The Calling - Book Review

The Calling (Darkness Rising #2)
by Kelley Armstrong

What is it about:
Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is -a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

What did I think of it:
I liked this book better than the first book.

Where the first book had no real surprises for me after having read the Darkest Powers trilogy, this one finally went into new territory so to speak and was less predictable.

Maya does some growing up and some of her friends do as well, while others were getting more annoying. (I feel an enormous love triangle fight coming up in book three.)

The story was suspenseful and I liked how alliances seemed to keep shifting, making it difficult to know who was to trust and who wasn't.

I still think the Darkest Powers trilogy is better than this trilogy, but I'm very eager to read the last book in this trilogy which will release in April next year.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful and well written paranormal YA read.

Solid - Book Review

Solid (Solid #1)
by Shelley Workinger

What is it about:
Clio Kaid may be 17 and just beginning the last summer before her senior year, but her life is anything but typical.

She's just discovered she was genetically altered before birth and is now headed to a top-secret Army campus to explore the surprising results of the experiment.

Follow Clio and the other teens as they develop fantastic super-abilities, forge new friendships, and find love as they search for answers.

What did I think of it:
This is a very nice read.

I liked the set up of the story. Clio and about 100 other teens are thrown in a project to discover what happened to them. The fact that Clio is just as clueless as the reader makes it a suspenseful story as you discover along with Clio what is going on.

At the campus Clio meets some other teens and makes friends with them. Even though they were a bit stereotypical, Workinger manages to make them all likeable and interesting enough to want them to overcome the obstacles they encounter.

Overall the story was intriguing and I kept wondering where it would lead. There could have been a bit more struggle in my opinion to make things even more interesting, but that might just be me.

All in all this is a very enjoyable paranormal YA read about self discovery with a firm dose of suspense on the side.

I most probably will give the next book a try to see what's next for Clio and her friends.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun paranormal YA read


Buy it here

Wishlist Wednesday - Frost Burned

I love the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, so I'm eagerly waiting for this one:


Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7)
by Patricia Briggs

Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson's life is calming down, at least enough that she can focus on mundane matters like Black Friday sales. But on her return, Mercy is unable to contact her mate, Alpha Adam Hauptman, or the other members of their pack. All she knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam's disappearance may be related - and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.

Expected publication: March 5th 2013 by Orbit

Teaser Tuesdays - Fated

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


All I ever wanted was to be a normal girl with a normal life - living in a place of blissful ignorance where gruesome monstrosities - things born of darkness - no longer exist.
(page 192, Fated by Alyson Noël)

Silver Mine - Early Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Silver Mine (Takhini Wolves #2)
by Vivian Arend
ebook

What is it about:
If a tree falls in the forest, duck…

Takhini Wolves, Book 2

Life in isolation is the safest place for Chase Johnson, a crossbreed who doesn’t know which form he’ll assume next—cougar or wolf. Once a year, his unelected position as spokesman for the Yukon outcasts forces him to visit civilization. This time he runs across someone unexpected. She’s not his mate, but she pushes all the right buttons.

It’s taken years for Shelley Bradley to gather the courage to return to her home pack. In spite of being the lowest of the low—a shifter who can’t shift—she’s determined to make a place for herself as the Whitehorse locals’ new vet-slash-doctor.

There’s definite electricity between her and Chase, but sex with fellow shifters and the inherent mind games got old a long time ago. Ignoring him seems best. When he shows up at her office with a wound that won’t heal, she’s stuck—yet drawn to solve this medical mystery.

As they journey deep into outcast territory in search of answers, their powerful sexual attraction crumbles her resistance. But time is of the essence. If a cure can’t be found before his human and cougar succumb to his injury, he—and others like him—will die.

Warning: Contains a silver-tongued, hairy-chested, lean-muscled Alpha who’s got what it takes to lead in the wilderness and in the bedroom. Yeah, I know…not really much of a deterrent, is it? Throw in continuing territorial wars and a domestic cat. Stir and enjoy the chaos.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I love Arend's Shifter stories, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of Silver Mine.

And as always Arend delivers a fun, sexy and very satisfying story.

I like how the hero and heroine aren't mates. Even though I do love the mate-trope, it was refreshing to see two shifters who didn't feel drawn together by an inescapable mate bond, but who felt physically attracted to each other and had to figure out if they had more in common than just that.

I really liked Shelley. She's been hurt and at first she might seem fragile, but she got a lot of surprises for the people around her. Chase is a very interesting character too and I liked both him and the outcast shifters he hangs around with. (I'm secretly hoping Arend will write about Frank (a bear shifter) next.)

The romance was delightful, tense and hot. The action storyline was enjoyable, with some easy solutions from time to time, but it didn't really bother me I will confess.

All in all this is an awesome paranormal romance and I can only hope Arend keeps them coming, because I want more.

Why should you read it:
It's a hot, romantic paranormal read


Buy it here
Publication Date: September 11, 2012

Chosen Ones - Book Review

Chosen Ones (The Lost Souls #1)
by Tiffany Truitt

What is it about:
Life is bleak but uncomplicated for sixteen-year-old Tess, living in a not-too-distant future where the government, faced with humanity's extinction, created the Chosen Ones, artificial beings who are extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

When Tess begins work at Templeton, a Chosen Ones training facility, she meets James, and the attraction is immediate in its intensity, overwhelming in its danger. But there is more to Templeton than Tess ever knew. Can she stand against her oppressors, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

What did I think of it:
This was a nice read.

I really liked the Dystopian setting of this book. It was grim and for most parts believable enough. There were some minor things that bugged me, but not enough to make me lose interest.

I did have some problems with Tess. For someone who's introduced as a cynical and disillusioned teen, she's awfully naive and slow to catch on to what's going on at times. Near the end of the book something is revealed that would have me run screaming for the hills if I was Tess, but she doesn't even think anything of it. It makes me wonder if it's just Tess who doesn't see the danger or if it's Truitt who didn't think her own world building through.

I also thought that Truitt held back information on one plot point until very late in the story. Ok, there were some hints, but the most important one was introduced much too late in my opinion.

Those grumblings aside, this was an enjoyable read. I really liked the growing relationship between Tess and James and the story had enough intrigue to keep me invested until the end.

The ending was done well enough to give some closure and at the same time made me want to continue this series. I'm curious to see if Truitt will take this story where I both hope and fear it will go or if she will shy away from true darkness.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Dystopian YA read

Precinct 13 - Book Review

Precinct 13
by Tate Hallaway

What is it about:
Recent college grad Alex Conner is thrilled to have landed a job as the Hughes County coroner/medical examiner in Pierre, South Dakota. But when her first day on the job ends with a missing corpse, Alex starts to wonder if she would have been better off collecting unemployment...

When the cops made some cryptic comments about being careful with the body they brought in, Alex just thought the boys in blue were messing with her. That is, until something freaky happens that no amount of med school could have prepared her for. By the time Alex gets herself together, the body has disappeared and the other residents of the morgue start talking her ear off.

After working up the courage to report the missing body, Alex is transferred to the mysterious Precinct 13 where she discovers that her new co-workers—including a cute technomage named Jack—are paranormals just like her. Now, Alex is being encouraged to use her ability to speak to the dead to solve crimes. And despite being in the middle of nowhere, Hughes County sure does have a lot of paranormal activity…

What did I think of it:
I will confess I pre-ordered this book ages ago after seeing the cover and reading the tagline: The dead have tales to tell. Sometimes they just won't shut up.

I had expected a very different story going by that tagline than the story that I got.

do I mind?

Absolutely not!

This is a very entertaining and enjoyable story. I liked Alex from the start and Hallaway does a great job in taking the reader along on Alex's road of discovery.

There are some really cool characters in this book. My favorite is Valentine, Alex's on and off again boyfriend, who has some secrets of his own, while Officer Stone (who's name is very fitting) is a close second.

The story is both fun and intriguing. There's lots of things going on, but it never gets confusing or chaotic. There was one moment where I thought something happened that would be exploited later on in the story, but which sadly enough proved to be a dud. Otherwise this story was totally awesome.

All in all I loved this book and I can only hope Hallaway decided to make this into a series, because I want more!

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Urban Fantasy

Wishlist Wednesday - My Favorite Fangs

This could either be a great, hilarious read or a total miss.
I'm hoping for the first of course.

My Favorite Fangs: The Story of the Von Trapp Family Vampires
by Alan Goldsher

Maria von Trapp is sweet, innocent, and can sing like an angel. Oh, and she’s also a bloodthirsty vampire. When Maria is kicked out of the Abbey where she’s been residing for the past thousand or so years, she lands a job caretaking the family von Trapp, a rowdy clan in need of some serious discipline… or vampirification. After Maria turns the von Trapp children into children of the night and marries the von Trapp patriarch, the family seems destined for eternal (really, really eternal) bliss. But Hitler’s Undeath Squads are on the march, intent on ridding Europe of bloodsuckers. And Maria will have to do everything in her power—supernatural or otherwise —to save her vampire brood.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Calling

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


He looked as if he was in pain. Real pain. Wanting to give me hope. Knowing he couldn't, and that it wasn't right to try, wasn't fair.
(page 73, The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong)

Blood and Silver - Book Review

Blood and Silver (Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty-Hunter #2)
by James R. Tuck

What is it about:
He hasn't met a monster yet that could give him a scare. With ice in his veins, silver hollow-points in his chambers, and an innate ability to rise from the dead, what's to fear? The answer may be something he doesn't want to face.

Deacon Chalk normally has no trouble telling innocent victims from real monsters. So protecting an abused pregnant Were-dog is a no-brainer... until a vicious lycanthrope leader and his brotherhood target Deacon, other shape-shifters, and any humans in their way.

Suddenly, Deacon is outnumbered, outgunned, and unsure wo - or what - to trust. The only edge he has left is a weapon hungry for his soul and his most savage impulses. And using it will exact a price even this hell-raising hunter fears to pay...

What did I think of it:
I very much enjoyed this book.

Reading a Deacon Chalk book is much like watching a good action movie. There's lots of kick-ass fighting, cool shoot-outs, and explosions.

I must say I even enjoyed this book more than Blood and Bullets. I liked Deacon more as he was more human, more believable than in the first book. He also went through some changes that made him more interesting and real.

The story was very engaging: there was intrigue, lots of action and I really liked the diversity of the were-animals. I especially liked the were-rabbits I will confess.

I will most certainly try to get hold of the next book in this series and while I'm waiting for its release I will grab hold of the Deacon Chalk e-novellas Tuck has written.

Why should you read it:
It's got were-rabbits and were-sharks!

The Gathering - Book Review

The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1)
by Kelley Armstrong

What is it about:
Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

What did I think of it:
This was a very nice read.

I liked Maya from the start and even though I could pretty much guess the story for the most part I felt myself engrossed in it.

I do think this story might be more enjoyable for those who didn't read The Darkest Powers Trilogy because those who did enter this story with quite a bit of information that Maya doesn't have and it does take away from the surprise when Maya slowly uncovers things.

That being said: I very much enjoyed this book and will certainly pick up the next book in this series, because just Armstrong's writing alone is enough to make it a worthwhile read.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable Paranormal YA read.

Forever - Book Review

Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3)
by Maggie Stiefvater

What is it about:
then.

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their loved moved from curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

What did I think of it:
I loved this book.

Of the three books in this trilogy this one is the one with the most actual action. Still Stiefvater manages to hold on to the mood she set in the previous two books.

The events in this book force the characters to act, to make a decision, to grow up. At times Sam and Cole didn't seem to understand the urgency of the situation and I felt sympathy for Isabel who tried to make them to act.

There were some things that felt a bit like a Deus Ex Machina, but because these books (for me) are more about the mood and the psychological growth of the characters than about the action I didn't mind too much.

All in all I loved this whole trilogy and will reread it often if only for the beautiful writing and mood of the story.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful YA paranormal romance

Wishlist Wednesday - The Raven Boys

I will confess: even if I hadn't already read something by Maggie Stiefvater I would so want this book for its cover alone. Isn't it awesome!?

Having read The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, I want this book for more than just the cover though and I already pre-ordered it and am now waiting (im)patiently for it to be released.


The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1)
by Maggie Stiefvater

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Expected publication: September 18th 2012 by Scholastic Press

Teaser Tuesdays - Precinct 13

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


Even as I watched him scribble something down, I was trying to make myself believed. "You know, I have pictures," I said, pulling my phone out. "Those tattoos on the body were definitely not normal."
(page 28, Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway)

Zombie Queen - Book Review

Zombie Queen (Voodoo Zombie, #2)
by Marty Shaw
ebook, novella

What is it about:
Griffin thought life couldn't get any worse when an inmate scheduled for execution refused to die, but he soon learns how wrong he was when he comes face to face with an ancient evil determined to see the world fall at the rotting hands of her undead army.

As the zombie population grows and the world falls further into ruin, Griffin is confronted with a destiny that could lead to either salvation or damnation, and a spirited, young voodoo priestess might hold the key to freeing his heart from the grief it's endured.

What did I think of it:
More cool zombie mayhem in this sequel to Dead Man Walking!

Shaw's books are definitely on my must-read list, whether he writes about zombies or demons.

Zombie Queen continues shortly after where Dead Man Walking left off. Griffin left the prison where the zombie infection started and tries to make his way to his family. But in a world full of zombies that's not so easy and on top of that he runs into something even more dangerous than the zombies.

I loved this book. It was a suspenseful story with zombie mayhem, cool fights and some romance. Griffin is still a likeable character, although the events in this book change him. Some new characters are introduced and not all of them are to be trusted.

I like how Shaw's zombies aren't all the same. There are normal zombies, fast zombies, smart zombies... It keeps both the characters and the reader on their toes, because you never know what might happen next.

All in all I very much enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series, because Shaw sure knows how to write a cool zombie story.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool story full of zombie mayhem!


Buy Zombie Queen here
Buy Dead Man Walking and Zombie Queen together here

Linger - Book Review

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2)
by Maggie Stiefvater

What is it about:
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

What did I think of it:
When I reviewed Shiver, the first book in this trilogy, I said I wouldn't wait until someone would give me Linger. Well, that was a lie. I got this book as a RAK gift. When I tell you that after finishing Linger I went to my local bookstore the very next day to buy the last book in this trilogy, you can probably guess what I think of this book.

I love it!

This isn't a story full of action. It's a story about emotions and even more important than the things that are happening is the mood of this story.

I really like the slow pacing of this series. It adds to the mood and to the emotions the characters are struggling with. This might be a story about (were)wolves, but it's more psychological than it is paranormal.

I already fell in love with Sam and Grace in Shiver, and Linger only added to that, but it also made me fall in love with Isabel as well. Cole was more difficult to understand, but he's an intriguing character nonetheless.

The story was both heartwarming and heartbreaking and the ending can be seen as a cliffhanger, but at the same time it felt rounded and complete. If I hadn't known there's a third book I would have been happy with this ending.

Knowing there is a third book though, I'm reading Forever next to find out how the story of the Wolves of Mercy Falls will end.

Why should you read it:
It's a hauntingly beautiful paranormal YA.

A Sliver of Shadow - Book Review

A Sliver of Shadow (Abby Sinclair #2)
by Allison Pang

What is it about:
Just when her new life as a TouchStone — a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds — seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.

The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding elven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.

What did I think of it:
I loved the first book in this series, but a few things at the end of that book made me fear I might feel different about book 2.

And I was right.

Don't get me wrong: A Sliver of Shadow is a really cool story, full of intrigue, suspense and action. It's a story that grips you and keeps you reading.

No, it's the love triangle that got me really annoyed. I will confess that I'm not a fan of love triangles at the best of times, but here it even got to me more than usual.

Brystion was a very cool character in the first book, but in A Sliver of Shadow he's cast like he's the bad guy when it comes to the relationship between him and Abby. I couldn't help but feel that this was done to make me feel sympathetic to Abby and her growing feelings for Talivar. Which is a shame as Talivar is a very cool character as well and I'd have understood why Abby is torn between the two men even without the Brystion bashing.

So in the end I loved the story, but was annoyed by the romance. Still the overall reading experience was a positive one and I will certainly pick up the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's beautifully written Fantasy

Mishap and Retribution - Excerpt

Mishap & Retribution (Mishap #3)
by M.M. Shelley

At the Dawn of Time a curse against Man was made and only Death will satisfy it.

The year is 2045 and twins Grasiella and Tatiana who are Cinerian, Fae and Human must choose a side and may find themselves on different sides of an ancient war.

With Tatiana trapped in the Fae realm and learning what life has been like, she has found herself bonding with the Fae. Grasiella seeking the whereabouts of her twin has come to a crossroads of her own.

Separated and neither knowing the fate of the other, each make their way to an uncertain future.

Death has swept across the Hawaiian Islands and the cost of peace may be too high.

----------------
Short Excerpt Mishap and Retribution:

Grasiella kept a safe distance between herself and Missy as she followed her through the thick jungle of the Big Island of Hawaii. Missy was keeping something from her; she could feel it and Grasiella had to know what it was. It was not an easy task to locate Missy or to follow her, Missy was fast and she seemed to fly from tree to tree. She suddenly vaulted onto the ground only to run like a gazelle around the trees and brush. Grasiella had never needed to work so hard at trying to stay concealed; she had experienced a close call the first time that Missy had come crashing to the earth from her high perch in the trees.

Earlier in the day Missy had agreed to meet with Grasiella after receiving a gnome who had carried the message. Grasiella had needed to swipe a strand of hair from Missy without her realizing what she was doing; she had used the strand of hair for a tracking charm. It was the only way that Grasiella was able to keep up with Missy; if not for the charm she would have lost her miles back.

Over the course of the last few weeks Grasiella’s skills at charms had improved, it was a skill she had never thought to use for anything other than her own amusement. Now she had no choice but to use her magic as a way of discovering the secrets that everyone on the islands seemed to be carrying around with them. Those secrets were pivotal to her and her twin sister Tatiana’s survival.

Missy came to a stop at the base of the Kohala Mountains her body tensed as she stood unmoving. Grasiella used the trunk of a tree to block herself from view and peeked out to watch carefully. It seemed as if the air had become still and the noises of the jungle had come to a halt as she anxiously waited to see what Missy would do next.

Missy’s head rolled to the right, her right arm rose level with her shoulder until it suddenly shot skyward stretching up, her palm opened filling with the light from the sun. Ever so slowly her head rolled to the left and she repeated the movements on the left side of her body. Very slowly her arms began to drop until they rested at her sides and as they dropped a piece of the mountain shifted ever so slightly to the left. Missy kicked out with her left leg jumped into the air and landed on her hands in a handstand position her back to the Kohala Mountains. Her right leg bent backwards and very slowly she touched the mountain with her foot.

Another piece of the mountain shifted aside this time it revealed an opening in the shape of a trillion. Missy pushed against the ground with her hands, swung back around until she was on her feet and strode into the mountain, sealing it shut behind her.

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***

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Teaser Tuesdays - The Gathering

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


He caught my arms and backed up, studying my face.
"Has anyone had access to your drinks recently?" he said. "Any strange allergic reactions? Bug bites?"
(page 205, The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong)

Pretties - Book Review

Pretties (Uglies #2)
by Scott Westerfeld

What is it about:
Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

What did I think of it:
Although a nice read I didn't like this book as much as Uglies, the first book in this series.

The world building is still lacking enough explanation to satisfy my curiosity. The whole society feels unreal because of that.

Then there's the mixed messages Westerfeld is giving in this book. The Pretties and their world are wrong, he seems to want to say, but at the same time his lead characters, who are fighting against the system, are all but anorexic (there's a reason they're not eating, but still) and at one time in the story Tally practically gets worshipped because of her Pretty looks.

And of course: We can't have a YA series without a love triangle, now can we?

Those annoyances aside I enjoyed the story. Tally is still likeable, even as an airheaded Pretty and Zane (the newly introduced last side of our love triangle) was a very interesting and cool character as well. I rooted for them to find a solution to their problems.

The book ended in a cliffhanger ending that would have annoyed me if it wasn't for the fact I know I can borrow the next book in this series from a friend as soon as she has finished reading it.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Dystopian YA read

Fractured Light - Book Review

Fractured Light (Fractured Light #1)
by Rachel McClellan

What is it about:
Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After a Vyken killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.

What did I think of it:
This was a nice Paranormal YA read.

Llona is a likeable heroine even if she sometimes made me cringe in horror when she did something without really thinking the consequences through. But even though her actions weren't very smart at times, I could understand why she acted like she did. There were also some really cool other characters. My favorite was Llona's friend May who has some intriguing secrets of her own.

There's a bit of a love triangle going on, but it's done in such a way that I actually liked it for a change. Both guys are interesting and the way they act felt believable.

The story itself is suspenseful and entertaining. Llona being an Aura, someone who can manipulate light, was a cool and new concept to me. And even though my bad guy detector was once more spot on, there was enough mystery to keep me guessing where the story would lead to.

The ending was satisfying and set itself up nicely for the sequel which I probably will give a try once it releases.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable Paranormal YA read

Check out the entire tour schedule here and don't forget to enter the international giveaway.

Buy this book here

Revived - Book Review

Revived
by Cat Patrick

What is it about:
As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

What did I think of it:
I very much enjoyed this book.

The idea of a drug that brings people back from the dead is really intriguing and Patrick did a great job in setting up a suspenseful storyline about the drug and how it's used.

I absolutely loved Mason, one of Daisy's guardians and an agent of the organisation behind the Revive experiment. He's a cool and interesting character. I also really liked Audrey, a girl with whom Daisy becomes friends after her latest move. Audrey is the one who makes Daisy start to wonder about Revive and its uses. Through Audrey Daisy also meets Audrey's brother Matt, who was the typical YA heartthrob.

I did get annoyed by some small things. For one I thought that the relationships that develop in this book were going way too fast. You just don't get to be BFFs in just a couple of weeks in my opinion. I also thought Daisy was much too trusting for someone who's been in a secret experiment for most of her life. I felt like kicking some sense into her from time to time.

But those things aside this was an entertaining read and I will check out what else Patrick has written.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable and suspenseful YA read

Showing my RAK

I had a couple of slow RAK months in which I send some books, but didn't receive any myself. But this month I was lucky!

Mariska from Me and My Books send me Linger!

Thanks Mariska! I'm looking forward to reading it.


And as always: I'm signing up again for this month's RAK.

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RAK:

The RAK movement (=Random Acts of Kindness): it is an initiative organized by the Ladies at the Book Soulmates where everyone posts their whislists and then other people realize one (or more) wishes of a person. Meaning that they send some books to the lucky person they picked! Doesn't it sound fabulous?

Rules:

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!

• Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!