The Eager Readers

Scene of the Blog on Kittling: Books!

2011-04-20T02:20:00.000-07:00

Want to take a peek at some of our bookshelves or hear about my favorite spot to read and blog? The very sweet Cathy of Kittling: Books is featuring The Eager Readers in her awesome Scene of the Blog feature today! Please stop by and say hello! :)

Hop over to Kittling: Books to see us on Scene of the Blog!

A brief health update: Unfortunately, my condition has worsened in the week since my original health post (hence the lack of blog posts recently). My neurologist and primary physician both believe that the symptoms I'm encountering now are due to an allergic reaction to one of the medications I was originally given to treat the pseudotumor by reducing the amount of cerebrospinal fluid my body produces. I had to wean off that medication gradually, but I have now started a new course of treatment and should begin to see improvement as the old medicine works its way out of my system. This past week felt like a 'one step forward, two steps back' situation, but I am optimistic about seeing some lovely leaps forward in the weeks to come.

Book Review: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

2011-04-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

Title: City of Fallen Angels

Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Genre: YA / urban fantasy
Hardcover: 424 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

Overall rating: 10/10 flowers
*click here to read why I actually want to give this book 100/10 flowers*

To buy this book: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Cassandra Clare's City of Fallen Angels has taken the Mortal Instruments series to a new level of amazingness! It was incredibly fun to revisit all the MI characters we adore, and with the shifting perspectives we have the chance to get to know each of them much more intimately. Also, as I've mentioned before, I freaking love Cassandra Clare's wicked awesome storytelling skills! Perfect dialogue, a huge cast of compelling characters, vividly described settings, chemistry and tension that sizzles off the page, and a cleverly-plotted mystery that will keep readers guessing until the final pages. Seriously, what is not to love?! Obviously, I'm already lapsing into gushing fangirl mode, but that is exactly what Cassandra Clare's books bring out in me. Before I move on to discussing the bits that I particularly enjoyed, I feel obligated to say that prior to reading City of Fallen Angels, I truly thought City of Glass was the perfect ending to the MI series. That book blew me away with its excellence, and it immediately became my go-to example of how to end a series right. So I'll admit to feeling a tiny bit nervous to read City of Fallen Angels. But now that I have read it (twice), I cannot believe I was ever worried at all and I am beyond excited to read the next two books!

What I Liked:

- The characters. One thing I have always liked about this series, is that although the plot threads are sometimes so intricately woven that it feels like reading a really great mystery series or a deliciously intrigue-filled period novel (Remember those wicked storytelling skillz I mentioned?) her stories always feel character-driven. In City of Fallen Angels, the alternating perspectives take that character-driven feeling to a whole new level by placing the reader right inside many of the main characters' heads, so we get to know each of the characters much more intimately. At times, we are privy to Simon's thoughts, Jace's thoughts, Clary's thoughts, Alec's thoughts, and even Magnus's thoughts. (Seriously, who hasn't wanted to get inside Magnus's head since the very first book?!) In theory, I imagined the head-hopping might make the story feel a bit scattered or leave me missing Clary's POV, but in reality it made me love every single one of the characters even more. Understanding their motivations a bit better, seeing their insecurities up close and personal, and feeling their sorrows and yearnings firsthand - you can't help caring about each of them. The first three books familiarized us with the world of Shadowhunters, Demons, and Downworlders, and now the fourth book was able to spend more time subjectively showing us that world from a variety of perspectives. Fun!
- On a related note, the characters are all still in-character! That may sound like a redundant comment, but I truly can't count the number of series books I've read in which at least one main character seems to have inexplicably had a lobotomy or a personality transplant between two of the books. Occasionally, that is actually part of the story (Mockingjay), but often it just seems to be authorial prerogative or it's justified as being in service of the plot. Thankfully, this series is still character-driven and every one of the characters was quite recognizably themselves. When there were subtle changes, which is to be expected as people grow up and mature, they were commented upon and discussed among the other characters. For instance, Clary feels like Alec is carrying himself more confidently and is more generous with others than he used to be. Totally understandable when he has spent the last couple of months officially 'out' and in a happy relationship with Magnus. That type of change is the kind of shift toward adulthood we see in this book. And some of the things we learn in this book, help shine a new light on aspects of the characters' personalities in a 'Whoa! I did not see that coming!' way. But it doesn't ever go against anything we already knew about them, so it is perfectly integrated into our previous understanding of the first three books. Isabelle, in particular, shares something that took me completely by surprise, but it explains a lot about her personality.
- If you loved Clary and Jace's relationship at the end of City of Glass, you may implode as their chemistry and the dramatic tension between them hits a new level of intensity in City of Fallen Angels. I am going to attempt to keep this spoiler-free, but let's just say you probably need something nearby to fan yourself with as their chemistry leads them in to delicious uncharted territory, and you will probably also need to have something on hand to dry your tears when their interactions swing from passionate to heartbreaking (and back again). Ah, the swoon-worthy sexiness. Oh, the heartache and angst. I loved every single moment of it! In previous books, they shared some intense romantic moments and said some very sweet (and sometimes heartbreakingly sad) things to one another, but they stepped it way up in this installment. Jace is beyond vulnerable in this book. He is truly broken. You all know what a sucker I can be for broken boys, right? Prior to reading CoFA, I actually believed he had already been broken in nearly every sense of the word .... but wow was I proven wrong in a major way! Like most people with a pulse (my husband, who likes Clary a lot & has always preferred Simon to Jace, will find that statement a bit of an exaggeration), I was in love with Jace before he and Clary even kissed by the midnight flowers and he tasted like green apples, then came the Seelie Court & the (shirtless) scene in his bedroom as he confronted Clary and suggested that they run away together, and of course the manor house and the letter and the night he told her he was tired of pretending that he wasn't in love with her and pleadingly said that he just wanted to fall asleep next to her and wake up next to her once in his life *swoon*, then they fell asleep holding hands like children in a fairytale. *I choke up every single time I read that beautiful scene, even now that I know what is coming* Then there was Lake Lyn and the kiss they shared on the steps in Idris. But his 'blasphemous' declaration about the sun and the stars in City of Fallen Angels ... Wowza, Ladies and Gents! If you somehow managed not to fall hopelessly in love with him in the prior books, I doubt you'll be so fortunate this time around. Also, I'm fairly certain that loving Jace will doom you to at least two more years of relentless torture. Sorry about that. But I promise you, he is worth it. ;)
- Also, Clary rocks in this book. So much so that I can't wait to see what she will do in City of Lost Souls. She holds her own in a few fights (as well as a minimally-trained Shadowhunter can be expected to), and she draws a couple of very powerful runes. I hope to see more of rune-drawing Clary in the next book. She learns some very valuable lessons about runes this time around, but I am so excited for her to learn even more about them. She also has at least one major hero moment. Yay! But the area that Clary really shines (which also just happens to be her Achilles heel), is that she is unfailingly determined and loyal in a way that is truly admirable. She encourages Simon to solve his dating-two-girls-at-once problem before it blows up in his face, she knows when to be forceful with her mom and when to back off and give her mom and Luke a bit of space, she shares some really astute observations about Simon with Isabelle, and she stands up to Jace on numerous occasions when it was probably the toughest thing anyone could ask of her. As their relationship becomes increasingly strained, she holds her own with impressive resolve and calls him on his mistakes. She also doesn't shy away from doing whatever is necessary to seek help for Jace as soon as she realizes the seriousness of his situation, and she tells him the truth (which is exactly what he so desperately needs to hear and understand when he feels unworthy of her love). I truly admired her belief in love, and I loved her determination to have faith in Jace (even when his sense of self-worth has crumbled to dust). I also loved seeing her stand up for herself when Jace was making her miserable, and I especially enjoyed seeing her hold her ground and make him talk to her even as he was trying to punish himself by retreating from the people who care about him the most. They are perfect for one another.
- One of my favorite things about the MI series is the dialogue that crackles off the page in distinct and memorable voices. Seriously, pick any page in any Cassandra Clare novel and read two or three lines of dialogue from it (ignoring the dialogue tags). I bet you can tell with 99.9% accuracy who said what to whom because every single character in her ensemble casts has a distinct way of speaking. The dialogue is more phenomenal than ever in City of Fallen Angels because of the shifting perspectives. In fact, the shifting perspectives felt a bit like seeing behind the wizard's curtain because it quickly became apparent that the dialogue has been so impressively fantastic all along because Ms. Clare really does know what each character is thinking and feeling motivated by at all times. Wow! Some lines made me laugh aloud while others made me ache with sadness.
- I read aloud a lot, to my husband and to our two children. It is not unusual for me to spend a couple hours of every day reading aloud (if we get immersed in a great book or series, the number of hours can double or triple). And I have to say that the MI books are my absolute favorite books to read aloud to my husband (who loves the MI series). I can't even express how fun they are to read aloud. There are so many likable characters to care about, the dialogue all flows smoothly and believably, the humor and dramatic twists are perfectly timed, the action & suspense keep everything moving tensely forward, and there is something for everyone to enjoy. An imaginative mythology, a variety of paranormal creatures, plenty of charming heroes and heroines to root for, and even little nods to geeky fans like us who have followed Ms. Clare for ages and enjoy the mentions of small details like the Still Not King button Simon gave Clary and Jace's story about the falcon. I am so excited that we will get to read two Cassandra Clare books this year and next. Hurray for the overlap of the MI series & the ID series!
- As in the previous books, the setting is described very visually and viscerally, and most descriptions are blended into the narrative so well that it never seems like the story's stops abruptly for the author to go into pointless detail about the color of every tile in a room. If a character does pause to describe a location, it is probably because their particular reaction to that place is important in defining their character or because that location is about to explode into an action scene and you aren't going to want to pause mid-action to hear about curtain color or the furniture layout but you will want to have your bearings in order to better visualize the scene.
- Without careful balance, this could have become a book in which readers spent a lot of time waiting for the POV to shift back to the character(s) they wanted to hear about most. But I am happy to report that no perspective-shift was wasted, each one advanced the story and filled in another piece of the puzzle while helping readers keep track of all the characters in play.
- I enjoyed learning more about Simon's Mark of Cain and his Daylighter status, and I liked seeing him try to pass as a human too (although that proves to be nearly impossible for him). The situation with his mother becomes heartbreakingly difficult in this book, and I am very curious to see where that aspect of the story will lead in City of Lost Souls. I've always really loved Simon, and he has been my husband's favorite character since the very first book, so we were both excited to see him adjusting to life as a much-coveted Daylighter with the Mark of Cain. Neither of us anticipated exactly the way his Mark would work, but we were not at all stunned by his initial reaction to it. Also, I loved hearing about Simon's memories of Clary as a little girl. Seriously, how sweet is Simon? Even his situation with the two girls, Maia and Isabelle, was handled believably and did not make me dislike him. His inexperienced idiocy and desire to avoid confrontation with two formidable young women was understandable (if misguided), but it was really his explanation for his actions that made it virtually impossible to be angry with him. He suffers through a lot in this book, and he still has a lot of adjusting to do so I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes him.
- Speaking of Simon, he spends a fair amount of time with a new bandmate, Kyle, in this book. I don't want to say to much about handsome Kyle and his sexy surfer's drawl, but I think most readers will enjoy his character. I especially loved any scene that involved Jace, Simon, and Kyle in the same room. Hi-larious!
- Ah, Magnus and Alec. I love them together. Alec is adorable even when he is jealous and sulking. And of course, Magnus Bane is eternally awesome even when he is toned-down and relatively glitter-free (Okay, there may be a gondolier's hat and a matador's jacket alluded to in a cell phone photo... hee hee). He can't really help having been alive for so much longer than most of the people he's fallen in love with over the years. In fact, I think it is remarkable that he is still willing to give his heart to someone (especially a Shadowhunter, since they live very dangerous lives and tend to die far too young). If you've read Clockwork Angel, you are already familiar with Camille and can probably guess how the tension between Magnus and Alec starts. The mortality/immortality issue is going to be a struggle for them, and I definitely don't think we've heard the last of that. I liked how the issue came up as a serious concern because it is sometimes handled quite lightly in immortal/human romances. I am fairly confident they will work it out, but if Magnus could get a spinoff series after CoHF if they need a bit more time to work it out, I fully support that idea too. ;)
- Oh man, I thought Clary and Jace faced their toughest obstacles in the first three books, but it appears they still have some very serious challenges to endure. I know that no one really wants to hear that (although admittedly a conflict-free relationship would probably be pretty boring to read about), and I'm biting my nails too. I just have to keep reminding myself that surviving each difficult challenge in the past has made both of them stronger and even more devoted to one another. We all just have to have faith.
- Overall, this story seemed a bit darker and more contemplative than the first three, but there is a still a glimmering thread of hope woven subtly into the darkness, so I will be desperately clinging to that until I read the final pages of CoHF in 2013. Also, there is still a fair amount of action, but quite a bit of the mystery and adventure is in piecing the clues together like the pieces of a puzzle. The tensions within their little group of friends have fractured their relationships a bit, so there are a few moments of extreme tension when the reader can guess what is coming but the characters have not shared enough information with one another to figure it out. Torturous. Yet even when I was sure I had certain elements figured out, I was often caught a off guard by a sudden twist. There are a number of well-placed hints that left me suspicious but unsure. And two twists were total blindside moments for me. Love that, especially when upon reading it a second time I spotted so many little clues. Nicely done.
- I won't say too much about the primary villain, just that the entire situation kept me guessing right up until the reveal. And while I am not always a fan of villains giving speeches about their dastardly deeds and nefarious plans, in this case it totally worked for me because it gave me a moment or two to consider how long Ms. Clare must have had this planned. The villain's story and connection to the previous books is both plausible and quite clever. It made me want to read the original trilogy again.
- Argh... the ending! Nearly everything I could say would be a spoiler, so I will just say "Well played, Ms. Clare. Well, played." Oh boy, she loves to torture her readers and characters. Since I was so happy with City of Glass, I plan to keep the faith until City of Heavenly Fire either burns the optimism out of me or rewards me for two years of devoted hopefulness. But would Ms. Clare really torture her characters so mercilessly if there was truly no hope of redemption? Where would be the tension in that? Whether the characters will believe there is hope or not remains to be seen...

City of Fallen Angels is a terrific addition to the MI series! If you haven't read any of the Mortal Instruments books yet, you seriously must. Immediately! If you are already a fan of Clockwork Angel and the first three MI books, then you will love City of Fallen Angels. If you would like to learn more about City of Fallen Angels or Cassandra Clare's other books, please visit her website, blog, facebook, or twitter. The next Infernal Devices book, Clockwork Prince, is scheduled for release December 6th. Yay! And the next Mortal Instruments book, City of Lost Souls, is scheduled for release in May of 2012. Can't wait!

Read the first chapter of City of Fallen Angels here!

A Personal Note

2011-04-12T23:56:00.000-07:00

I have spent the past two weeks dealing with an unexpected health crisis involving a relentless splitting headache, debilitating vision problems, several visits to various specialists (including an opthamologist and a neurologist), an MRI, and a lumbar puncture. Thankfully, all of my doctors have been working as quickly as possible to rule out something extremely serious like a brain tumor, vasculitis, or a blood clot in my head. At this point, the swelling on my optic nerve and the elevated spinal fluid levels point to a pseudotumor cerebri (basically a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid that mimics a brain tumor and puts pressure on the optic nerve), and I started taking medication based on that diagnosis last week. I have already seen some improvement (particularly in reducing the pain when I shift my eyes), which is great. I have another visit with my opthamologist tomorrow morning to go over my MRI and lumbar puncture results, and she also plans to do a visual field test so that we can monitor my improvement as my condition *hopefully* continues to improve.

Vision is definitely something you don't fully appreciate until you suddenly begin to lose it. Of course, all of my favorite hobbies (reading, working on the computer, gardening, genealogy, and sewing) are quite vision-dependent, so I know that I should actually just be thankful for all the blissful years of 20/20 'sparkle-free' vision that didn't hurt when I shifted my eyes up, left, or right. And I am very lucky to have begun treatment before the vision in my right eye worsened to the degree that my left eye has. I really haven't had too much difficulty with reading since it is up close and not off to the side (except when I was trying to limit my reading time because my doctor initially believed that the headache and eye pain could be related to eye strain and/or a tension headache), but the computer with its bright screen was initially more of a challenge. I am ecstatic to report that looking at the computer seems to pose less and less of a challenge with each passing day. Yay!

For the past couple of weeks, I've felt uncertain about whether to discuss my health issues here on The Eager Readers because I didn't want to use this space to whine about my ailments. Plus, I was very scared of receiving unbearably sad news after the MRI (i.e. brain tumor) and that whole concept was frightening to an immobilizing degree. I couldn't really force myself to discuss that fear with anyone outside of my immediate family. Basically, it has been an exceedingly scary and miserable two weeks, but I wanted to tell all of you how much I still appreciate having this forum to talk about books I adore with other book-lovers. I was at my most stressed and panicked last week, right after my opthamologist first mentioned the possibilities of a brain tumor or pseudotumor and I overheard her on the phone with the radiology department at the hospital requesting an 'emergency MRI' that afternoon because she felt it was critical not to wait until the MRI appointment that my neurologist had already scheduled at a later date. *insert panic here* At first, I couldn't make myself focus on anything else to take my mind off the overwhelming amount of stress that hit me in that moment. My headache seemed worse than ever, and I'd started taking three medications, each with upsetting side effects like nausea, fatigue, body aches, and numb/tingling hands and feet. Blech. Even if I hadn't been feeling physically wretched that day, hearing that the best-case scenario was one in which my condition may cause blindness? Not particularly ideal.

That was quickly shaping up to be among the most stressful days of my life until we came home from the MRI and my husband put City of Fallen Angels in my hands and asked me if I would continue reading it aloud to him. Have I mentioned that I love that man more than words can express? When I am overwhelmed by stress, he often knows just how to be the perfect calm that I need. What I needed most that day was normalcy, to immerse myself in a shared activity that was reassuringly familiar, and to feel like we would have a ton of tomorrows to spend reading aloud together just as we have for the past fifteen years. As I read City of Fallen Angels aloud to my husband that day (and each time we were both free over the next three days), I found myself pleasantly distracted from my nervousness about test results, medical bills, and upcoming appointments. Reading has been my escape of choice for as long as I can remember, and in the midst of all my anxiety it turned out to be the perfect stress-relief. This time, it wasn't just because I loved immersing myself in an imaginative fictional world {Which I obviously did, Cassandra Clare's books are freaking phenomenal and so much fun to read aloud!}, but I also loved knowing that I'd get to sit down afterward and think about the whole book all over again in order to write the review here on the blog. And I loved knowing that the book blogosphere is such a friendly, welcoming place to find other people who are just as passionate about books. People who are probably just as eager to discuss what they loved or were tortured by in this latest installment of the MI series. Fun! I feel so fortunate to be part of a community like that. So thanks and heartfelt hugs to all of you book-lovers out there! :)

Also, I would give City of Fallen Angels 100 flowers out of 10 if I could because it was exactly what I needed, and I adored every minute of it despite physical discomfort and my potentially paralyzing anxiety level during some of the most nerve-wracking days of my life. It seriously helped save my sanity when all signs were pointing toward a stress-induced meltdown. Do you guys have a book like that? A book that proved to be exactly what you needed to get you through a trying time? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. If my opthamologist doesn't keep me in town for another barrage of tests tomorrow or start me on a new medication that knocks me out, I plan to head up to see Cassandra Clare and Holly Black on tour tomorrow evening. I'll be the one with a giant stack of books and a ridiculous fangirl smile whose husband will probably be by her side reminding her to take one of her medications every couple of hours. Haha! Can't wait! :-)

Book Review: Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

2011-04-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

Title: Ten Miles Past Normal

Author: Frances O'Roark Dowell
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Genre: contemporary YA
Hardcover: 224 pages
My copy: Received from the publisher for honest review.

Summary from Goodreads:
Janie Gorman wants to be normal. The problem with that: she’s not. She’s smart and creative and a little bit funky. She’s also an unwilling player in her parents’ modern-hippy, let’s-live-on-a-goat-farm experiment (regretfully, instigated by a younger, much more enthusiastic Janie). This, to put it simply, is not helping Janie reach that “normal target.” She has to milk goats every day…and endure her mother’s pseudo celebrity in the homemade-life, crunchy mom blogosphere. Goodbye the days of frozen lasagna and suburban living, hello crazy long bus ride to high school and total isolation—and hovering embarrassments of all kinds. The fresh baked bread is good…the threat of homemade jeans, not so much.

It would be nice to go back to that old suburban life…or some grown up, high school version of it, complete with nice, normal boyfriends who wear crew neck sweaters and like social studies. So, what’s wrong with normal? Well, kind of everything. She knows that, of course, why else would she learn bass and join Jam Band, how else would she know to idolize infamous wild-child and high school senior Emma (her best friend Sarah’s older sister), why else would she get arrested while doing a school project on a local freedom school (jail was not part of the assignment). And, why else would she kind of be falling in "like" with a boy named Monster—yes, that is his real name. Janie was going for normal, but she missed her mark by about ten miles…and we mean that as a compliment

Overall rating: 9/10 flowers

To buy this book: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Frances O'Roark Dowell's Ten Miles Past Normal is a funny and insightful novel overflowing with charmingly quirky characters. When Janie was nine years old her class took a field trip to an organic farm. She loved it so much that she suggested to her parents that their whole family would be happier living on a farm, raising goats, and baking fresh bread. Janie had no idea that the concept would appeal to her parents so much, and she could never have predicted that five years later that perfect-sounding farm life would leave her feeling completely ostracized during her freshman year of high school. Part of her is desperate to fit in and feel like a normal girl, but perhaps life truly is better at ten miles past normal ...

What I Liked:
- This book had me laughing aloud from start to finish. Janie is a very funny narrator with a self-deprecating sense of humor and a wry wit.

- I loved that civil rights played such an important role in this novel. The teens admire and are inspired by courageous individuals who worked toward equality and justice when that was an unpopular and dangerous choice.
- This is a book in which the teenage girls are more excited about changing the world than chasing after the hottest boy in school. Of course, there is a bit of boy-chasing too, but that plays out in a hilariously satisfying way.
- I thoroughly enjoyed the mommy-blogger angle of the story. Since moving to the country, Janie's mother has taken up blogging to document her family's farm-life adventures. In fact, she has become a bit of a local celebrity because of her blog, and I liked hearing about that whole experience from Janie's perspective.
- I enjoyed the quirky collection of characters, from Monster to Emma to Mr. Pritchard. We should all be lucky enough to encounter memorably awesome people like that in our lives. There are also characters like Jeremy Fitch, who bear a striking resemblance to people most of us probably knew (or still know) in high school. I was thrilled that Janie has the good sense to recognize the reality that isn't always obvious when you are distracted by a handsome face and flirtatious banter.
- Janie has loving parents and they play a vital role in the story, so that sets Ten Miles Past Normal apart from the bulk of YA novels in which parents are absent/evil/negligent.
- I loved seeing Janie mature as she realizes that being normal is overrated and starts embracing life at ten miles past normal.

What I Wished:

- I wanted this book to be longer. Honestly, the author chose the perfect time and place for the story to end. I just enjoyed the characters so much that I wanted the story to go on for another hundred pages or so.

Ten Miles Past Normal is a sweet coming-of-age tale with a funny, intelligent narrator. Fans of Deb Caletti's Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, John Green's An Abundance of Katherines, Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl or Adriana Trigani's Viola in Reel Life will want to pick up Ten Miles Past Normal. It is also a very clean read, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to fans of middle-grade novels like Lisa Schroeder's It's Raining Cupcakes. I look forward to reading more of Frances O'Roark Dowell's books. If you would like to learn more about Ten Miles Past Normal or Frances O'Roark Dowell's other books, please visit her website or Simon & Schuster page.

Read the first chapter of Ten Miles Past Normal here!

Book Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

2011-04-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

Title: Demonglass

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Genre: YA / paranormal
Hardcover: 359 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Overall rating: 7/10

To buy this book: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Rachel Hawkins' Demonglass picks up six months after the conclusion of Hex Hall. Sophie is awaiting word from her father, the head of the Council, regarding her request to undergo the Removal process. When he arrives, her father persuades her to spend the summer with him at the Council headquarters in England before making a final decision about the Removal, and they set off for England with her friends Jenna and Cal in tow. Sophie is shocked by the grandeur of the expansive Abbey where they will be staying, but the beautiful and luxurious setting does not necessarily mean she'll have a peaceful summer vacation in the English countryside. Instead, she finds herself hunted by the Eye, keeping secrets from her best friend, and unsure who to trust in this fun sequel to Hex Hall.

What I Liked:

- Sophie's sense of humor is my favorite part of this series. She has a sarcastic reply to lighten almost any uncomfortable situation, and her snarkiness helps make this book an entertaining, fast read.
- Cal plays a much larger roll in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed his interaction with Sophie. He is kind, compassionate, and good with his hands. Plus, he really does have the best power ever. Demonglass put me firmly on Team Cal.
- I enjoy Sophie and Jenna's friendship. They complement each other well, and I like that they both try to be supportive and encouraging even when dealing with tricky situations or disagreements.
- A number of new characters are introduced in this book, and they add some exciting twists to the story. I also liked that characters from the first book played unexpected roles in Demonglass, specifically Elodie, Cal, and Mrs. Casnoff.
- Demons, witches, warlocks, werewolves, vampires, and ghosts ... this series has a wide variety of paranormal creatures.
- I enjoyed learning more about Sophie's long-absent father. Sophie gains a better understanding of her abilities in this book, and I look forward to discovering what the third book has in store for her.

What I Disliked:

- I found myself distracted by comparing certain aspects of this story to other book series, like Evernight, Harry Potter, and Twilight.
- I was a fan of Sophie and Archer's chemistry in Hex Hall, but I didn't find their chemistry nearly as compelling in Demonglass. Perhaps that was because of Archer's minimal page-time, Cal's abundant charms, or the general seriousness of the situation keeping Sophie and Archer apart, but their Romeo & Juliet-style romance felt a bit forced to me this time around.
- The second book in a trilogy can sometimes be more frustrating than fulfilling since none of the major conflicts will be resolved until the final book, and unfortunately this book felt that way to me. The conclusion definitely leaves readers hanging in a huge way.

Demonglass is an entertaining sequel to Hex Hall. Fans of paranormal novels that blend suspenseful and romantic elements with a hefty dose of humor, like Kiersten White's Paranormalcy, will want to pick up this series. If you would like to learn more about Demonglass, or Rachel Hawkins' upcoming projects like Rebel Belle and the Hex Hall spinoff series she plans to start writing this summer, please visit her website, blog, or twitter. Or check out the Hex Hall facebook page.

Read the first chapter of Demonglass here!

Winners!!

2011-04-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered our Desires of the Dead giveaway! :) All the winners have been emailed and have 48 hrs to respond before new winners will be drawn.

Marlene won:

Prize #1 - A signed hardcover copy of Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Morgyn won:

Prize #2 - A signed Desires of the Dead poster and bookmark

Tracy, Ambur, Lucie Z., and Sniffly Kitty each won:

Prize #3 - A signed Desires of the Dead bookmark

We hope to see Cassandra Clare and Holly Black on tour later this month, so keep an eye out for the chance to win more signed books! :)

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Exile by Anne Osterlund

2011-03-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

Title: Exile (Aurelia #2)

Author: Anne Osterlund

Publication date: April 28, 2011

Anne Osterlund's: website | blog | facebook

Pre-order Exile: Powell's | IndieBound | Amazon | Borders | B&N

Add Exile to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | LibraryThing

Summary from Goodreads (contains spoilers for Aurelia):

Crown Princess Aurelia stands in the face of exile. Behind her are the sister who tried to kill her and the father who ignored it. In front of her are the entire kingdom and Robert—the friend she can't help but fall in love with. Aurelia may finally be living her dream . . . but danger is not far behind. When Aurelia and Robert are betrayed by the very guards assigned to protect them, their expedition becomes a fight for survival that carries them from frontier to desert sands. Even with a hunter on their tail, the risks—to their lives, the throne, their hearts—only fuels Aurelia's determination to see her kingdom. And when their perilous journey is finally complete, she will discover just how much her people need her, and just how much of a risk loving Robert can be.

Exile is the companion novel to Aurelia.

Read an excerpt from Aurelia here!

Buy Aurelia: Powell's | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N

Add it to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | LibraryThing

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Teaser Tuesday: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

2011-03-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

My teaser:

"The woman was Elizabeth, and with her soft gray hair and little round glasses, I thought she looked like someone's nana; but when I went to shake her hand, she yanked me to her and sniffed my hair. Great. Another werewolf."

- page 42 of Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Teaser Tuesdays are 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 a few 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page.
Be careful not to include major spoilers.
Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Book Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

2011-03-29T01:13:00.000-07:00

Title: Across the Universe

Author: Beth Revis

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: YA / sci-fi / dystopian

Hardcover: 398 pages

ISBN: 1595143971

Summary from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Overall rating: 8/10

To buy this book: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Beth Revis' Across the Universe is the first book in an intriguing dystopian sci-fi trilogy. After spending two hundred fifty years cryogenically frozen on a spaceship bound for an uncharted planet, Amy is shocked when she is awakened fifty years before her parents are scheduled to be unfrozen. At first, the prospect of not seeing her parents until she is nearly seventy seems like the worst of her problems. But in addition to the nightmare of being trapped on a claustrophobic ship and the horror of discovering that many of the ship's inhabitants behave more like drones than humans, she soon learns that a killer is targeting the cryogenically frozen people and her parents may be among the next victims. From the largely homogeneous and eerily obedient crew members to the ship's dictatorial leader, Amy finds herself very short on allies. Thankfully, the young man who is next in line to lead the ship is intrigued by Amy, and he may be exactly the ally she needs to keep her parents alive and to figure out how the ship's population has gone in such a disturbing direction in the two hundred fifty years since it left Earth. But Elder grew up on the ship, and what seems horrifying to Amy has always been described as normal and necessary to him. Together they must unravel the truth and stop the killing before it is too late.

What I Liked:
- This book is set on isolated ship hundreds of years away from Earth and some of its inhabitants have made difficult (and troubling) decisions regarding resource management, diversity, and personal freedom. I was impressed by how disturbing and claustrophobic the atmosphere on the ship feels.

- Half the chapters are from Amy's point of view and half are from Elder's point of view, which helped keep the tension high from start to finish. This book is essentially a dystopian novel set aboard a spaceship, so being introduced to the world from two different perspectives, that of a character who is an outsider and that of a character who has only ever known life aboard the ship, really helps set the stage for the story.
- Elder's friend Harley, an artist who is considered an oddity because of his creativity, is one of the most compelling characters in the book. Elements of his situation reminded me of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and his outlook as the story progressed brought to mind some interesting questions about what life could have been like if things had progressed differently on Godspeed.
- My favorite sci-fi novels (as well as my favorite dystopian novels) tackle ethical and political issues that are relevant right here on present-day Earth. If the setting is well conceived and the story is compelling, great sci-fi and dystopian novels can encourage us to examine hot-button issues like genetic engineering and reproductive rights a bit more thoroughly. I liked that Across the Universe didn't shy away from pushing some of those concepts to disturbingly plausible extremes.
- There are some very unlikeable individuals on Godspeed, but some of their motivations held shades of gray, and I like villains who are painted in shades of gray. They are much more frightening and believable.
- There is plenty left to be explored in the next two books and the story is wide open for a million different possibilities, but this first book is also surprisingly conclusive. I look forward to seeing where the rest of the trilogy will go.

What I Liked Less:

- One of the primary mysteries in this story, the identity of the person unplugging the cryogenically frozen individuals, is too easy to deduce. Thankfully, that is not the only twist in the story, so there are other surprises and deceptions to keep readers on their toes.
- While I liked that Elder and Amy's story is not of the whirlwind-romance variety, I was hoping to feel more chemistry between them. I respected and pitied them both, but I didn't really care whether their relationship ventured beyond friendship. Perhaps the second book will change my mind about that.
- I found the plot and setting a bit more compelling than the protagonists. Amy and Elder both have to deal with some sad and traumatizing situations in this book, but I was more wrapped up in the plot than the characters, so I never found myself in tears.

I would recommend Across the Universe to fans of sci-fi and dystopian novels. The story moves along at a fast clip, with short chapters and quite a bit of life-and-death drama, so it may also be a good pick for reluctant readers. If you would like to learn more about Across the Universe or author Beth Revis, please visit her website, blog, facebook, or twitter. Or check out the Across the Universe website where you can explore the ship and listen to an excerpt from the audiobook.

Read the first chapter of Across the Universe here!

Book Review: Wildwing by Emily Whitman

2011-03-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

Title: Wildwing

Author: Emily Whitman
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genre: YA / fantasy
Hardcover: 320 pages

ISBN: 0061724521

Summary from Goodreads:
When Addy is swept back in time, she couldn't be happier to leave her miser-able life behind. Now she's mistaken for Lady Matilda, the pampered ward of the king. If Addy can play her part, she'll have glorious gowns, jewels, and something she's always longed for—the respect and admiration of others. But then she meets Will, the falconer's son with sky blue eyes, who unsettles all her plans.

From shipwrecks to castle dungeons, from betrothals to hidden conspiracies, Addy finds herself in a world where she's not the only one with a dangerous secret. When she discovers the truth, Addy must take matters into her own hands. The stakes? Her chance at true love . . . and the life she's meant to live.

Overall rating: 7/10
To buy this book: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Emily Whitman's Wildwing is a time-travel fantasy about a girl who leaves her life as a maid in the early 20th century for the life of a Lady in 13th century England. Born out of wedlock to a mother who is a hardworking, lower class seamstress, Addy has spent the first fifteen years of her life being harassed and taunted by her wealthier classmates who have made her life miserable. When she is withdrawn from school after getting into one too many fights with her classmates, she is mortified by the idea of spending the rest of her life as a maid. But her job as a maid turns out to be more pleasant than she expected, especially when she discovers a time machine in her employer's library. Suddenly she is whisked back to the 13th century where she is mistaken for a wealthy Lady. But her life as a Lady comes with certain obligations, and as she begins to fall in love with a handsome young falconer who is far below her station, she may realize that wealth doesn't always mean freedom.

What I Liked:

- I liked that the time travel occurred between one non-modern time period and another. It is like two historical novels in one. :)
- You can feel the author's appreciation for the beauty and majesty of falcons in the way falconry is presented within the story, and that fascination and enthusiasm is contagious. The tethered freedom of the wild, untameable birds parallels Addy's longing for freedom quite nicely.
- Addy is not always particularly likeable. But even when I disliked her behavior or disagreed with her choices, I sympathized with her and still found her believable as a self-absorbed fifteen year old who is enchanted by the wealth and respect she receives as Lady Matilda. There are plenty of opportunities for character growth throughout the novel, and Addy learns some valuable lessons as the story progresses.
- Will and Addy's romantic moments are sensual and suggestive without being graphic or explicit.
- This story is a quick and absorbing read. I read the whole book aloud, and I was impressed by the pacing and the smooth, easy flow of the narrative.
- It is refreshing to read a YA novel that is not a part of a series. Sometimes it is nice not to have to wait a year or more to read the second half (or even the second third) of a story.

What I Wished:
- I wanted the story to be less predictable.

- I tried not to be distracted by the lack of scientific explanation as far as the time travel is concerned because Wildwing feels much more like fantasy than sci-fi, but I still struggled to accept the way the time machine is used in the story.
- (SPOILER WARNING! Do not scroll over the following text if you want to avoid spoilers.) I found it difficult to believe that in the fifteen years Mr. Greenwood spent mourning the loss of his son, he never once attempted to use the time machine to venture back to a date shortly before his son's disappearance. If he was that worried about the potential dangers of the modern wiring, then I am truly surprised he would let his only son (who he has just found after years of searching) hop in a machine that was constructed using only rustic medieval tools and components. And why wouldn't he return to the 20th century with Will?

I would recommend Wildwing to fans of light, engaging historical fantasy novels. If you would like to learn more about Wildwing or author Emily Whitman, please visit her website, facebook, or Harper Collins author page.

Read the first twelve chapters of Wildwing here!

Book Review: StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

2011-03-18T23:55:00.000-07:00

Title: StarCrossed

Author: Elizabeth C. Bunce
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine
Genre: YA / fantasy
Hardcover: 359 pages

ISBN: 0545136059

Summary from Goodreads:
Digger thrives as a spy and sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse, dodging the Greenmen who have banned all magic. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner and lover Tegen is killed, she has to get out of the city, fast, and hides herself in a merry group of nobles to do so. Accepted as a lady's maid to shy young Merista Nemair, Digger finds new peace and friendship at the Nemair stronghold--as well as plenty of jewels for the taking. But after the devious Lord Daul catches her in the act of thievery, he blackmails her into becoming his personal spy in the castle, and Digger soon realizes that her noble hosts aren't as apolitical as she thought... that indeed, she may be at the heart of a magical rebellion.

Overall rating: 7/10

Buy StarCrossed: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Amazon | Powell's

Add this book to your: Goodreads |Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Elizabeth C. Bunce's StarCrossed is an intrigue-rich historical fantasy about Digger, a talented thief who finds herself running for her life after a job goes terribly wrong. She is desperate to escape the streets of Gerse and must assume a false identity in order to evade the dangerous Greenmen. In a world filled with political tension, religious persecution, and forbidden magic, will Digger be safe posing as a lady's maid among the nobles of Bryn Shaer, far away from the treacherous streets of Gerse? Or will she become entangled in another deadly dance of secrets and lies?

What I Liked:

- Digger is a very capable heroine. She is a skilled thief, spy, and counterfeit artist. I admired her fearlessness and self-confidence.
- Many of the inhabitants of Bryn Shaer are more intriguing than they appear at first glance. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the formidable Lady Lyll and her wounded patient.
- I enjoyed Digger's clever, survivalist personality, but it was also lovely to see her begin to open herself up to friendship over the course of the book.
- The historical aspects of the setting, from the clothing to the weapons to the architecture, are all described in beautiful detail and give Llvraneth a believable magical-Renaissance atmosphere.
- There are a number of plot twists in this book, and two of the larger ones took me totally by surprise. Fun!
- I liked the unique type of magic the Sarists practice, which involves finding, gathering, and shaping. It has an organic and cooperative feel.
- Several personal and political conflicts are revealed in StarCrossed, and many of the characters and conflicts seem poised to reappear in the second book, Liar's Moon. I look forward to seeing where the story goes next.

What I Wished:
- I wanted the story to unfold more quickly and with more consistent tension. After the initial excitement surrounding Digger's escape from Gerse, the tension lags a bit until her position at Bryn Shaer is put into jeopardy about a third of the way into the book.
- Merista and Wierolf are central to two of the most interesting parts of the story (the unique magic system and the looming civil war), but I didn't feel like either of them received enough page-time since the story is told from Digger's point of view and the supporting characters are not always central to her daily activities.
- I wanted more romance, even if it was only in Digger's memories of Tegen.
- A few parts of the story seem slightly too convenient, like secretive nobles who seem surprisingly open to confessing key details to Digger.

StarCrossed is an intrigue-filled historical fantasy with a bold heroine. Fans of Tamora Pierce, Leah Cypess, Shannon Hale, or Kristin Cashore will enjoy the world-building and the gutsy protagonist. If you would like to learn more about StarCrossed or Elizabeth C. Bunce's other books, please visit her website, blog, or facebook.

Read the first chapter of StarCrossed here!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Lola and the Boy Next Door

2011-03-16T00:02:00.000-07:00

Summary:

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

When the family returns and Cricket—a gifted inventor and engineer—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

2011-03-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

Title: The Day Before

Author: Lisa Schroeder

Publication date: June 28, 2011

Summary:

Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2011-03-09T10:58:00.000-08:00

Title: Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Contemporary YA
Hardcover: 372 pages

ISBN: 0525423273

Summary from Goodreads:
Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Overall rating: 9/10

To buy this book: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss is blissfully romantic, sweet, and funny! I loved so much about this book, but before I start raving about its excellence, I must make a quick confession. It took me way too long to get around to reading Anna and the French Kiss, and I took my time in picking it up for the silliest reason ever. I had heard so much positive buzz about it that I was afraid it could not possibly live up to the hype. Kids, don't be like me. Don't let glowing reviews scare you away from amazing books. And if you don't own it already, don't wait another second before buying Anna and the French Kiss! It is made of awesome and exceeded all of my expectations. Also, it is under $10 at The Book Depository and Amazon right now. Just FYI. ;-)

What I Liked:

- Um... all of the words on all of the pages. Okay, I'll try to be slightly more specific...
- I loved that the characters feel genuine. Anna and her classmates (and former classmates and former co-workers) all have flaws and realistically complex relationships and personalities.
- Every character has a distinct voice. Meredith doesn't interact with Rashmi in the same way that she interacts with St. Clair. And St. Clair doesn't talk to Anna the same way he talks to Josh. If you covered up the names associated with any line of dialogue on any page, I bet you could still tell exactly who said what to whom just by their distinct ways of interacting with one another. I adore that.
- This story is totally in harmony with its setting. Some books have vividly drawn atmospheres, allowing readers to thoroughly immerse themselves in the sights, smells, and flavors of a particular location and time period. Other books have richly imagined characters that pop off the pages and make readers laugh and cry along with them. This book has both.
- The pacing is perfect, so Anna and the reader fall in love with Étienne and Paris simultaneously.
- Anna is such a dynamic character. She grows and changes and learns from her mistakes and keeps moving forward right to the very last page. Her perspective on virtually everything in her life shifts over the course of the year, but she isn't simply redefined by the person (or the place) she falls in love with. She is still very much herself by the end of the book, just a wiser, more independent, more confident, and perhaps more forgiving version of herself. I found her likable from start to finish, and I think she is proof that protagonists don't have to be generically good or utterly bland and static to feel like an 'every-girl' character to whom we can all relate.
- This book is filled with tension, and not just romantic tension. From friendships, to familial relationships, to romantic entanglements, every relationship in this book captures realistic tension and conflict. Even her relationship with Paris itself is rich with tension and conflict. Anna deals with jealousy, frustration, fear, and longing while navigating the streets of Paris and while navigating her increasingly complicated relationships with her old friends, new friends, family, and potential boyfriends. I loved that she doesn't always make the easiest choices or the kindest choices, but she always makes believable choices. I enjoyed following every step of Anna's journey from the moments of frustrated anger to the moments of impressive clarity.
- Étienne St. Clair ... what can I say about that boy? He is a charming and witty history buff who loves his mother. And his sexiness doesn't depend solely upon his more obvious charms like his British accent or his perfect hair, it is in his crooked bottom teeth, his shorter-than-average stature, his tidy room full of books, the way he bites his nails, and his willingness to wear the unfashionable stocking cap that his mum knitted despite his friends' objections. It is also in Point Zero, in his enthusiastic support of Anna's passion for films, in the way he is there for her when she needs encouragement or distraction, and in the way his eyes light up when she says his name. I can't say for certain when he won my undying allegiance, but it may have been the moment he first said "Fo' shiz" and made me burst into laughter in the middle of a quiet room.
- I am such a sucker for best friend romances, and this particular story has so many heart-racing flirtatious moments and so many emotionally intimate moments that it feels like watching two people fall in love in deliciously torturous slow-motion. It is beautiful, sweet, flutter-inducing, heart-breaking, nerve-wracking... and did I mention romantic?
- The plot element that I worried could stand in the way of my being able to fully adore this book, the fact that the boy Anna loves is in a serious relationship with someone else, was handled so honestly (and so painfully) that it did not stop me from loving Étienne or from relating to Anna.
- I loved that the end of this book is conclusive without feeling like the end of Anna's story. Instead, it feels like a wonderful beginning.

What I Wished:

- I wished that Stephanie Perkins had already written ten more books because Lola and the Boy Next Door (9/29/11) and Isla and the Happily Ever After (Fall 2012) seem too far away.

Anna and the French Kiss is a sweet, funny, and romantic story about friendship, growing up, and falling in love. If you are a fan of contemporary romance or sweet coming of age stories, then you will want to check out Anna and the French Kiss. If you would like to learn more about Anna and the French Kiss or Stephanie Perkins' upcoming companion novels, please visit her website, blog, or twitter.

Teaser Tuesday: StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

2011-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

My teaser:

"For a moment I was distracted. Books always did that to me, almost more than a locked jewelry chest or a fat purse dangling from a fat nob. I liked the creamy pages, the smell of ink, all the secrets locked inside."

- page 111 of StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Read the first chapter of StarCrossed here.

Teaser Tuesdays are 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 a few 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page.
Be careful not to include major spoilers.
Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Book Giveaway!! Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting!

2011-03-07T23:47:00.000-08:00

A signed copy of Kimberly Derting's Desires of the Dead + signed swag!

Kimberly Derting's Body Finder books have become favorites in our house, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend one of Kimberly's recent booksigning events! You can read my full event report here. If you haven't read The Body Finder or Desires of the Dead yet, I highly recommend both books! If you happen to have an ereader, HarperCollins is currently offering The Body Finder (with bonus material) for just $1.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders, so it is an awesome time to give this fantastic series a try if you haven't already. I'm excited to be able to share some fabulous signed Desires of the Dead goodies with our readers!

Desires of the Dead summary:
The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Read an excerpt from Desires of the Dead here!

Contest Details:

Prize #1 (US only - one winner): A signed hardcover copy of Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Prize #2 (US only - one winner): A signed Desires of the Dead poster and bookmark

Prize #3 (US & International - four winners): A signed Desires of the Dead bookmark

The deadline: March 31st at 11:59 pm (PST)

How to Enter:

Fill out the form below.

Extra Entries:

+1 for every place you help spread the word about this contest - twitter, blog, sidebar, etc. (Up to +3)

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Awesome Book Event!! Kimberly Derting!

2011-03-07T15:55:00.000-08:00

Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead

Yesterday I attended a Powell's book signing event featuring the lovely Kimberly Derting! It was fantastic to see her again and to hear more about her upcoming projects. She read an excerpt from Desires of the Dead, answered several questions from the audience, talked about her upcoming fantasy-dystopian novel The Pledge, and signed lots of books! If you would like to win a signed copy of Desires of the Dead, be sure to check out our giveaway post here. :-)

For a video recap of the event, check out TheEagerReaders YouTube Channel:

Part 1 - Kimberly discusses a creepy scene in the third Body Finder book.

Part 2 - Kimberly talks about the cover art for the Body Finder books.

Part 3 - Kimberly describes The Pledge, her upcoming fantasy-dystopian novel (Release date: 11/15/11)

Part 4 - Kimberly discusses one of the challenges of working on two books at once.

Candace of Candace's Book Blog also recorded several videos, and you can check them out here. It was tons of fun visiting with Candace and her sister-in-law, and it was also awesome to see Sara from Novel Novice, Inara Scott (author of the Delacroix Academy series), and Suzanne Young (author of A Need So Beautiful and The Naughty List trilogy). Suzanne is completely responsible for my crazy lack of sleep last night because I simply could not put A Need So Beautiful down until I reached the final page! I absolutely loved it! (Thank you, Suzanne!)

The other huge highlight of the day was having the chance to visit with Kimberly before her Q & A session. We talked about her upcoming appearance at the RT Booklovers Convention in LA, and she also shared a bit of news that surprised me in the best way ever. When I first met Kimberly last April at an event for The Body Finder, she mentioned that she loved my name (not my online nickname, Violet, but my actual name, Avonlea) and wanted to steal it to use in one of her books. It turns out that she was totally serious, and there will be a character in The Pledge with my name. *insert giddy fangirl squee here* How cool is that?! In related news, I'm going to need to pick up a bazillion copies of The Pledge, and we will definitely be giving away a copy here on The Eager Readers. Is it November yet? ;-)

If you would like to learn more about The Body Finder series or The Pledge, please check out Kimberly Derting's website, blog, or twitter.

Buy Desires of the Dead: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Pre-order The Pledge (11/15/11): Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing

Book Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

2011-03-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

Title: Nevermore

Author: Kelly Creagh
Publisher: Atheneum
Genre: YA/paranormal
Hardcover: 543 pages

ISBN: 1442402008

Goodreads Summary:
Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game.

Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind.

Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

Overall rating: 8/10

To buy this book: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Kelly Creagh's Nevermore is a YA romance with a deliciously dark supernatural edge. When popular cheerleader Isobel is unwillingly paired with gothic loner Varen for a school project, she is surprised to find herself increasingly charmed by his quiet intensity. As they each learn to see beyond their preconceived notions about one another, their unlikely friendship takes a turn toward romance. But behind Varen's guarded exterior lurks a dark secret that could prove very dangerous for them both. Will Isobel unravel the mystery in time to save him or will she need saving herself?

What I Liked:

- Isobel and Varen's relationship evolves enjoyably slowly, and it never feels like a recycled, opposites-attract story. Both characters are easy to like, and their relationship feels builds naturally and never feels contrived.
- I liked seeing Isobel take a stand against her 'friends' as their true colors began to show.
- Isobel's parents and little brother figure prominently in the story. I love seeing parents and siblings play a realistic role in paranormal YA novels!
- I was pleased to find that Nevermore is much more of a 'Gentleman in Distress' than a 'Damsel in Distress' kind of story.
- Reynolds is cleverly imagined and infuriatingly mysterious. I hope to see much more of him.
- I was glad that Isobel proved to be so thoroughly likable because it made me question my own tendency to make snap judgments about popular, pink-loving cheerleaders.
- The nightmarish, Poe-inspired dreamworld imagery is beautifully dark and creepy.
- Varen is intelligent and thoughtful, and so refreshingly different from Brad (Isobel's football player boyfriend at the start of the novel). Varen's rooftop visit is particularly sweet, and I loved his interaction with Isobel's mom and little brother.
- This book made me want to read more about Edgar Allan Poe's life (and death).

Not exactly a complaint, but...
- Be warned that this is the first book in a trilogy, so don't expect the story to be thoroughly resolved by the 543rd page. In fact, the ending feels a bit more like an intermission than a conclusion.

Nevermore is an excellent debut novel that will make readers want to check out Edgar Allan Poe's work. I would recommend this book to fans of YA romances with spooky paranormal atmospheres, like Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. If you would like to learn more about Nevermore or Kelly Creagh's upcoming projects, please visit her website, blog, or twitter.

Our Books With Love Winner!!

2011-02-17T06:44:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered our Books With Love giveaway!

The winner is: Mithee!

Congratulations! You won a copy of Clockwork Angel and Stupid Shiny Designs' lovely William Herondale bookthong!

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Please check back for more giveaways coming up very soon. :)

Valentine's Day - Books with Love Giveaway!

2011-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day and thanks for stopping by to check out our Books with Love giveaway! Be sure to check out the Books with Love blog hop links at the bottom of this post for a chance to enter lots of awesome bookish giveaways. :)

Are you Team Jem or Team Will?

Because we love all things Victorian and steampunkish and because we can't resist a tantalizing love triangle, we are giving away a copy of Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel as well as a hand-beaded Clockwork Angel-inspired bookthong from Stupid Shiny Designs' fabulous etsy shop!

To see more gorgeous novel-inspired bookthongs, be sure to visit Stupid Shiny Designs' Etsy shop!

Contest details:

The prize: Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel and a "Will" or "Jem" bookthong from Stupid Shiny Designs

Contest deadline: February 16 at 11:59 pm PST.

How to Enter: Fill out the form below to let us know which book thong you would like to win. *required* (This contest is INTERNATIONAL so long as The Book Depository ships to your location.)

Extra Entries:

+1 if you "Favorite" Stupid Shiny Designs on Etsy

+1 if you "Like" Stupid Shiny Designs' facebook page

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Many thanks to Good Choice Reading and Once Upon a Twilight for organizing this fun Books with Love giveaway hop! Be sure to check out the contest links below:

Winners!!

2011-02-02T01:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered our Bonded by Blood giveaway!

The winners are: Wendy and Latishajean!

Congratulations! :)

"Waiting on" Wednesday: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

2011-01-19T03:01:00.000-08:00

Title: A Need So Beautiful

Author: Suzanne Young

Publication date: June 21, 2011

Summary (from Suzanne's Blog):

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Book Giveaway!! Bonded by Blood by Laurie London!

2011-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

My friend Laurie London's debut novel arrives in stores today, and I am very excited to celebrate by giving away two copies of Bonded by Blood here on The Eager Readers. :-)

Title: Bonded by Blood (A Sweetblood Novel)
Author: Laurie London
Summary:

Movie location scout Mackenzie Foster-Shaw has always known that she's cursed to die young. No one can protect her from the evil that has stalked her family for generations—vampires who crave her rare blood type. Until one afternoon in a wooded cemetery, she encounters an impossibly sexy stranger, a man she must trust with her life.

For Dominic, a man haunted by loss, Mackenzie satisfies a primal hunger that torments him—and the bond they share goes beyond heat, beyond love. She alone can supply the strength he needs to claim his revenge. But in doing so, he could destroy her….

Click here to read an excerpt.

Want to learn more about the Sweetblood series? Visit Laurie London's website and be sure to check out her Bonded by Blood blog tour:

Escapism Through Books - January 18
Literary Escapism - January 18
Candace’s Book Blog - January 19

Silk and Shadows - January 20
Demonlovers Books and More - January 24
All Things Urban Fantasy - January 27
Just Your Typical Book Blog - January 27
Harlequin’s Paranormal Romance Blog - January 28
Romance Reviews Today - January 31
VampChix - February 1
Veranda View - February 1
Night Owl Reviews - February 2
Mo’s Book Buzz live chat - February 2 - 9pm Eastern
LovLivLife Reviews - February 3
RomCon - February 4
Madame D’s Boudoir - February 5
Star-Crossed Romance - February 7
Desert Island Keepers - February 8 and 9
Shy Writers - February 14
Savvy Authors - February 15
Reading Between the Wines - February 18
Smexy Books - February 21
Romance University - February 231st
Turning Point - February 25

Cheeky Reads - March 1
LoveRomancePassion - March 3
MuseTracks - March 7
Qwillery - March 16

Contest Details:

First prize (two winners):

Bonded by Blood (A Sweetblood Novel) by Laurie London

Contest deadline:

February 1st at 11:59 pm (PST)

How to Enter:

Fill out the form below. *required*

This giveaway is open to our US & international followers ages 18 & up (so long as The Book Depository ships to your location - click here for their current country list).

Extra Entries:

Stop by Laurie's blog, facebook page, or twitter to earn extra entries! :-)

+1 Follow Laurie's blog

+1 "Like" Laurie's facebook page

+1 Follow Laurie on twitter
+2 Help spread the word about this giveaway on your blog/facebook/twitter

Teaser Tuesday: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

2011-01-18T08:48:00.000-08:00

My teaser:

"Whatever it was in the woods, it followed her. Out of the corner of one eye, she thought she saw the edge of a dark something. Then there was another at her left. Figures, tall and long, rushed through the black gate of trees on either side of her, their movements too fast."

- page 117 of Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Teaser Tuesdays are 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 a few 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page.
Be careful not to include major spoilers.
Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Happy Winter! :)

2011-01-18T08:46:00.000-08:00

Hope you are all having a lovely January! :-) We fell out of our blogging routine while dealing with computer woes and enjoying the holidays with family and friends, but it is fun to jump back into the thick of things and we look forward to hearing what all of you have been up to lately. What books have you fallen in love with so far this winter? Some of our family's favorite winter-break reads were Ellen Potter's The Kneebone Boy, Richelle Mead's Last Sacrifice, and the first two books in Cressida Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon series. What books are you most eagerly anticipating in 2011?

Winners!!

2010-11-29T03:55:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered our Gratitude Giveaways! Emails have been sent to both winners, and they each have three days to respond before new winners will be drawn. :)

Jaidis won the signed copy of Kiss Me Deadly

Nadinax won the signed copy of Soulless

Flower Friday - Sunstruck

2010-11-26T23:50:00.000-08:00

'Sunstruck' roses

This week's featured flowers are ''Sunstruck" roses! These pretty hybrid tea roses have apricot-colored petals with golden yellow and salmon pink highlights. The yellow markings on the undersides of the petals set this rose apart from many other apricot blends. 'Sunstruck' has large, slightly-fragrant flowers and blooms in flushes from early summer to early fall. The foliage is dark green and somewhat glossy. To learn more about about 'Sunstruck' roses, check out the 'Sunstruck' page at Dave's Garden, the 'Sunstruck' page at Sun Valley Garden Center, or the 'Sunstruck' page at HelpMeFind.

A quick blog note:

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and are having a relaxing holiday weekend. We had our first snow of the season this week and enjoyed a deliciously fun holiday feast yesterday. Yay! Plus, we now have one extra thing to be thankful for: our laptop is finally back from the service center! *insert happy dance here*

Happy reading! :-)

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Nightspell by Leah Cypess

2010-11-24T10:24:00.000-08:00

Title: Nightspell

Author: Leah Cypess

Publication date: May 31, 2011

Leah Cypess':  website | twitter | facebook
Pre-order Nightspell:  IndieBound | Amazon | Powell's | Borders | B & N
Add Nightspell to your:  Goodreads | Shelfari | Visual Bookshelf | LibraryThing
Summary (from HarperTeen):
Here be ghosts, the maps said, and that was all.

In this haunted kingdom, ghosts linger—not just in the deepest forests or the darkest caverns, but alongside the living, as part of a twisted palace court that revels all night and sleeps through the daylight hours.

Darri's sister was trapped in this place of fear and shadows as a child. And now Darri has a chance to save her sister . . . if she agrees to a betrothal with the prince of the dead. But nothing is simple in this eerie kingdom—not her sister, who has changed beyond recognition; not her plan, which will be thrown off track almost at once; and not the undead prince, who seems more alive than anyone else.

In a court seething with the desire for vengeance, Darri holds the key to the balance between life and death. Can her warrior heart withstand the most wrenching choice of all?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Flower Friday - Gold Medal

2010-11-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

'Gold Medal' roses

This week's featured flowers are ''Gold Medal" roses! These hardy Grandiflora roses have warm yellow petals with light pink edges. In our fairly mild climate, this disease-resistant rose blooms in clusters throughout the summer and into early fall. The flowers have a light, spicy scent and the foliage is a lovely dark green. To learn more about about 'Gold Medal' roses, check out the 'Gold Medal' page at Dave's Garden, the 'Gold Medal' page at Rose-Roses, or the 'Gold Medal' page at HelpMeFind.

A few book & blogoshpere notes:

1. Hush, Hush and Crescendo author Becca Fitzpatrick will be chatting with the Mundie Moms on November 30th at 8 pm CST. Stop by their blog to join the chat.

2. Want to read Bree Despain's The Dark Divine before The Lost Saint arrives in stores on December 28th? For a limited time, you can purchase The Dark Divine eBook for under $2.50 on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

3. If you enjoyed Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix and are looking forward to reading Fury of the Phoenix when it arrives in stores next April, then you will want to enter the Fury of the Phoenix ARC contest on Cindy's blog (ends 12/1).

Gratitude Giveaways! Two Books! Two Winners!

2010-11-17T03:08:00.000-08:00

CLOSED!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Nadinax won the signed copy of Soulless

Jaidis won the signed copy of Kiss Me Deadly

Thank you for stopping by to check out our Gratitude Giveaways! We are giving away two signed books - Kiss Me Deadly and Soulless! You can enter to win both giveaways by filling out the form below. [Open to US followers only. Contest deadline = November 28th at 11:59 pm PST. Extra entries for following us on twitter (+1) and helping spread the word about our giveaways (+2).]

Enter to win Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love signed by Becca Fitzpatrick! Kiss Me Deadly is an anthology featuring stories by thirteen fantastic YA authors (including Becca Fitzpatrick, Maggie Stiefvater, Carrie Ryan, Sarah Rees Brennan, Diana Peterfreund, Michelle Zink, and Rachel Vincent). Becca Fitzpatrick signed this book for us at Wordstock & you can read our full event report here.

Enter to win a signed copy of Soulless by Gail Carriger! Soulless is the first book in the awesome Parasol Protectorate series. We had the pleasure of meeting Gail Carriger at a fun sci-fi/fantasy event last weekend & she is absolutely delightful! If you like steampunk, historical fantasy, or paranormal mysteries, then you will definitely want to check out her Alexia Tarabotti novels!

There are over 175 blogs participating in the Gratitude Giveaways blog hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer! Be sure to check out the links below!

Teaser Tuesday: The Native Star by M.K. Hobson

2010-11-16T18:43:00.000-08:00

My teaser:

Emily set her jaw. "I told you before, I'm not luggage you can put on a shelf whenever you feel like it. I've been pawed at by zombies and chased by an Aberrant raccoon. I can take anything that San Francisco has to dish out."

- page 105 of The Native Star by M.K. Hobson

Buy The Native Star: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add The Native Star to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Book Summary (from Goodreads):
In the tradition of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, this brilliant first novel fuses history, fantasy, and romance. Prepare to be enchanted by M. K. Hobson’s captivating take on the Wild, Wild West.

The year is 1876. In the small Sierra Nevada settlement of Lost Pine, the town witch, Emily Edwards, is being run out of business by an influx of mail-order patent magics. Attempting to solve her problem with a love spell, Emily only makes things worse. But before she can undo the damage, an enchanted artifact falls into her possession—and suddenly Emily must flee for her life, pursued by evil warlocks who want the object for themselves.

Dreadnought Stanton, a warlock from New York City whose personality is as pompous and abrasive as his name, has been exiled to Lost Pine for mysterious reasons. Now he finds himself involuntarily allied with Emily in a race against time—and across the United States by horse, train, and biomechanical flying machine—in quest of the great Professor Mirabilis, who alone can unlock the secret of the coveted artifact. But along the way, Emily and Stanton will be forced to contend with the most powerful and unpredictable magic of all—the magic of the human heart.

Teaser Tuesdays are 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 a few 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page.
Be careful not to include major spoilers.
Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Flower Friday - Cosmos

2010-11-12T23:50:00.000-08:00

Cosmos

This week's featured flowers are - Cosmos! These tall flowers are extremely easy to grow from seed and come in a wide variety of colors. Their foliage is airy and fern-like, so they make a very pretty backdrop for shorter flowers. Cosmos are drought-tolerant, love full sun, bloom from mid-summer until first frost, and re-seed quite freely. They thrive in poor soil conditions, and require almost no care. Most Cosmos flowers have a light floral scent (with the exception of the 'Chocolate' variety which is famous for its a chocolatey vanilla fragrance), and they make beautiful cut flowers in wildflower arrangements. To learn more about about Cosmos, check out the Cosmos page at Dave's Garden, the Cosmos page at Wikipedia, or the Cosmos page at WildflowerInformation.org.

A brief blog update:

Sadly, I killed our laptop about two weeks ago, so the whole family is currently sharing our ancient (and painfully slow) PC. The good news is that accidental damage is covered by our service plan (which is very fortunate since I managed to crack the screen and bend the power-supply pin). But the bad news is that because I managed to destroy multiple parts of the laptop, it has to be processed through two separate service centers before making its way back to us. *insert major laptop withdrawls here* I really miss being able to keep up with all the bookish, blogish fun, so I am counting down the minutes until we get our laptop back. But in the meantime, I will continue checking in and posting from our dinosaur-like PC as much as possible.

In happier news, we had the opportunity to meet Suzanne Collins last Sunday (so exciting!), and this weekend we plan to attend another awesome book event featuring several authors (including Gail Carriger and Ilona Andrews), so we'll have a couple of fun event reports to share as well as several reviews to catch up on in the coming weeks. Plus, we can't wait to give away some fabulous signed books during our Gratitude Giveaway, so be sure to check that out on Wednesday (11/17).

Happy Reading! :-)

"Waiting On" Wednesday - The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

2010-11-10T04:18:00.000-08:00

Title: The Vespertine

Author: Saundra Mitchell

Publication date: March 7, 2011

The summer of 1889 is the one between childhood and womanhood for Amelia van den Broek—and thankfully, she’s not spending it at home in rural Maine. She’s been sent to Baltimore to stay with her stylish cousin, Zora, who will show her all the pleasures of city life and help her find a suitable man to marry.

With diversions ranging from archery in the park to dazzling balls and hints of forbidden romance, Victorian Baltimore is more exciting than Amelia imagined. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. Newly dubbed "Maine’s Own Mystic", Amelia is suddenly quite in demand.

However, her attraction to Nathaniel, an artist who is decidedly outside of Zora's circle, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. And while she has no trouble seeing the futures of others, she cannot predict whether Nathaniel will remain in hers.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia's world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Flower Friday - Fourth of July

2010-11-05T23:45:00.000-07:00

'Fourth of July' roses

This week's featured flowers are ''Fourth of July" roses! These climbing roses have petals streaked in shades of red, white, and pink. This disease-resistant rose is a vigorous climber that blooms in flushes throughout the summer and into the early fall. The flowers have a very pleasant apple scent. To learn more about about 'Fourth of July' roses, which are called 'Crazy For You' roses or Hanabi roses outside of the US, check out the 'Fourth of July' page at Dave's Garden, the 'Fourth of July' page at RogersRoses, or the 'Fourth of July' page at HelpMeFind.

A few book & blogosphere notes:

1. Candace's Book Blog is hosting a fabulous "Steampunkery" event this month, featuring all sorts of fun steampunk-themed giveaways, interviews, book reviews, and guest blog posts! Be sure to check it out here!

2. Want to chat with Maggie Stiefvater, the talented author of Shiver, Linger, Ballad, Lament, and the upcoming Forever? She'll be chatting with the Mundie Moms at 8 pm CST Thursday, November 11th. Stop by their blog to join the chat.

3. Looking for free ebooks for children? Check out the International Children's Digital Library. With thousands of fun books in a wide variety of languages, it is a wonderful place to find digital editions of old favorites (like Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) and a great place to browse through lots of excellent international selections. Check it out here!

Book Review: Pegasus by Robin McKinley

2010-11-02T23:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Pegasus

Author: Robin McKinley
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Genre: YA/fantasy
Hardcover: 400 pages

ISBN: 1423116399

Release date: Nov 2, 2010

FTC note: My ARC of Pegasus was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

Summary from Goodreads:

A gorgeously-written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her pegasus

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But it’s different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close—so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo—and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

Overall rating: 9/10

Buy this book: IndieBound | The Book Depository | Powell's | Amazon

Add this book to your: Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing | Visual Bookshelf

Robin McKinley's Pegasus is beautiful coming-of-age story about a young girl and the pegasus who becomes her dearest friend. In Sylvi's world, it is customary for every member of the royal family to be ceremonially bound to a pegasus of comparable rank upon his or her twelfth birthday. The pegasus generally serves as an ambassador-like companion, and the pair will attend most formal functions together for the rest of their lives as a symbol of the longstanding alliance between their cultures. Each pair is assigned a Speaker, a specially trained magician, who serves as a translator and interpreter. But even with the Speakers' aid, actual communication beyond formal pleasantries and rudimentary smalltalk has long been understood to be impossible between humans and pegasi.

So when Sylvi, the fourth child of the reigning human king, meets her pegasus, they are both shocked to find that they are able to hear one another's thoughts. Sylvi and Ebon's unique ability to communicate helps them form a friendship that could change the way humans and pegasi view one another forever. But will their friendship make the alliance stronger or tear their cultures apart? Pegasus is the type of richly-imagined fantasy novel that you can't help immersing yourself in, and I found myself thinking about it long after turning the final page. The characters are well-developed, the setting is intriguing, and the story is thoroughly engaging. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read the second book!

What I Liked:

- The world-building. I loved the way the differences between the human and pegasi cultures were revealed and explored. Although the two races have lived side by side for hundreds of years, the seemingly insurmountable communication barrier has kept humans from truly understanding the pegasi. I really liked seeing the details of both cultures revealed through Sylvi and Ebon's increasing understanding of one another.
- There may be magic and flying monsters in this book, but the characters all feel grounded and genuine. At the heart of this story is a sixteen year old caught in a difficult and pivotal place between two worlds. She is shy, self-conscious about her short stature, and frequently seems to find herself making mistakes in front of large crowds. But Sylvi is also compassionate and observant, and she has a strong sense of justice. She is very easy to sympathize with, whether she is nervous about her first big journey away from home or baffled by how much the world can change in a single moment. I am eager to see what the second book has in store for her.
- I loved Ebon and Sylvi's relationship. Their personalities are remarkably suited to one another. Both are curious and observant, and neither is afraid to question ideas their societies have accepted for centuries. The more they learn about one another, the more they begin to examine their own cultural histories. Sylvi is fascinated by the pegasi culture and some aspects of the book almost reminded me of a colonial love story between a European immigrant and a Native American.
- Even the minor characters in this book are memorable, and their relationships are all believably complex. I found myself growing attached to several minor characters, like Hirishy, Ahathin, and Hibeehea, and I hope to see more of each of them in the second book.

What I Wished:

- I wish the final pages of this book were less torturous. This book ends in the midst of a fairly traumatic development and almost feels as though it cuts off mid-chapter. The abrupt and unsatisfying ending is really my only complaint about this book, so I definitely look forward to reading the second half of the story in the sequel (which I believe is set for publication in 2012).

Pegasus is sure to please fans of Robin McKinley's previous novels. This book made me want to re-read a few of my old favorites, like Beauty and Spindle's End. If you enjoy young adult (or middle grade) fantasy novels like Shannon Hale's or Tamora Pierce's books, you will want to pick up Robin McKinley's Pegasus. If you would like to learn more about Pegasus or Robin McKinley's other books, please visit her website, blog, facebook, or twitter.

Read the first three chapters of Pegasus here!

A second perspective: Primrose really liked this book too. Her thoughts: "Pegasus was AWESOME! I especially loved how Sylvi could fly with Ebon. It would be so much fun to have a pegasus friend like Ebon. I liked how Sylvi and Ebon could talk to each other silently, and I liked the way the author described each pegasus. She made it easy to imagine them as creatures who look a lot like horses but move more like beautiful birds. I had fun drawing my own versions of that type of pegasus, with flowers in their manes and fancy pouches around their necks just like Ebon."

Flower Friday - Kateryna

2010-10-29T23:45:00.000-07:00

'Kateryna' roses

This week's featured flowers are ''Kateryna" roses! These lovely shrub roses have light pink petals and bloom in clusters. This shrub has dark green foliage and is about three feet tall and two feet wide. The flowers have a mild scent and are still blooming in October at our favorite local park. To learn more about about 'Kateryna' roses, check out the 'Kateryna' page at Dave's Garden, the 'Kateryna' page at RogersRoses, or the 'Kateryna' page at HelpMeFind.

A few book & blogosphere notes:

1. There are still a couple more days to check out the Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Eighty-eight blogs are participating, so there are tons of fun prizes up for grabs! (ends 10/31)

2. Page Turners is hosting two Meet Us at the Crossroads chats this Sunday and Monday (10/31 and 11/1 at 8pm CDT). On Sunday, they will be chatting with Karen Kincy, Linda Joy Singleton, Stacey Kade, Amy Brecount White, Joy Preble, Jordan Deen, and Judith Graves. On Monday, they will be chatting with Angie Frazier, Jeri Smith-Ready, Kitty Keswick, Shannon Delany, Jackie Kessler, Lucienne Diver, and Tonya Hurley. You can submit your questions and find out how to join both chats here.

3. Interested in participating in another fun YA author chat?
On November 15th at 6 pm PST, you can chat with the authors of Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, at Eve's Fan Garden.