Alanna: The First Adventure and In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce

Titles: Alanna: The First Adventure, In the Hand of the Goddess

Author: Tamora Pierce

Published: 1983, 1984

Synopsis from Goodreads for Alanna: The First Adventure:

Alan of Trebond, the best warrior in the palace, is harboring a big secret: he is really a she - Alanna. But when her prince is felled by an illness, Alanna has no choice but to use her healing magic - even if it means ruining her career. 

I wasn't really sure what to expect going into these. I read Tricksters Choice and Tricksters Queen not too long ago and loved them, so I thought that I would read these, since they're essentially prequels. I wasn't disappointed.  I'm doing a joint review because the first two are basically half of one long story.

I felt that Alanna: The First Adventure was a bit hard to get into. Since it's told in third person and the jumps in time are so choppy I had a bit of trouble really getting to know Alanna. By In the Hand of the Goddess I knew Alanna very well, but time still moved strangely. One second she was 11 the next 12, one scene 16 the next 17. It was a bit hard to get used to. I did feel that the time jumps were necessary, I just wish that they could have been a bit less choppy.

Because I read the books about her daughter first, I know who she's going to end up with, but I still love reading about the love triangle. It's not very prominent at all in the first one, but in the second one it's definitely there. I really liked that, as I've said before, I'm a sucker for romance :).

I really really like Alanna. She knows what she wants, and she knows how to get it. She doesn't let being a girl stop her from being a knight, and she's very smart. She's an ideal role model for anyone, not just young girls.

In short, I really enjoy Tamora Pierces books, and I'm very happy to add this series to my list of books by her that I've read. I hope to expand that list considerably.

Waiting on Wednesday (15), a Dilemma, and a Poll

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where we showcase the books that we just can't wait for.

This week:

 Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Release Date: May 4th

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When her boyfriend dies a most untimely death, Aura--who can see ghosts--is forced to reconsider her relationship with the living and dead in SHADE. 

Book Trailer here. I would post it, but blogger isn't letting me...

Doesn't this book just sound fanstastic? I love the whole idea of it. The trailer is great too, it's actually what made me really want to read it!

Dilemma:

First, as you may or may not know, I've started reading The Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce. I'm about halfway into the second one, and I'm really into them. I checked my library website to see if the third one was in, only to find that THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE IT! They  have 1,2, and 4. How unfair is that? I would really like to read the third one, but I don't want to buy it without buying the whole series, and I don't want to buy the whole series when there are so many other books that I want. It kind of sucks. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Okay, and now a poll. If you could have any of these books which would you choose? I have some money left on a giftcard and I'm not sure what to spend it on.

Book of Love (Knight Angels #1)

Nightshade

Paranormalcy

Clockwork Angel

I really appreciate your opinion!

Fade by Lisa McMann

Title: Fade

Author: Lisa McMann

Published: February 2009

Series #: 2 in Dream Catcher

Synopsis from Goodreads:

SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END.

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared.... 

Fade was just as enjoyable as Wake, if not more so. It was really easy to get back into Janie's world. I really like the relationship between Cabel and Janie, it's what made the book even better than the first one. I'm a sucker for romance.

I liked the plot of this one better too. The crime that they're trying to bust is more dangerous, and a heck of a lot more interesting than in Wake. The stakes are higher, which made it really hard to put down. I felt like I knew Janie better than in Wake, I got more insight into her thoughts and feelings. It still felt like I was on the outside looking in, but in a good way.

As far as sequels go, this is one of the better ones that I've seen, and I really can't wait to read Gone!

Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
44/50 B+
Cover Comments: I like this cover more than the first one. The glass of liquid actually has something to do with the book also, which I didn't realize until I was done and looked at it again.

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where we share the books that we received, bought, or borrowed the previous week.

Received for review:

Virginia by Susan Hughes (review here)

Borrowed from a friend
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Bought:

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

So that's what I got this week, not too bad, huh? What's in your mailbox?

Virginia by Susan Hughes

Title: Virginia

Author: Susan Hughes

Published: March 2010

Source: Received for review from publisher

Synopsis from back cover:

Virginia Donato has always had an indefinable quality that

sets her apart from anyone else Ivy Morrell has ever known. But when this childhood friend and neighbor confides in her, confessing that she has been asked by an angel to do something "momentous," fourteen-year-old Ivy begins to think Virginia has lost her mind.

Although trying to survive her first few weeks of high school, as well as training hard tomake it onto the cross-country team, Ivy can't stop worrying about Virginia. Ivy visits her friend, persisting in trying to talk to her about her bizarre claim, but she becomes increasingly uncomfortable in the Donato home. The only "normal" one there seems to be Virginia's youngest brother, Joe -- and Ivy even finds herself falling for him a tiny bit, though she realizes the grade twelve student already has a girlfriend and is far too old to be interested in her. Virginia's sisters definitely want her to stay away, and even Virginia's mother is acting in a disturbing manner.

But then Ivy discovers that Virginia's older brother Paul may have a shocking secret of

his own, one that could have dangerous consequences.

She wants to keep out of . well, whatever is going on at the Donato's, but she feels

compelled to help her friend. And it may well be that whatever is going on there is

actually connected in some way to Virginia. Soon Ivy finds herself caught up in a chain

of events over which she has no control. Should Ivy tell? Is there anyone else she can turn

                        to before it's too late?

Virginia was a strange novel for me. It has a lot of religious themes, and, well, I'm not religious. It took me a while to separate by beliefs from the story. Once I did it wasn't a terrible book, just not my thing.

For me this book lacked the compelling factor that most books have. Until I was about 3/4's in I could have stopped reading and not have regretted it at all. It was slow going, a lot of build up, which was probably meant to be suspenseful but didn't work for me. I didn't think that Ivy, the main character, was very interesting.. The whole book revolves around Virginia and I never really got to know Ivy without the whole mess. At the beginning there's a little bit of normal high school-ness, but that's all dropped not far in.

I liked the way that at the end of every chapter there was a little piece of Virginia's point of view, told from third person. It was interesting to know what she was thinking while everything was happening, and to know her side of the story.

The relationship between Ivy and Joe was a nice addition, and was one of the reasons why I thought that the end was more compelling than the beginning. Joe, unlike the rest of his family, is normal. Normalcy was a nice change.

Sadly, this book wasn't for me. I'm sure that there are some other readers who would enjoy it, but the religious aspect through me off.

Characters: 6/10
Writing: 6/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 38/50 C
Cover Comments: Terrible cover, I really dislike the title font, and the "wing" is not beautiful like you would think an angel wing is supposed to be.

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we showcase the books that we just can't wait for.

This week I'm waiting on a book that I won in a contest, but it was the preorder, so I won't get it until it comes out:

Sea by Heidi R. Kling

Release Date: June 10th, 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins. 

Doesn't it just sound amazing? It's been on my wishlist for a very long time, and I'm so happy that I won it! Well, either it or Spirit Bound, but that's for another WoW... 

Wake by Lisa McMann

Title: Wake

Author: Lisa McMann

Published: March 2008

Source: The Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Ever since she was eight years old, high school student Janie Hannagan has been uncontrollably drawn into other people's dreams, but it is not until she befriends an elderly nursing home patient and becomes involved with an enigmatic fellow-student that she discovers her true power. 

Wake was extremely addictive. I literally could not put it down for a lot of it. I love it when that happens. The book was a lot different than I thought that it would be. The summary I read made it seem more urgent, more dangerous, than it was. But that's okay because I probably wouldn't have liked that as much.

What I got was two parts romance and one part paranormal. It was awesome. What Janie can do is something that I've never seen before, and I loved learning about something completely new. Her relationship with Cabel was my favorite part, the way that it was always changing, and so sweet. I liked Janie's character too, but I never really got a good look into her mind.

The book is told in third person, and formatted like a diary. It's a really weird combination, but it works for this book. I liked the way that the whole thing seemed like one of the dreams that she was in, like I was Janie watching. That did have a side effect though, I never completely connected with what was going on. Like I said, I was watching what was happening, not particicpating.

This book is really good, I just wish that I could have connected a bit more. I wish that I could read Fade next, but I have more pressing books to attend to. Soon though, or I might go crazy!

Characters: 9/10
Writing: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 46/50 A-
Title/Cover: 4/5 I like the title, and most of the cover, but something about the floating pillow throws me off.

Mini Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Title: Before I Fall

Author: Lauren Oliver

Published: March 2010

Source: Bought

Synopsis from Goodreads:

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

I'm doing another mini review because I'm sure that you've heard it all before. Before I Fall is one of the best books I've read. I know that some people don't like it as well because they don't connect with the main character, but that wasn't a problem for me. I love this book, but I'm not sure if I'll read it again. The whole thing was working toward the end, and now that I'm there the rest won't have the same meaning. It's really spectacular. 5/5 stars!

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where we share the books that we received the previous week.

This week wasn't great. I got all of my books from the library, which is fine, but I had to fall back on those books that you want to read, but aren't at the top of your list. I put a bunch on hold though, so hopefully I get those soon.

Wake by Lisa McMann

Fade by Lisa McMann

Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

 The first three I've been wanting to read for a long time, the last four I just got because I couldn't really find anything else. I'm sure that I'll like them all though.

Bookish Things

Edit: Is it just my computer making the video's too big, or do they not fit for everyone?

So much happened around the web this week that I thought I would do a little summary post!

First I was introduced to the Marvelous World series, and I think that they look fantastic! Here's the trailer:



The fabulous trailer for Sea by Heidi R. Kling was released this week!



When I went to the website of Shannon Delany, author of 13 to Life, I found the book trailer for it!




Okay, so enough with the book trailers! Now on to the covers!

First, the cover of Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick was released:

The cover of Hexbound by Chloe Neill was also released, and I think that it's gorgeous!

And last but not least the cover of Haunted by Joy Preble, sequel to Dreaming Anastasia, was released. It fits well with the first one.

A Few Mini Reviews

So I was sick for a couple days, and while I was in bed I read. Since I was taking some cold medicine and was in and out of sleep I really don't think that I can properly review these books, so I'm going with mini reviews.

Title: The Ex Games

Author: Jennifer Echols

Published: October 2009

Source: Bought 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Brace yourself for the battle of the exes...
Hayden and Nick used to be a hot item, but their brief affair ended with a highly publicized breakup. Now the two are "just friends," excluding the occasional flirtation.
When Hayden wins the girls' division of a local snowboarding competition, Nick is unimpressed, claiming that Hayden wouldn't have a chance against a guy. Hayden calls Nick's bluff and challenges him to a head-to-head boarding contest. Their mutual friends quickly take sides, the girls on Hayden's and the boys on Nick's, making for an all-out battle of the sexes.
This friendly competition is bound to get heated - and they might end up igniting some old flames. 

I'm not usually a fan of the Simon Romantic Comedies, but since Jennifer Echols wrote this I had to get it. I'm really happy that I did. It was a perfect read for being sick: didn't take much brainpower and just predictable enough. I really liked reading about Hayden and Nick's relationship and their snowboarding competition. I was sad when it ended, but it ended perfectly: 4.5/5 stars!

Title: When You Reach Me

Author: Rebecca Stead

Published: July 2009

Source: The Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever.
By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.

But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.
The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

When You Reach Me was a lot different than I thought it would be. It was...wow. It was a really fast read, didn't take more than a couple hours, but it's stuck with me. It's just so...different. In this case, different is a good thing. In hindsight it wasn't really the best sick bed read, it actually required brain power, but that's okay because I really liked it. 4/5 stars!

Title: Snow

Author: Tracy Lynn

Published: October 2003

Source: The Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"ONCE UPON A TIME"IS TIMELESS
The Duchess Jessica's childhood began with a tragedy: her mother's death. Her father, heartbroken at the loss of his beloved wife, could not bear to raise the child. Largely ignored, Jessica spent the first eleven years of her life running free on the family estate, cared for only by the servants.
Then her father decides to remarry, bringing an end to Jessica's independence. At first her new stepmother just seems overly strict. But as Jessica grows into a beautiful young woman, it becomes clear that her stepmother is also wildly -- and murderously -- jealous of her.
Jessica escapes to London. Going by the name Snow to hide from her family, she falls in love with an odd band of outcasts who accept her into their makeshift family. But when her stepmother appears in the city, repentant and seeking her forgiveness, Jessica will have to decide whom to trust...with her life.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was always my least favorite of the Disney fairytales. I'm not really sure why. This book completely changed my perception of Snow White. It was beautifully written and the characters were multidimensional, and the story was just great, and not too predictable. This is definitely a book that I will read again and again. 5/5 stars!

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we showcase books on our wishlist that haven't been released yet.

Since it's my 13th WoW I thought that I would go with a theme:

13 To Life by Shannon Delany

Release Date: June 22nd

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

Doesn't this just look great? I love werewolf books! What are you waiting on this week?

The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

Title: The Life of Glass

Author: Jillian Cantor

Published: February 2010

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Before he died, Melissa’s father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren’t always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn’t only skin deep, the people around her don’t seem to feel that way. There’s her gorgeous sister Ashley who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school, there's her best friend Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney, and there’s Melissa’s mother who’s dating someone new, someone who Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.

To make sure she doesn’t lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and completing a journal her father began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present, as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.

This is a lyrical tale of love, loss and self-discovery from the author of THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS

I'm supposed to be completely honest on here, right? Yeah, I already knew the answer to that, I just need reassurance. Even though I feel like I should be, I wasn't blown away by this book. I had really high hopes for it, but it fell a bit flat. Don't get me wrong it's a great book, I just didn't think that it was spectacular.

The main character, Melissa, is fourteen, which threw me off at the beginning. I'm used to characters that are around sixteen, but I got over it fast. Melissa was a great narrator. She acted just like a fourteen year old girl. I know, I was one. She was very mature, but that didn't make her character unbelievable, it was just a part of her. The other characters were consistent and engaging also, except I felt like one or two minor characters were just kind of there. As in, they served their purpose, now no one cares. But it wasn't distracting or anything.

The imagery in this book is spectacular. The way that she showed things exactly how they were was really nice, if you get what I mean. I know what I mean, but it's kind of hard to put it into words. I guess you'll just have to read the book! The writing as a whole is beautiful, and I was moved by quite a few lines.

The part that fell flat was the plot. I don't know, I guess that it just wasn't what I thought that it would be. It's basically about Melissa dealing with changes in her life: she's in high school now, her best friend is dating the new girl, her mom is dating someone after her fathers death, her sister has a boyfriend. They're all things that she needs to adjust to, and the book is basically about how she does it. I felt like there were a couple loose ends at the end of the book too, but nothing major.

Don't let the bad stuff throw you off! Like I said that the beginning, this book is great. If you have chance to read it, definitely do it. Keep your eye out for her other book, The September Sisters, too!

Characters: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
44/50 B+

Other Places To Find Me!

So, I am officially a contributing member of the Twitter World! I've had an account FOREVER, I just never did anything with it. Well now I am! You can follow me @thelbrylurker, or leave your name in the comments and I'll add you.

You already know that I'm a member of Goodreads, but if you haven't added me yet you can here.

I'm also a member of LibraryThing and you can friend me here.

Last but not lease I also have a Shelfari account which can be found here.

So there are some other places to find me! Just thought I'd share!

Mini Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Title: Strange Angels

Author: Lili St. Crow

Published: May 2009

Source: The Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Strange Angels reminds me a lot of Vampire Academy. Not because of the content, but in the way that even though the writing isn't the best out there, it was so addictive. I couldn't put it down. The summary on the back makes it seem like Dru is this tough girl who doesn't let anything bother her, and I was happy to find that that wasn't true. She spends the majority of the book crying. After kicking butt of course. She acted in very real ways, which was nice. The plot was fast paced and action/creepy feeling/horror scene packed so you were never bored. I really liked it and I'm definitely getting Betrayals ASAP. 4/5 Cover: 5/5 Captures the creepy-ness and the girl pretty much fits the description of Dru.

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, that showcases books we got during the week.

I had a good week!

Won:

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers from Rachelle at Bibliobabe

The Unwritten Rule bookmark from Adrienne of An Addicted Book Reader

Thank you!

Bought:

Unbelievable by Sara Shepard (2.99!!!)

Heist Society by Ally Carter (Couldn't resist any longer)

Brighid's Quest by P.C. Cast

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (Borders shipped early!!!)

So yeah, a good week =D What did you get?

Top Shelf: The Mediator

Okay, so this is a new, in no way regular, feature that I'll be doing once in a while to highlight some of my all time favorite books. First up:

The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot

I discovered this series while waiting the seemingly countless hours at the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I probably read the back of every single YA book in my bookstores small section, and these stood out the most, so I got the first few. After I devoured those I HAD to have rest.

The Mediator Series is about a girl, Suze, who moves to Northern California and finds a ghost living in her bedroom. Suze has always been able to see ghosts, but in New York there aren't all of the old buildings that people probably died in like there are in Northern California. When she goes to her knew school she finds out that her Principal can also see ghosts, or is a "mediator" as he calls it. He tells her that their job is to help send souls to the other side.

Now, Suze isn't your usual, whiny, damsel in distress type of girl. She's your kick butt, fend for herself, doesn't take any crap type, and I totally want her as a best friend. She's probably the main reason why I like these books so much. Well, Jesse, the totally hot ghost living in her bedroom, helps too.

Basically over all six books Suze helps a few souls, get's herself in trouble, solves a few mysteries, makes some good friends, and falls in love. The books are awesome. They're basically everything that you could want in a series times ten. Action? Adventure? Romance? Mystery? Suspense? Wit? Snappy Comebacks? Ghosts? Hilarity? They've got it all, they're just waiting for you to pick them up and read them. You won't be disappointed. 

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin

Title: I Know It's Over

Author: C.K. Kelly Martin

Published: September 2008

Source: The Library

Synopsis from goodreads:

PURE. UNPLANNED. PERFECT. Those were Nick’s summer plans before Sasha stepped into the picture. With the collateral damage from his parents’ divorce still settling and Dani (his girl of the moment) up for nearly anything, complications are the last thing he needs. All that changes, though, when Nick runs into Sasha at the beach in July. Suddenly he’s neck-deep in a relationship and surprised to find he doesn’t mind in the least. But Nick’s world shifts again when Sasha breaks up with him. Then, weeks later, while Nick’s still reeling from the breakup, she turns up at his doorstep and tells him she’s pregnant. Nick finds himself struggling once more to understand the girl he can’t stop caring for, the girl who insists that it’s still over.

I Know It's Over is the second book about teenage pregnancy from a guy's perspective that I've read (the first Slam by Nick Hornby), and I enjoyed this one more. I'm sure that there are people who would disagree, but in my opinion this one is better. 

I think that part of the reason is that Nick seemed like a very real guy to me. His actions didn't seem forced and some of the things that he did he really didn't have an explanation for. Isn't that true in real life? I also liked how even though this book had teenage pregnancy in it, it wasn't about teenage pregnancy. It was about the relationship between Nick and Sasha, and pregnancy happened to be a part of it. 

One thing that I didn't really like about it was that sometimes the scene changes were a little confusing. One sentence they were in a car, the next they were out and the only thing to suggest that was a little sentence in between. Somehow I've made a habit of sometimes skipping those little sentences (I know, I know) and there were quite a few times when I really wasn't sure where the characters were. 

Overall this book is the best book with teenage pregnancy in it that I've read.  I think that even if you don't think that you'll like it just because it has pregnancy in it, you will. 

Characters: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Writing: 8/10

Originality: 9/10

Ending: 9/10

Overall: 44/50 B+

Title/Cover: 4/5 I like the title, and the cover's all right, but something about it just doesn't click with me.

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we tell what books we can't wait to read.

Mine this week:

Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking Book Three) by Patrick Ness

Release Date: May 3rd 2010

I LOVE the first two books in this trilogy. They are amazing and everyone should read them, but not enough have. It took me a while to get into the first one, but one I did, wow I couldn't put it down. Go read them. Now.

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Title: The Mark

Author: Jen Nadol

Published: January 2010

Source: The Library

Synopsis from goodreads:

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.


Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

The Mark asks some though provoking philosophical questions. If you knew that someone was about to die, should you tell them? Or should you let them go on with their day, oblivious? What would happen if you did? Would their lives be better or worse? These are questions that we really can't know the answer to.

I thought that this book was very good. It deals with answering the questions above nicely, but that's not all it's about. It's about Cassie coming into herself and accepting her gift/curse. Cassie as a character was very engaging, and I liked reading from her point of view. There were a few things that she did that I didn't agree with, but other than that it was pretty smooth sailing. The other characters were well thought out and each has their own personalities.

Something that annoyed me throughout the book was that there were some really choppy jumps forward in time. Basically one minute you would be here, then the beginning of the next chapter you're two weeks later with absolutely no warning. I also thought that some things could have been better explored. The end was left a bit opened ended as well, which could suggest a sequel, but I'm not sure if there are any plans for one.

I enjoyed the book, and I thought that the writing was engaging. I would definitely recommend it to paranormal fans and people who don't like paranormal, as "the mark" doesn't play quite as big a part in the book as you would think.

Characters: 9/10

Writing: 9/10

Plot: 8/10

Originality: 9/10

Ending: 7/10

Overall: 42/50 B

Cover/Title: 2.5/5 I like the title, but the cover really doesn't portray the book well.

She Thief by Daniel Finn

Title: She Thief

Author: Daniel Finn

Release Date: April 13th

Source: From the publisher

Synopsis from goodreads:

The girl, Baz, and the boy, Demi, are master pickpockets. They weave through rich neighborhoods to slip bags off shoulders and wallets out of pockets before disappearing into the crowd. Their loot goes to Fay, who runs a gang of child thieves from her den in the Barrio. This sweltering slum—in a city that is imagined, but all too real—is what passes for home to the kids, and Fay is what passes for family. 

That all changes the day Demi steals a magnificent blue ring. Soon, the police chief and the Barrio’s crime boss close in on Fay, and she begins to break under their pressure. 

Baz has never doubted Fay before. She’s never been apart from Demi, either. But soon, Baz is left alone to find her way through a world more corrupt than she’s ever realized. Here, the lives of children are thrown away without a moment’s hesitation. Here, the rich and powerful are just thieves on a larger scale. And somewhere in this wreck of a city, Baz must find the scraps of hope, the small acts of kindness, and the steely strength that will take her back to Demi and wash them both out of the Barrio for good.

For the first book that I received for review it was very disappointing. In my opinion the synopsis makes it sound much more exciting than it really is. I was about half way through before I got into it and it picked up the pace. 

One thing that made it difficult was that it was in third person, which usually doesn't matter, but in this book meant that I never completely connected with the characters. Another thing was that the dialect was annoying. I understand that they are supposed to be uneducated street thieves, but how hard is it to add a "d" at the end of your words to make them past tense?

Once I got through those things it was pretty good. The lives of Baz and Demi were interesting to read about, and the storyline was good. I just wish that the beginning wasn't so slow, and that I could have connected more with Baz, as the main character.

Characters: 6/10

Writing: 7/10

Originality: 9/10

Plot: 8/10

Ending: 7/10

Overall: 37/50 C

Title/Cover: 1/5 The only thing going for the title is that it has the word "thief " in it. The model on the cover is white where in the book the characters are dark skinned, and no way are any poor street thieves going to use their money on eye-liner.

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, that showcases books we got during the week.

This week I got my first review books! Thank you Feiwel and Friends!

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen

She Thief by Daniel Finn

What did you get?

Mini Review: Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

Title: Academy 7

Author: Anne Osterlund

Published: May 2009

Source: The Library

Synopsis from goodreads:

With a past too terrible to speak of, and a bleak, lonely future ahead of her, Aerin Renning is shocked to find she has earned a place at the most exclusive school in the universe. Aerin excels at Academy 7 in all but debate, where Dane Madousin—son of one of the most powerful men in the Alliance— consistently outtalks her. Fortunately Aerin consistently outwits him at sparring. They are at the top of their class until Dane jeopardizes everything and Aerin is unintentionally dragged down with him. When the pair is given a joint punishment, an unexpected friendship—and romance—begins to form. But Dane and Aerin both harbor dangerous secrets, and the two are linked in ways neither of them could ever have imagined. . . . 

Well, this book wasn't what I expected. For one there's really nothing in the synopsis or on the cover to suggest that this book is half science fiction, which it is. I also didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I liked both Aerin and Dane, and their growing relationship was entertaining, as were the secrets surrounding both of there pasts. Yet something just didn't click. Maybe it was that the book was in third person, so it was harder to connect. It's still a very enjoyable light read, and the end left room for a sequel. If there is one I'm definitely going to pick it up. 3.5/5 Stars! 

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Title: The Monstrumologist

Author: Rick Yancey

Published: September 2009

Source: The Library

Synopsis from bn.com:

These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for nearly ninety years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets. The one who saved me . . . and the one who cursed me.
 
So starts the diary of Will Henry, orphan and assistant to a doctor with a most unusual specialty: monster hunting. In the short time he has lived with the doctor, Will has grown accustomed to his late night callers and dangerous business. But when one visitor comes with the body of a young girl and the monster that was eating her, Will's world is about to change forever. The doctor has discovered a baby Anthropophagus—a headless monster that feeds through a mouth in its chest—and it signals a growing number of Anthropophagi. Now, Will and the doctor must face the horror threatenning to overtake and consume our world before it is too late.

The Monstrumologist is the first stunning gothic adventure in a series that combines the spirit of HP Lovecraft with the storytelling ability of Rick Riorden.

Well, I'm not really sure about this book. There's no denying that it's extremely well written, but I didn't really connect with it. It was very vocabulary heavy, and there were a lot of times where I thought that something was being explained unnecessarily, or that parts could be cut out. Basically, I found it boring.

I know, how could I find a book about human eating monsters boring? Well, I'm not really sure. I just know that it took me four days to read it, and that's because I had trouble picking it up after I put it down.

If The Monstrumologist were a movie, it would most definitely be rated R. There are quite a few scenes of gore, and they are described down to the last detail. It's not a book for someone with a weak stomach. The imagery in this book was fantastic. Everything was described to the last detail, which may be a reason why I found it boring.

The story picks up with the arrival of the mysterious Dr. Kearns, a monster hunter, who came to exterminate the monsters. Oh, and might possibly be Jack the Ripper.

This book wasn't for me, but I'm sure that there are people out there who would enjoy it immensely. Don't let my review keep you from picking it up.

Characters: 6/10
Writing: 8/10
Plot/Pacing: 6/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 38/50 C
Cover/Title: 5/5 The cover is appropriately creepy, and the title fits.

Waiting on Wednesday (11) LATE!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Hey all, I didn't have ANY time to post yesterday, so I thought that I would just do it today! Here it is:

Everlasting by Angie Frazier

Release Date: June 1st 2010

Synopsis from goodreads:

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.

Doesn't this one just sound amazing! I can't wait for it to come out!