fans have been feeling the same way. All that she’s told us is that it’s about kissing and cliffs and blood and beaches. So apparently Secret Novel is now on sale for pre-order on Amazon, and so the title has been revealed! Secret Novel can now be known as......

THE SCORPIO RACES

We have no idea what it’s about, but the name sounds so cool. Maggie says it’s her favourite book she’s written yet! I think she said we might have a synopsis later in the month! Yay!! Secret Novel A.K.A. The Scorpio Races will be released on OCTOBER 18, 2011!!

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Second, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, authors of the Caster Chronicles (Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness), released the name of the third book in the series on Tuesday. It will be called......

BEAUTIFUL CHAOS

Although we don’t know the synopsis yet, I feel like this title will be perfect for what is about to happen. It just seems like it would fit perfectly after the way that Beautiful Darkness ended.

We’re also lucky enough to have tons more Caster Chronicles news this week!
On Thursday, Hollywood Crush announced the release date as well as the cover for Beautiful Chaos. Here is the wonderful title and the release date:

Release date: October 18, 2011

In case you haven’t seen the others, here’s the covers for Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness so you can compare.

Check out my review archive for reviews of these books.

It's totally perfect. I was thinking the colour might have been red, but I really couldn't see in my mind's eye how that would look. This gold looks perfect, though! I'm excited to read it and understand the full meaning of the wrought-iron gate. Check out the article where the reveals took place, here.

Also on Thursday, NextMovie released some new information about the movie adaptation of Beautiful Creatures! My favourite part is that they posted Kami and Margie's fantasy cast!! Go here to check it out and get the all the movie news. (And then come back and tell me if you agree/disagree with their cast!)

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Next, we’ve got more cover releases!

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting (author of The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead):

Click here to visit the Goodreads page for a short synopsis, and add it to your wishlist!
THE PLEDGE will be released November 15, 2011.

My favourite part is how it very lightly says PLEDGE in the centre. If you can't see it, it's the PL on one line, then ED on the next and GE on the last. The ED are right in the centre, where the title passes through.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab:

Click here to visit the Goodreads page and read the synopsis.
THE NEAR WITCH is due for release on August 2, 2011.

In this one, I love how everything looks so delicate, but she has fear in her eyes. Very beautiful and creepy at the same time.

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday:

Click here to visit the Goodreads page and read the quick synopsis.
DEADLY COOL is due for release October 1, 2011.

I love the way "Cool" is written in headphone wire, and how blue her eyes are. I'm interested to see how this cover ties in with the story.

Frost by Marianna Baer:

Click here for the synopsis and to add this to your Goodreads wishlist.
FROST is due for release September 13, 2011.

I find that this cover is really captivating. It's such a subdued colour, but it really jumps out at you as well.

The last three books are all written by debut authors in the YA genre (Gemma Halliday has written adult novels). What lucky authors to have their covers be so beautiful! They're really going to get a lot of recognition because of these book covers, in my opinion.

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Thanks to those of you who stuck out this LONG post with me! I told you it had been a busy week! I'm so excited that The Scorpio Races and Beautiful Chaos are going to be released on the same day. It'll be right around my reading week, too, so I'll be able to read those instead of schoolwork! Hehe.

What do you think of these titles and covers? Did I miss any recent reveals? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! In fact, I encourage you to!

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




My Waiting on Wednesday this week:
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Publication Date: April 12, 2011

Synopsis:
Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home—and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.

It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy—her paw-print birthmark.

From Goodreads

I love Kelley Armstrong’s writing, however I haven’t read any of her YAs before. Out of her adult books, I’m only three books into her Women of the Otherworld series, but I fell in love with her writing from the first. I have no doubt her YA series would be just as good. I really love how Kelley combines a whole bunch of paranormal elements into her stories, rather than having just one, such as werewolves or vampires. It’s more realistic to think that if one paranormal creature exists, then all the others we know of must exist as well. I look forward to finding time to read the rest of her adult series and all of her YAs as well!

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Teaser Tuesday (11)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

My teaser this week comes from Kristi Cook’s debut novel, Haven. I just got it last Tuesday when it came out and so far it’s pretty great! Here’s my teaser:

And then I could have sworn I heard a voice in my head - Aidan’s voice. We’ve all got something to hide, it said, as clearly as if it had been spoken aloud, as if it was replying to my thoughts.





At a school for people with psychic gifts and talents, you know it’s gotta happen! I’m really enjoying this story. One thing I especially love is how Kristi based Aidan, the main male character, on Hayden Christensen. Look here and here to see what Kristi’s Aidan looks like, and drool over him! Yummy! It’s a great picture to have in your head while reading. I’m looking forward to seeing where this book goes and how Violet and Aidan’s relationship continues to grow.

Feel free to share links to your teasers. I’d love to see what you’re reading!