The Small Town Book Blog

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

2011-08-24T22:32:00.002+10:00

Bloodlines, Richelle Mead

Release date: 23rd August 2011

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Pages: 421

Series: Bloodlines (6 books)

1. Bloodlines

2. The Golden Lily (2012)

Author's website

BLOOD DOESN'T LIE . . .

Sydney's blood in special. That's because she's an alchemist – one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets – and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir – the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir – is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathising with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions and forbidden romance lurk both outside – and within – the school grounds. Now that they're in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

Can I start this review off by freaking out in a very unprofessional manner? Yes? Okay: OMG I AM SO EXCITED AND HAPPY AND FREAKED OUT. AHHH. BLOODLINES.

Done. Anyways, to the review:
In this book, a lot of mysteries are solved (albeit towards the end) and a lot of new ones start. First off: What's up with Keith's eye? Why is Jill acting all weird with Adrian? And can Eddie get any cooler? I've never paid any attention to Eddie, but this book made me realise how much I secretly love how awesome and cool and brave he is. Also, Adrian is a pretty cool guy.

I was looking forward to Rose and Dimitri's cameo! We got Rose but you'll have to wait for Dimitri. Here's a hint: Do not read the last line! I accidentally did and oh my God, it left me wondering for most of the book!

So there is always the notorious bad guy in books, and Keith is the one; Jill is the sweet, innocent one that the protagonist grows to love; Adrian is the potential love interest; Eddie is the loyal and faithful protector and friend; and everyone else is for story progressions. The story centred mostly around Jill, Adrian, Eddie and Sydney. I got to know Sydney in this book and whilst she is sometimes annoying, she is definitely a great character.

What I find an important factor in books is how emotionally invested in them I get: feeling emotional at certain events that happen throughout a book that I am reading makes me enjoy it that much more, and Bloodlines made me choke up a little at times, made me angry and made me smile. What also made me love it more is Eddie. He does something so selfless in Bloodlines and it made me all teary. I think out of all the characters in this book, Eddie is the one who made me look back and smile.

Okay, so this book has a loooot of things going on that mix into one big mess. Sydney is walking a thin line with the Alchemists and Keith is being a nasty bastard; Jill is getting bullied at school; Adrian is bored and moneyless; the students at school are raving about these special tattoos. This is all a big mystery and Sydney accidentally gets mixed up in it.

I thought this would be a romance but it wasn't! There was no room for romance to fit in anywhere, and that was completely fine. I'm sure that there will be some in the sequel, but there were no obvious hints at who the potential star couple would be. We obviously guess it's Adrian and Sydney, and I can see that happening... kind of... but Richelle does have five books to go!

My verdict: I cannot go on about how great this book is. I loved it and am so sad that I finished it so quickly! This is a must-read and will keep you up till the wee hours of the morning. Also, the end? It made me squeal and now I need to read the sequel so badly.

I needed to put my favourite parts in. These are two seperate instances, by the way.

"They're waiting for you. Go on in." Adrian leaned close to Keith's ear and spoke in an ominous voice. "If. You. Dare." He poked Keith's shoulder and gave a "Muahahaha" kind of monster laugh.

---

Keith was just bringing the glass to his lips when Adrian said, "Mmm. O positive, my favourite."
Keith sprayed out the wine he'd drunk and promptly started coughing. I was relieved that none got on me. Jill burst into giggles, and Clarence stared at his glass wonderingly.
"Is it? I thought it was a cabernet sauvignon."

Bloodlines release day

2011-08-23T00:53:00.001+10:00

Okay, basically not a very useful post, but I just want to remind you that Bloodlines by Richelle Mead is coming out today! When Richelle first announced it back at the beginning of the year, I was like, "That's ages away!" But now it's only one school day away and then I have it and oh my gosh I am so excited!

So yeah, I am hoping to buy it cheaper from Big W or Kmart or whatever, but if I can't find it there... well, a bookstore it is. I really hate bookstores. They're so freaking expensive, you know?

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

2011-08-22T03:00:00.025+10:00

Paranormalcy, Kiersten White

Release date: 1st October 2010

Publisher:Harper Collins

Genre:Romance, YA, Paranormal

Pages: 335

Series: Paranormalcy

1. Paranormlacy

2. Supernaturally

3. Endlessly (2012)

VAMPIRES
WEREWOLVES
FAERIES
SHAPESHIFTERS

Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shapeshifter and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She begins to suspect there is a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths, and even worse, that she is at the center of a dark prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

This book has a good memory connected to it, basck when I first read it. It was the end of school and Year Ten was doing a few workshops, and I went to a mosaic one. It was a great day and I was reading the book on the bus and during the breaks at the workshop, and these memories have made me enjoy it a lot more for some reason. Sentimental value and all, I guess. :)

Evie's story caught me in right away and I was stuck. I read this book until 3 in the morning when I was too exhausted to continue. It captivated me and I ltierally couldn't put it down. There have been few books to ever do that.

We're introduced to Evie's ex-boyfriend Ren in a peculiar way, and I was a bit confused when she didn't tell us the reason of their break-up, because at that time, Ren seemed great. I knew their story would come later on, but still, I was quite curious.

As Evie tells us her whole history in a few pages, I breathed a sigh of relief. I hate those books where the heroine has a really bad past and it takes us half the book just to find out half of her bad past. Ther mystery makes you want to continue reading it, but not in a good way.

As we're introduced to Evie's cool sounding life, we find out more about her and the agency she works at, bagging paranormals and putting them to work at the agency. Evie has a thing against faeries and is firm on her opinion about the agency being too stupid to think that they can control them because they know their full names. In this universe, if you know a faerie's full name, they are basicaly under your power if you give them a command. But they're crafty little creatures, able to twist your words around and have it go BANG in your face.

Evie tasers Lend, who no one has any idea what kind of paranormal he is (he can shift shape), and is intrigued by him, and as he is held at the agency, she gets to know him as she hangs out with him. A while later, she develops a crush on him, and their romance is so innocent and fresh, it makes me smile. I read adult books, so a YA romance read is a breath of fresh air. Getting away from the more 'serious' romances (read: no one believes in teenage love) and sex scenes every now and then is refreshing.

As Lend and Evie are sucked into the prophecy and as Evie learns about what kind of paranormal she is, their romance grows as well as keeping us on our toes with the real truth about Evie's agency. Turns out that things are a little different than Evie thought.

I thought of Evie as a bit too immature of someone who does such serious work and has seen more than other teenagers. It may be her way of relaxing and stuff, but her personality didn't really make me like her anymore than I already did. Seriously, she's a very relatable character, but I find most authors either make their teenage leads too serious or immature.

Review: Fairy Bad Day by Amanda Ashby

2011-08-21T03:00:00.002+10:00

Fairy Bad Day, Amanda Ashby

Release date: 27th June 2011

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Genre:Romance, Paranormal, Comedy, YA, Aussie

Pages: 356

MY LIFE SERIOUSLY COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE.
First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right from under my nose by Curtis Green. Sure, he's really cute, but that doesn't give him an excuse.
ON TOP OF THAT, I AM ASSIGNED TO SLAY FAIRIES. I KNOW what you're thinking - how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won't STOP!
BUT THE THING THAT TOPS MY LIST OF STUFF TO RUIN MY day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it.
There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately ... it's Curtis.
IT'S GOING TO BE A FAIRY BAD DAY.

I read Ms Ashby's book You Had Me at Halo and totally loved it, and when I saw this, I knew I had to buy it because she's Aussie and it sounded like a good book. It was a funny, light read that I enjoyed immensely.

I love it when I'm emotionally invested in books, and this was one of those books. I understood what Emma was going through completely. I just felt so mad when I realised why Curtis had been designated as a dragon slayer. I felt the unfairness of her situation and I know I would not be able to control my temper like Emma had!

So Emma has to slay fairies. I laughed when I read what she had to use: a miniature crossbow! Oh, and have I mentioned the nail files? I laughed a lot whilst reading this book.

So the one thing that annoyed me was Loni, Emma's best friend. I usually love the heroines' best friends, but on this occasion I was seriously annoyed at Loni. She's into astrology and quoted it frequently, as well as being convinced that Emma was in love with Curtis only after one conversation with him. Emma really needed to slap Loni or something to shut her up. I could not deal with such a friend since I get annoyed easily.

Amanda does a great job with this book and I'm super proud that she's an Aussie. I love reading Aussie books and knowing that the authors can sometimes do an even better job at writing books as the ones from overseas. It does take a lot of talent to getnoticed here in Australia since it's such a small place.

My verdict: Funny and light-hearted, this is an excellent book that will put you in a good mood and will make you forget your worries. Definitely a re-read that you will love!

Review: Goddess of Troy by P.C. Cast

2011-08-20T12:22:00.000+10:00

Goddess of Troy, P.C. Cast

Release date: 26th July 2011

Publisher: Piatkus Books

Genre:Romance, Adult, Historical, Paranormal

Pages: 356

Series: Goddess Summoning

1. Goddess of the Seas

2. Goddess of Spring

3. Goddess of Light

4. Goddess of the Rose

5. Goddess of Love

6. Goddess of Troy (published as Warrior Rising in the US)

7. Goddess of Legend

Goddesses Hera, Athena and Venus have had it up to here with the Trojan War. So much devastation -- all because of male egos. The worst of the bunch is Achilles, the Greek champion whose powers have made him practically invincible. To stop him would be to end the war. But the only way to stop a man like Achilles is to distract him - with something far more pleasurable than combat...

The three goddesses seize their chance when a twenty-first-century beauty named Kat and her best friend perish in a car crash in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In no time, they shift the friends' souls into the bodies of a Trojan princess and her handmaiden, having no doubt that Kat will catch Achilles's attention. But can her independent, fiery spirit match the unquenchable fire of his epic rage?

There is a problem with P.C. Cast's novels: the heroines are close to perfect. They are all smart, witty, funny, courageous and have the perfect careers and friends. There are seriously no flaws. I find this annoying because no woman is perfect and I find it hard to like her heroines because of how flawless they are. This is one factor that affects my judgment of these books.

So Kat and her 'caramel-skinned' friend Jacky are in a car accident and die, and the goddesses bring them back to when the Trojan War is on. Since their bodies were destroyed in the car accident, Venus and the crew put them in the bodies of two women who had died at the same time. Jacky is in the body of a white woman. I found that really freaky. I mean, if I woke up in a black woman's body I would freak out a lot more than Jacky did.

With romance books, it seems like only a week has passed and then the heroine is in love with the lead male. I don't like that. I find that unrealistic. Oh, and hypnotising the lead and having sex with him whilst he's in the trance and thinks he's dreaming? Ms Cast, that is unethical and creepy.

What I liked was the goddesses. They're funny and smart and I really respect that. I also liked how the people in Troy believed in them and stuff like that. It's fascinating how prevalent religion was back then and how many people believed in the supernatural. (Of course it helped that the goddesses revealed themselves and there WERE supernatural things going on.)

My verdict: I found myself a bit bored halfway through and was kind of creeped out at a few of the things Kat did, but it was an interesting read overall. Plus, the cover is so pretty!

Meeting Maria V. Snyder (plus interview!)

2011-08-19T20:22:00.003+10:00

So on Wednesday I went to the city to meet Maria V. Snyder. I was super excited because I had gotten the chance to interview her and now had my books signed. I also ended up meeting some awesome people who are as obsessed about books as I am. None of my friends read and I have no one to talk/obsess over books with; no one to perv on the hot male leads with. You get the idea. So it's really good to get out there and meet others who like the same books and stuff you do. :)

If I could put my day into short sentences sentences it'd go a bit like this:

Who gets up at this hour? (I was sick and had previously woken up at ten the last four mornings. Waking up at 7? Yeah...)
Hair!!
Pant-pant-pant, damn hill!
Whoops, I'm lost.
Oh wait, never mind.
OMG IT'S MARIA!1!
Lost. Crap. You got me lost, mother!
Calling Dad isn't helping either.
Oh, look, a Novotel! Let's ask for directions.
OMG I'M HERE.
Om nom nom sandwich!
Interviewing Maria...
I got to see some old friends. :)
Shopping at Broadway Kmart. (I'm classy.)
The Scottish guys behind me said 'sexty' dollars. Giggle.
Back to the library.
Oh hi thar... you like Dimitri? BFFLS.
Photo with Maria.
My legs huuuurt and I'm so tiiiiired.

That was my day. Let me expand if you're confused! :)

I got up early and made sure I had everything ready before going and reading a book until it was time to leave. I live on a hill. At the bottom of it, specifically, so you have to climb a hill to get anywhere. I had to walk fast because my mother had called just as I was leaving and refused to hang up until she had made sure I had money, phone, etc.

After my train gets to Town Hall, I realise... I got out at the wrong exit! Stupid me decided to go around the block in hopes of finding some place familiar-- turns out that I should have just walked down the street. Whoops. So I finally found the bookstore (they had moved to the second storey of another bookstore a few places down from them) and then got my books signed by Maria.

After the signing, I went to Ultimo Library. Thank God I had an hour before the interview or I would've been screwed. My mother 'helpfully' told me the directions (I had a map but it wasn't a very good one) and sent me in the opposite direction. A call to my dad only made me cry because he kept telling me about a street that was supposed to be right in front of me but I couldn't see it. (Turns out that there wasn't a sign with the name of the street.) I finally just went into a hotel and asked the lady at the front desk for a map and directions. She was very helpful and I finally figured out where the heck I was.

You know the ARRC thing I went to in March? WELL, I met three girls that I had talked with there! Two were from Harlequin and another worked at the Ultimo Library. It was such a big coincidence! :) Anyways, the interview went great and I then headed to Broadway to walk around a bit and make the next few hours pass. I ended up in Dymocks and rolled my eyes when I saw the minimum price for a paperback was like $20. I then went to Kmart-- whose books were much more neatly stacked than my local Kmart!-- and got four books for $30. I got Graffiti Moon ($1-- yes, I know!!)), Heist Society (the old cover; $2), Fairy Bad Day ($12) and Goddess of Troy ($15). Behind me were two cute Scottish/Irish guys (I can't tell the difference between Scots and Irish accents very well, but I'm leaning towards Scottish) were talking about money and one of them said "Sexty dollars" in a sexy accent.

I then went to the library so I could just sit down and read my books before Maria's talk, but ended up spending the hour talking with a girl about books. Cos I'm cool. Then Maria talked (I've already forgotten about what, I was so tired!) and then I got a photo with her.

Review: Last Letters to Loved Ones by Rose Rouse

2011-08-15T00:22:00.001+10:00

Last Letters to Loved Ones, Rose Rouse

Release date: 5th May 2008

Publisher: Metro Books

Genre: Tearjerker

Pages: 240

To lose someone close to you is a terrible tragedy and those who are left behind often wish they could have known more about the thoughts and feelings of the person they lost prior to their death. For those involved in conflicts, who have a terminal illness, or who are contemplating suicide, a letter to their loved one who remains is a way of communicating their emotion and leaves behind a potent, tangible reminder; it is a gift to ease emotional suffering.
Twenty-two-year-old gunner Lee Thornton was shot on patrol in Basra in 2006. Before he died, he wrote a touching letter to his fiancée, Helen, saying "You have shown me what love is and what it feels like to be loved".
Captain E. F. Lubbock was a pilot in World War I. He wrote his last letter to his mother in November 1915, with strict instructions for it to be sent only in the event of his death. Sadly, it had to be posted. He begs his mother to "try not to let it be too great a blow to you, try and conquer your own sorrow and to live cheerfully".
This deeply moving yet uplifting book is an amazing insight into the complexity of human emotions.

I knew this book would be a tearjerker, yet I still bought it.Tears started flowing after only a few pages. I reckon if you play sad music, you'd be crying after the first page.

This book is full of letters from people to their families and friends before they died, spanning from the early 100s to 2007. There are letters from those who were in Iraq and Afghanistan, WWs I and II, the terminally ill, those who were in prison and some who didn't know they were going to die. I thought that the letters from Iraq and Afghanistan were the saddest and made me cry heaps.

I know-- why would I buy a book that'd just make me cry? Sometimes, you need a good cry. :)

What I didn't like was how before each letter, after a brief summary of who the writer was and what they did, there was a little paragraph that analysed what they'd said and described human emotions, the complexity of them and stuff like that. Please. I do enough analysing in English. I'd rather not read an analysis of a last letter-- which could be totally wrong. The author couldn't exactly ask, huh?

My verdict: It will make you cry, but in a good way. Try going to this blog and not crying at some of the vids, yeah?

Whoops...

2011-08-14T21:55:00.000+10:00

Sorry for being absent for a week and a bit! See, there was this unfortunate, err, occurence with my laptop and a cup of tea, which resulted in me being banned from all the computers in the house.

So anyways, I am back and I've realised I need to review some of the books I've read over the past week. That'll get done tomorrow, since I am sick and thus at home for a few days. Oh, and then there's the Maria V. Snyder event on Wednesday. (I AM SO EXCITED.)

Oh, and if anyone wants to see some good movies, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the Batman Beyond, Justice League & Justice League Unlimited are all really good. Anything to do with Batman, the Justice League and Green Lantern rocks. (I really love superheroes.) Oh, and the Wonder Woman movie from 2009. I recommend the movies and TV shows.

Exciting Maria V. Snyder news! :)

2011-08-05T11:58:00.006+10:00

So there was this competition held by Harlequin and SpineOut (an e-magazine for Aussie YA readers) for the chance to interview Maria V. Snyder and have it published in the mag, as well as an iPad 2. I guess you're all wondering why I'm telling you this, right? (Not really. I bet you all know why.)

...I WON. So I'm hoping I'm able to bring my camera and film the interview for you guys! It all depends on whether Maria is okay with it, so I hope she is!

The interview will be on 17th August and I plan to attend the signing and event at Ultimo Libnrary that day, so if you see me, say hi! I'll be the short one with (possibly) two braids and wearing a black-and-white striped top.

My questions for the interview:

The tour:

How are you liking Australia? I know you've tried our Tim Tams.
What are the sort of reactions you were expecting when you decided to tour Australia?
Have you had any interesting or weird fan experiences?

The books

Is Valek secretly a ninja?
Where did you get the idea for Valek? Is he bits of people you know or someone you'd like to know?
When you have characters in your books die, do you feel sad, or is it like a sort of inevitable knowledge and you've accepted it?
Was the ending arc of the Insider series set since the first book, or was something that evolved as the story progressed? Basically, did you plan the ending or did it just appear inside your head?
If you had the chance to write another book for the Insider series, would you do it to please your readers or decide not to? The same goes for the Study and Glass series.
Is world-building for the Study and Glass series hard? Did you research anything about magic before hand?
Since the Study and Glass world is so large, is it hard to keep track of characters and information?
Has your editor caught any big mistakes in the manuscript?
You teach a Writing Popular Fiction course at Seton Hill University. What's the #1 piece of advice you give to your students?
The Study series had such a great, unique concept – about food tasters and poison aficionados. What first sparked your interest in this odd profession, and what sort of research did you do into the art of poison? No taste-testing, I hope!
The Insider series is a sci-fi dystopia, which I know has gotten very popular in this year and the last. What inspired you t o write it?
You have a new series starting called Healer, with the first book scheduled for January 2012 called A Touch of Power. Can you tell us a bit about this new YA series?
All of your series have been for the Young Adult readership so far. What’s the appeal of writing for the teen set, and would you ever consider writing an adult novel?

Thank you guys for all the questions! Especially thanks to Danielle who came up with some in-depth and interesting ones! I still haven't gotten an answer about filming the interview -- though I am told I will need to record the answers somehow, duh -- but I hope that maria will be okay to film it! :) Only ten days to go now!

Review: Dark Heart Forever by Lee Monroe

2011-08-04T00:39:00.002+10:00

Dark Heart Forever, Lee Monroe

Release date: 7th October 2010

Publisher: Hodder Children's

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance

Pages: 304

Series: Dark Heart Forever

1. Dark Heart Forever

2. Dark Heart Rising

Jane Jonas is nearing her 16th birthday and troubled by unsettling recurring dreams where the same mysterious boy her age comes to her, telling Jane that they are each other's destiny. Her mother is increasingly anxious about Jane's disruptive sleepwalking episodes, but for Jane her dream world and reality are about to collide ...

When she develops a friendship with an enigmatic stranger in town, the blonde, uber-cool Evan, it's exciting, it's new, and Jane wants him more than she's ever wanted anybody - until her mystery dream boy gets in the way.

Now Jane is caught between two worlds: one familiar, but tinged with romance and excitement; the other dark and dangerous, where angels, werewolves, and an irresistible stranger are trying to seduce her...

You know how you sometimes read a book and wonder why this person got published? This is one of those books. It's kind of like Twilight: a completely uninteresting, unremarkable girl with a 'bad' past (some bullying, boo hoo) suddenly has these two attractive, amazing guys after her. That's it. And the ending was like the end of BD: an absolute let down.

First of all, there was no... what do you call it? Like, no leading up to the story like the blurb hints at. By 'nearing her sixteenth birthday' Ms Monroe really meant 'having it right now. Like, in the first sentence'. The dreams she's having? I think she had probably two in the whole book, and there was no explanation about how long she'd been having them for or anything. She also hints at how she was majorly bullied a few years before and that's why she's home schooled... this really just didn't add anything to the plot.

Jane? Instead of feeling like this book was narrated by a sixteen year old girl, it felt like she was twelve. So when she was kissing one of the boys (whilst being in total denial about the other), I felt grossed out and said, "But she's like twelve! She shouldn't be kissing anyone!" Oh, and Jane has horrible fashion sense and refuses to wear a bra. Is it that hard to own a few pairs of nice jeans and pretty tops? And a bra? D:

The magical world we're told about is rarely shown. Only for a few chapters, really. The mythology/whatever isn't properly explained, and I just felt like Ms Monroe had been lazy and didn't bother to do any proper world-building.

I want to tell you guys what I liked about this book. I do. But... I seriously did not like it at all. There was nothing good here. Not the characters, the plot, the worlds.... This is one of those books that don't get better towards the end. In fact, the end sucked. 'One deadly choice' is misleading. More like, 'The bad guy turns good in the end and walks away'. You'd think someone would die, right?

My verdict: Just no. This book will not get better towards the end. Don't pick it up unless you just want the nice cover to look good on your bookshelf.

Review: One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

2011-07-30T19:09:00.001+10:00

One Hundred Candles, Mara Purnhagen

Release date: March 2011 (AU)

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance

Pages: 235

Series: Past Midnight

1. Past Midnight

1.5. Raising the Dead

2. One Hundred Candles
3. Beyond the Grave (23rd August 2011)
Author's website

I’ve opened a door that cannot be closed…

It has taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I’m settled in a new school, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it’s not as if Noah is anything more than a friend…

But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I’ve opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences.

I read Past Midnight a few months ago (I'll review it tomorrow) and it was one of those books that you couldn't read late at night. This is the same. Ghosts and seeing things at night is something I really hate, so I was hesitant to read this book, but then, since I'd really liked Past Midnight, I decided to give it a try.

So it starts off in a really creepy place: an insane asylum. And then something even creepier happens to Charlotte: someone being possessed by a demon. And it's definitely not good acting. When Charlotte returns to school, everything seems to be going haywire: her school is now 'haunted' because of a game she a few schoolmates played (called One Hundred Candles; you sit in a circle and tell real ghost stories and light a candle for each one, and then there's supposed to be spooky happenings because of the hundreds of spirits you've invited in by telling the ghost stories); her parents are fighting because her mother now believes in paranormal stuff and her father doesn't; Noah is acting funny and hates Harris, the boy Charlotte is seeing.

This book isn't as spooky as the one before it, but it's still enjoyable. I picked it up after I was struggling to finish two other books, and I spent most of the day reading it. I couldn't put it down, really. Charlotte is sceptical and intelligent, as well as being a generally cool girl. Instead of panicking because of apparitions and furniture moving, she decides to wait until there's more evidence of ghostly occurrences. Noah is totally jealous, too. It was so adorkable! :)

The character I most liked was Charlotte's sister Annalise. Charlotte and Annalise get on well with each other and I liked how Charlotte liked to call her and talk. I know that this will never happen between me and my own sister, so it was nice to read about their friendly relationship.

The book really picked up at the ending, and it's what made me pay more attention. The cliffhanger ending made me go ARRGH. But thankfully the next book will be out soon!

My verdict: An interesting (and spooky!) read that kept me on my toes. Definitely a lot different from most paranormal books out there and a must-read.

Review: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2011-07-28T00:51:00.002+10:00

Touch of Frost, Jennifer Estep

Release date: 26th July 2011

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance

Pages: 359

Series: Mythos Academy

1. Touch of Frost

2. Kiss of Frost (29th November 2011)
3. Dark Frost
Author's website

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

So I came by Jennifer's website a month or so ago and found out about her new YA Mythos Academy series. I saw the blurb for Touch of Frost and immediately wanted to readit. I love mythology books-- and they're getting pretty popular too, like dystopians. Anyways, I've been sooo excited for this book and totally celebrated when I was abloe to get it.

Touch of Frost is about Gwen Frost, who is a Gypsy-- we find out more about them at the end of the book. Her powers are that she can touch objects and see their history and the vibes people have lefton them. She can also touch people and know their deepest, darkest secrets; everything they've done, their guilt, their memories. Pretty invasive, huh? Well, she gets sent off to Mythos Academy (I know, original name, huh?) a couple of months after her mum is killed by a drunk driver, and this is a boarding school for the rich teens who are Amazons, Nnjas, Spartans, Vikings, Valkyries, etc. Well, Gwen totally doesn't fit in because everyone there is awarrior, and Gwen barely even manages to believe that there are gods and goddesses out there, despite all the magic happening in front ofher.

So Gwen is a nobody. She doesn't have any friends and isn't a warrior. So when a girl dies, she decides to make use of her Gypsy powers. Now Gwen makes money by finding items for people for a small fee, so she thinks that if she touches the dead girl, she'll get a vibe from the killer. But nope. Nada. So whilst she is also being an amateur detective, there's this guy... Logan Quinn. Spartan. Washboard abs. Hottie. Major badass. And he seems interested in Gwen. Ooh la la.

So I loved this book. This book had a mystery, hot guys, mythological creatures and was full of magic. This is exactly the kind of book I like best! Jennifer Estep did a great job for her YA series. I totally delt like I connected with Gwen and it was almost like I was there myself, which would have been the coolest thing ever.

Gwen is smart, sarcastic, funny and quick-witted. She doesn't scare easily-- even though there areplenty of things to be scared of at Mythos-- and she is definitely the good guy here. Oh, and Logan-- man, he frustrated me! He got all cold and stuff when Gwen refused to kiss him because of her psychometry and then he was just so... arrgh!!

My verdict: Full of magic and excitement, as well as a spunky heroine, this book is definitely worth reading. Oh, and it's only $6.80 on Amazon for the Kindle version. Get a great book for a discounted price. (I swear to God I'm not pimping it out.)

Maria V. Snyder touring Australia!

2011-07-23T21:39:00.004+10:00

One of my favourite authors (she's definitely in the top ten) is coming to Australia and I am freaking out! For those who live in Sydney, here are the tour dates and places, time, etc. For those outside of Sydney, you can check HarlequinTEEN's Facebook page or Maria's website.

Monday, 15 August 6-8pm

Kinokuniya

Lvl 2, The Galleries

500 George St, Sydney

Tuesday, 16 August 5-7pm

Dymocks

424 George St, Sydney

Wednesday, 17 August 12-2pm

Galaxy Bookshop

Level 1, 131 York St, Sydney

Wednesday, 17 August 5.45-7pm

Storms and Magic: Controlling the Forces of... Fiction?

Ultimo Library

38-40 William Henry Street

Ultimo, Australia

If any of you guys will be there, feel free to say hi! I'm probably going to go on 17th August, but it might not work out since it'll be hours between the events and I'll have nothing to do, unless someone else wants to make a day of it and hang out. :)

Review: Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

2011-07-19T18:29:00.001+10:00

Tiger's Quest, Colleen Houck

Release date: 9th June 2011

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Adventure

Pages: 496

Series: The Tiger Saga

1. Tiger's Curse

2. Tiger's Quest

3. Tiger's Voyage (November 2011)

Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest - this time with Ren's dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger's Curse.

Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER'S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.

This is the sequel to Tiger's Curse (which I liked a lot) and I'm finally getting around to reviewing it!

I have to say that the first 7-8 chapters didn't need to be there. They're just about how Kelsey is back home and has like three guys after her (why does she act so surprised by this? Why are most heroines surprised to have guys after them?) and is trying to live without Ren and blah blah blah. And then Ren comes back (we all knew he would!) and they spend weeks and weeks ignoring each other and trying to date. There's also some tension as Kelsey is forced to choose between her young, hot, buff martial arts teacher and Ren. (She chooses Ren, by the way. No duh!)

So then Ren gets kidnapped and Kelsey and Ren's brother Kishan have to go on a quest to retrieve some items to rescue Ren. Don't you hate love triangles? Especially when you can't choose between two hot brothers? Well, more like Kelsey is trying not to be attracted to Kishan and is trying not to like how he kisses her. But whatever.

One of my favourite characters is Mr Kadam, who is there helping Kelsey and the brothers throughout the whole book. I think he deserves an award for putting in so much effort to help Ren and Kishan. He also gives Kelsey a mansion, a snazzy car, enrols her into uni (which costs like $30k per year!) and deposits an enormous sum into her bank account. I mean, yeah, money is no problem, but isn't the university tuition enough? I thought giving Kelsey all that stuff was kind of overkill...

This book is chock full of Indian mythology and what-not. The quest is exciting and adventurous and I like how the goddess Durga is so supportive of Kelsey and her quest to break the curse. But the ending? Seriously? It just made me want to rip my hair out! Ren, you idiot! Just... just... Kill me now. I hated it. Plus, at the end, Kishan just makes Kelsey out to be the best thing on earth, which she definitely isn't. So how about that love triangle, huh?

My verdict: Tiger's Quest just wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. Truthfully, it just pissed me off because of some of the things that happened. But I will say that it's readable and I would re-read it.

Archangels' Blade UK cover revealed

2011-07-19T17:50:00.001+10:00

So we all love Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series, yes? I personally love the UK covers, because they're quite unique! :) She's revealed the UK cover of Archangel's Blade a couple of hours ago and it's beautiful, despite the blue matching Archangel's Consort too closely.

Archangel's Blade comes out 6th September 2011 and is Dmitri's story. Nalini has posted an excerpt on her website.

Review: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

2011-07-02T12:48:00.003+10:00

Tiger's Curse, Colleen Houck

Release date: 11th January 2011

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy

Pages: 498

Series: Tiger's Curse

1. Tiger's Curse

2. Tiger's Quest

3. Tiger's Voyage

Author's website

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

I have to say that the blurb for this book isn't the best, but the cover and the white tiger got to me. I am a lover of big cats, and tigers are one of my favourites, so I just had to read this book!

While I love the story, I don't like the execution of it. The narrator-- Kelsey, an 18 year old girl-- doesn't seem too bright. She came off sounding a bit... well, not all there, you know? She cracked unfunny jokes, she sounded quite young, and I just didn't like her. She made a really stupid decision towards the end of the book and I just hated her for it.

As well as Kelsey being unlikeable (in my opinion), I also found that this novel was quite unrealistic. Tigers are an endangered species, right? Well, you can't just arrange for one to be flown to India in the space of a week. As well as that, Kelsey and the tiger, Ren, are just dumped on the side of a road in the middle of a town in India. I'm pretty sure someone would notice a teenage girl walking a large white tiger on a rope! But nope... Also, who gets mobile phone reception in the middle of a jungle in India?? These are some of the things that I didn't like about this book because, yeah, it's fantasy and not real, but still.

The hero is Ren. Okay, he's hot and sweet and understanding and I think this is all he is. He madly falls in love with Kelsey because she's the girl destined to lift the curse. This guy used to be a prince in 16th century India, and while it's said that his mother raised him to not be a snob, I still don't think it's realistic that he fell for Kelsey because if an Indian prince even talked to a white girl back in his time, it'd be a huge scandal. Yeah, it's been a long time, but I would think such customs/beliefs would be ingrained into a prince who must have had it drilled into his head since a young age...

What I did like was the story. All the legends and action and the tiger. I loved reading about the tiger. Man, I am in love. Can I keep him? Please? Either way, the tiger was the one part of the book that could not be ruined by the bad narrating and stupid thoughts of Kelsey. As well as that, it contained a lot of Indian legends/myths/religion. It had a goddess, Durga, and lots of scary creatures.

My verdict: While this book lacked a certain realism, I enjoyed reading about the Indian mythology, the romance and the adventure. Sure, it's not greatly executed, but if you ignore those little nuances, this story is massively addicting.

PS One of my favourite book blogs is having a giveaway which ends 29th July. :)

Review: Blood Law by Karin Tabke

2011-06-28T23:56:00.000+10:00

Blood Law Karin Tabke

Release date: 3rd May 2011

Publisher: Berkley Heat

Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 336

Series: Blood Moon Trilogy

1. Blood Law

2. Blood Right

3. TBA

Author's website

For all eternity, only one thing shall separate them—until the Blood Law is avenged…

The coming of the Blood Moon will lead two Lycan packs into war, spur two rival brothers into conflict, and spark an act of vengeance so evil that its effects will be felt for generations.

One woman stands at the center of it all…

As undisputed Alpha, Rafael must choose a life mate to preserve the dominance of his Lycan pack. He never suspected, his mate would be a human, the same wounded, girl-woman he seduces from the brink of death. Falon is a dangerous combination of Lycan and Slayer—beings bred to destroy his kind. Even more, she’s a mesmerizing beauty whose sensuality tempts the seasoned warrior to take unnecessary risks. The primal heat between them is irresistible, yet surrendering to it could destroy them both…for a vengeful foe stands ready in the shadows to fulfill what is rightfully his by Blood Law.

I was kind of excited to start this book because I always love a good paranormal romance, especially when it involves werewolves because I love shifter stories. Sadly, this book let me down a lot. There are only so many times that the heroine, Falon in this case, can break her limbs. I think she ended up breaking her leg, arm, wrist and whatever else like five times in the book. Five times, people! She even broke her damn wrist on purpose. Okay, so I get that Rafael has magic that heals her and all, but that is no reason to, you know, get beaten up to the point where you've got broken limbs. I felt that Falon took too many unnecessary risks.

So I myself have a twin and know how freaking annoying and hard life can be with them, but these two men, Rafael and Lucien, got on my nerves. So Rafael kills his brother's mate because she is a Slayer-- someone who slays the Lycans and has dark magic-- but Lucien refuses to believe that she was a Slayer and basically says 'An eye for an eye' and demands to kill his brother's mate when he gets one. Throughout the novel there were a lot of bitch fights and growls and the usual sibling rivalry times five hundred.

Apart from the kind of crappy characters, the book got progressively more confusing. One minute this was happening, another minute something else. It was spontaneous. Also, Falon made it even more confusing. She'd go from bitchy to scared and her mood changes were all over the place. As well as that, she doesn't tell Rafael something really important and that ends up haunting them and turning it into some kind of weird love triangle. These men are twins and a love triangle?

Also, I spent a good part of the book trying to figure out the freaking timeline and how old this and that person was, etc. In the end I gave up and just rolled with what the book told me.

My verdict: The heroine was kind of crappy and got beaten up and broken way too many times. The plot was all over the place and the ending made me seriously beat my head against a wall. All in all, I sometimes wonder who decided to publish this book without some serious changes to the plot.

Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

2011-06-23T00:37:00.000+10:00

I'm having trouble putting images in right now, so no cover photo!)

The Girl in the Steel Corset, Kady Cross

3 stars

Release date: 24th May 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: YA, Steampunk,

Pages: 388

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the thing inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her
This book got recommended to me a couple of months back so I decided to read it when I saw it in stores. I have to admit-- the cover made me swoon, too.

At first I wasn't really into the novel, but then it got better. I started loving characters-- especially Jasper. (Can I please have, Kady? =3) This is kind of a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde novel. Finley has two dark sides because her father was a close friend of Louise Stevenson-- author of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Her father took potions and became the inspiration for Stevenson's novel. While Finley's dad was taking the potions, he got her mother pregnant and the chemicals of the potions mixed with Finley's blood or whatever and out turned Finley. She has a darker side and she gets really badass when that dark side is out.

The other characters include Griffin, whose powers I really don't get, Sam, who is super strong, and Emily, who is a genius. Also there is in Jack Dandy, a devious and morally corrupt man who takes a liking to Finley. Oh, and an American by the name of Jasper Renn who has some sort of powers and is amazing with a gun. Did I mention he's a cowboy? All of the characters here are different and very 3D. Finley is a strong and brave character, but she didn't catch my eye like Emily did. Emily is a genius and while she's not a fighter, she makes things that do fight.

So I have to say: reading this book felt like I'd missed some sort of back story or a prequel. A lot of the concepts weren't explained too well and the lack of details made me feel that I'd missed the book before or something. Some of the very briefly explained concepts confused me. I didn't get Griffin's powers, some of the machines, that sort of stuff. Ms Cross, please explain better and more thoroughly! One of the downsides of this was that half of the time I was struggling to understand whatever was happening with the magic and machines, as well as the history.

So this book is quite the badassness. A quirky and new adaptation of the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde phenomenon, the student in me is eager to talk about this during English because admit it-- Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the quite boring (to me at least!) and to read such an adaptation is very cool!

My verdict: While I struggled to understand some of the concepts because of the minimal explanations, I liked this punky and new take on the famous Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde novel. The heroine is strong and brave and the characters are all interesting, especially one cowboy.

Review: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

2011-06-15T22:20:00.001+10:00

Forgotten, Cat Patrick

Release date: 1st June 2011

Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont

Genre: YA, Thriller, Romance,

Pages: 277

Author's website

I remember forwards.

I remember forwards, and forget backwards.

My memories, bad, boring, or good, haven't happened yet.

So I will remember standing in the fresh-cut grass with the black-clad figures surrounded by stone until I do it for real. I will remember the funeral until it happens - until someone dies.

And after that, it will be forgotten.

Here's the thing about me: I can see my future, but my past is blank.

I see the future in flashes, like memories. I remember what I'll wear tomorrow, and a car crash that won't happen till this afternoon. But yesterday has evaporated from my mind - just like the boy I love. I can't see him in my future. I can't remember him from my past. But today, I love him. And I never want to forget how much.

Have you ever read a book where you thought it was good and then it got even better in the last few chapters? For me, Forgotten was like that. Also, it's just an excellent book!

I'm gonna rave about this one for a looong time. And it deserves it! Have you heard? It got a movie deal before ti was even published! Cat Patrick is a fricken' genius!

Forgotten is about a girl who forgets what happens the day before and remembers what happens in the future. She knows when a guy will break up with his girlfriend, what grief her best friend's decision will bring, but she cannot remember what happened the day before. Reading this book, I tried to imagine what that would be like and how it would feel to turn around and see someone and not know who they are. I couldn't! It'd be terrifying.

This book ended up being very emotional for me. I was excited, confused, scared, eager and then Cat Patrick finished off with me crying happy tears. I very rarely have such a huge reaction to a book and for Forgotten to have done that means I'm very much in love with it.

The writing is simple and witty. Cat Patrick's debut is stunning and I was left amazed when I closed the book. I loved the characters, the plot, the mystery, the romance. Thsi book ticked pretty much every box for me! There are very few books that I can re-read over and over, but Forgotten will always be on that list.

What made me fall completely in love were the last ten chapters. These were the bits that made me sit up and read harder. I was going, "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!!" the whole time during those ten or so chapters. I thought it would end at the most critical point, I thought it wouldn't work out and I'd hate it.But it's perfect!

My verdict: Pretty gushy and crap review, but this book is amazing and I am so happy that I noticed it by chance whilst shopping for books. Cat Patrick, you've done an amazing job! i hope you come to Australia so I can meet you and gush to you in real life!!

Recommended Blog: The Book Lantern

2011-06-12T12:46:00.000+10:00

So I've been thinking of doing a new feature for this blog because I've seen some fantastic blogs out there that need recognition, and so I thought every week I'd recommend a blog that i enjoy reading or one that is good but doesn't have too many followers. Any thoughts on how to improve this feature? I don't want to rate these blogs because it'd be unfair and stupid, but any other ideas?

So I've been reading this blog, The Book Lantern, and I think I am in love. I know I don't have a huge audience, but I would like at least a few of you guys to go and read a couple of the posts by these witty and smart people.

The bloggers blog about their thoughts on how covers portray a book and, in turn, the heroine, the respect between the hero and heroine who are in love, whether to not write a bad review and so on. Their posts are really interesting and I am now hooked. So yeah, I'm just recommending this blog because I fell in love!

Review: Winter's Shadow by M. J. Hearle

2011-06-08T23:12:00.001+10:00

Winter's Shadow, M. J. Hearle

Release date: 6th June 2011 (AUS)

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance,

Pages: 424

Series: WInter's Shadow

1. Winter's Shadow

2. Winter's Light (2012)

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger.
Himself.

This is an Aussie YA book, and while I didn't particularly like the cliched plot line, I think Hearle did a good job with it. It was also really awesome to see Aussie spelling. I am getting so sick of every book having damn American spelling. It just gets on my nerves. How come books written in England or Australia have all the spelling and stuff Ameircanised when they get published in the States, but we don't have the same treatment? (Pet peeve of mine! -.-')

So Winter is taking photographs at an old, abandoned church that is about to fall down. There was a fire which basically destroyed it, and no one's visited it in about ten years. Can I ask why, why, why there is an obsession with old churches and cemeteries? It's just creepy and too cliche for me!

Anyways, Winter sees this beautiful man at a headstone and takes his picture... and then the church falls down and he saves her. As we read, we find out from Blake's perspective that he's drawn to Winter and has to keep her safe from something. So he sends out his minions-- cats!-- to watch her. It's the tried and failed Twilight plot: the hot, broody, tortured-soul hero is drawn to the innocent, pure, 'unique' heroine because of his nature. Edward because of Bella's blood, Blake because Winter has this light thing going on as well as something else that we find out about later in the novel.

Aside from the overused plot line, I have to say that the paranormal part of it is very original. I've never read anything like it before, and it's super creepy. I wouldn't want to be reading this book late at night! So the paranormal stuff is new and shiny and very interesting-- I'll give you that, Mr Hearle.

I found Blake and Winter to be the typical doomed love couple. We all knew something bad would happen to Winter and then Blake would rush in to save her at risk to himself. And then... well, you guys have to read to find out what happens, huh?

I love to read a novel where I fall in love with the hero. This was not the case with Blake. I just didn't like him. He seemed dodgy. He also had the whole 'I'm a monsteeeer!~~' thing going on that hit too close to Edward Cullen. Just say no, girlies.

The character who I liked most was Lucy, Winter's sister. She gives up her uni education to come home and look after Winter when their parents die. It is such a selfless thing for Lucy to do, as they do have an aunt and uncle who can take Winter in. Instead of living the high life at uni, Lucy now looks after Winter and has a job at a pharmacy. She's overprotective of Winter and reminds me of my mum. I hope to read more about Lucy in the sequel!

My verdict: While an entertaining read, this book has an eerie connection with Twilight as well as countless other books which have the same overused plot line. Beware of cliches! Author M. J. Hearle did a good job for a first novel, but I hope to see something better in the sequel.

Once again, I have to apologise

2011-06-06T21:03:00.000+10:00

Yeah, I went on an unplanned break. I was stressed about exam results and have had some drama in my life, and have also been too lazy to review books. But I'm back-- I swear I'll warn you guys in advance if this happens again-- and I'm going to start reviewing the heaps of books that I've read in the past three weeks.

So, yeah, please forgive me!

MV swag giveaway winner

2011-05-22T01:15:00.002+10:00

So yeah, time to announce the winner of the giveaway!

And the winner is...

Carol.

I've emailed her and she has 24 hours to reply before I choose another winner. I also want to thank you guys for participating!

Review: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

2011-05-21T19:56:00.002+10:00

Some Girls Bite, Chloe Neill

Release date: 1st May 2010 (AUS)

Publisher: Gollancz

Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Pages: 341

Series: Chicagoland Vampires

1. Some Girls Bite

2. Friday Night Bites

3. Twice Bitten

4. Hard Bitten

5. Drink Deep (November 2011)

Author's website

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced their existence to the world - and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker . . . one who decided the best way to save my life was to take it.

Turns out my saviour was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan 'Lord o' the Manor' Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four hundred year old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he also seems to expect my eternal gratitude - and servitude. Right . . .

But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I'm surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan's attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone's out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war - and there's going to be blood . . .

So this is the first in the Chicagoland Vampires series and totally rocks. Merit (whose real name we don't find out until the third book and goes by her last name) is attacked on her university campus and turned into a vampire. She was unconsenting, as she likes to point out often, and can't believe that the Master of her House is such a conceited bastard. Ethan, her Master, wants her respect, loyalty, Grateful Condescension (you'll get the reference soon enough), that sorta stuff.

Merit's father is causing her trouble because he's up himself. See, the Merit family is new money and her father has worked super hard to get it and keep it. Merit and her sibling, Charlotte and Robert, grew up in a huge mansion, with waiters, and got whatever they wanted, as well as publicity. Merit's realised that she doesn't want any of that and basically told her father go to hell when she left for university in New York. And now her father wants her to use her new vampireness to get him connections and all that.

So yeah, Merit's having a hard time adjusting to being a vampire, and she's just found out her grandfather, a retired cop, isn't so retired, but working as a liaison between the supernaturals of Chicago (and trust me, there are many) and the mayor, Seth Tate. Oh, and her best friend has a supernatural surprise of her own...

I loved this book so much. I fell in love within the first twenty pages, and could not put it down. Ethan is sexy, blonde, tall, and uptight. In my mind he looks kind of like Alexander Skaarsgard but more refined. Chloe Neill says David Beckham. Naaaaaah.

So this book is funny and full of surprises. I fell in love with Malik, Ethan's second. I would marry him-- seriously. Ms Neill has made vampires into cool and new things, unlike a lot of other books around with the same boring vampires. These vampires are modern, hip, and they know it. The House system is fascinating, as well as all the other supernaturals. There are shifters-- and they all fit into one pack, despite all their different shapes. It's seriously cool.

My verdict: This is definitely a book you have to read, even if you're tired of vampires. It's funny, interesting and I guarantee that you won't be able to put it down.

More Bloodlines details

2011-05-19T19:12:00.001+10:00

Okay, so I know I should be posting a review (and it will come tomorrow, trust me), but I just need to shamelessly advertise for Richelle Mead; details for her Vampire Academy spin-off series!

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
23rd August 2011

BLOOD DOESN'T LIE.

Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding.

To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning.

Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

While I love that the VA universe isn't gone (I cried when I finished Last Sacrifice), I'm definitely not loving the cover of this book. All of the VA covers have been lacking, and I thought that Bloodlines would get a really awesome cover, but it hasn't. I hope they end up making it nicer, you know?

Anyways, here's the message: Go buy this book when it comes out. I guarantee that it will be fantastic and we get to see more of Dimitri!!

Review: Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

2011-05-17T13:05:00.004+10:00

Hard Bitten, Chloe Neill

Release date: 3rd May 2011 (USA)/12th July 2011 (AUS)

Publisher: Penguin

Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Pages: 368

Series: Chicagoland Vampires

1. Some Girls Bite

2. Friday Night Bites

3. Twice Bitten

4. Hard Bitten

5. Drink Deep (November 2011)

Author's website

Chicago is beset by supernatural tensions, and Merit-- vampire protector of a safe haven called Cadogan house-- is worried that the humans will be reaching for their pitchforks any minute. It doesn't help that yet another vampire rave is broken up by the mayor, and a new inhibition- reducing drug is circulating through the community. It's up to Merit to put her house in order-- literally. And if that takes getting a little blood on her hands, so be it.

*Don't read if you don't want spoilers from previous books*

Oh my God. I know I should wait a while before posting this review, but I can't NOT review it now. I just have to get it all out right now.

I have been a huge fan of the Chicagoland Vampires series since I started reading the books last year. I fell in love with Merit, Ethan, Malik, Lindsey, Mallory, Catcher and Jeff-- to name a few. I fell in love with the story, the action, the romance... this is one of the best vampire series I've read in a while, probably coming second to Vampire Academy and The Night Huntress series.

Anyways, I was so excited for this book to come out. I bought it for my e-reader as soon as I could and read it within a day. I loved it. I always love more Merit and Ethan. The last book left me with expectations of a romance between these two that would last more than a day (seriously, Ethan? Make up your mind!!) and I hoped that this book would finally have Merit together with Ethan.

This book met my expectations with a mystery, lots of action and a steamy make-out scene... but no Merit/Ethan. That was okay by me-- until the last two chapters. They are what broke my heart so absolutely. You could hear my "NOOOO! You stupid cow!!" from two towns away, I swear.... As well as my other "Oh my God"s and "NO. WAY"s. More spoilers below in white-- highlight if you want to read them, but beware that this WILL spoil the entire book for you if you haven't already read it:

I can't believe Chloe Neill did this. To ETHAN. I can't believe she killed him off! I HATE HER. She says to trust her? You turned one of my favourite heroes into a bloody pile of ASH. ASH THAT MEANS ETHAN CANNOT BE REVIVED.

But I believe Mallory's mention of dark magic as well as Tate's magic may be our only hope. Probably not. But I'm pretty sure that Ethan isn't gone for good. Feel free to share your theories in the comments! :)

So yes... this book had it all for me, as well as a wicked cliffhanger ending. This made me cry, laugh, celebrate... this is definitely one of those emotionally draining books which make you catatonic for the next couple of days because you gave your all to this book.

My verdict: Guys, I know I should give this a low rating because of what Ms Neill has done, but I can't. I hate and love this book at the same time and if I could, I would hypnotise all of you to read this series. A definite add to all of your TBR piles!

In My Mailbox #6

2011-05-15T17:40:00.000+10:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren, and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie! Participants are required to tell all about what they've received in the mail--anything bookish!

So these are the books that I've gotten recently. I haven't done an IMM for ages, and wanted to start doing it again.

Review: Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

2011-05-14T22:55:00.001+10:00

Sean Griswold's Head, Lindsey Leavitt

Release date: 1st March 201

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Pages: 288

Author's website

According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-- er, focusing on-- Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

The reason Payton is in counselling is because her dad has MS and she only found out about six months after everyone else did. Her parents didn't think she was ready to know and they couldn't find a good time to tell her. I don't even know if there's a good time at all to tell your daughter that her father has MS, but whatever. So now Payton isn't talking to her family and her parents think she needs counselling. So her counsellor tells her to keep a focus journal and Payton chooses Sean's head, and she eventually starts to like him.

I loved this book so much. It's sweet funny, emotional and I totally got it. I loved the simple idea behind the story and how the pace was good. Sean is certainly yummy and he's a really interesting guy. He loves cycling and Payton starts training with him to get to know him better.

All of the characters contributed to the story and there weren't any parts where I was bored. This book made me laugh and pulled me in. Lindsey certainly has a talent for writing. She wrote a book that a lot of teenage girls will be able to relate to, and I love that.

My verdict: This is an entertaining and easy read for those of you who like the sweet and innocent romance of teens.

Morganville Vampires Swag Giveaway!

2011-05-14T02:52:00.008+10:00

The giveaway is now closed.

I'm having my first giveaway... I gotta admit, it's kind of crappy for a first giveaway.
Ignoring the crappiness of it, here's what I have to give away:

A Bite Club (Morganville Vampires #10) hologram/holograph bookmark. See that hottie? He could be yours!
A Morganville Resident ID Card so you're safe from any hungry vampires if you're stupid enough to wander around at night alone.

So here are the rules and guidelines:

The giveaway ends 21st May 2011 at 11:59PM AEST
This is INTERNATIONAL
You don't have to be a follower, but I'd appreciate it if you were!
Ages 13 and up
Winners will be picked on random.org
One entry per person only, people!
Entries in the comments will not be accepted
The winner will be announced and emailed and will have 24 hours to reply before I choose another winner.

Review: Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty

2011-05-11T21:45:00.005+10:00

Feeling Sorry for Celia, Jaclyn Moriarty

Release date: 1st May 2000 (re-print edition 1st September 2010)

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Pages: 272

Series: Ashbury High (companion novels)

1. Finding Cassie Crazy

2. The Betrayal of Bindy Mackenzie

3. Dreaming of Amelia

Dear Ms Clarry,

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join our Society.

We have just found out about your holiday. It is so impressive! You had four assignments, an English essay and a chapter of Maths to do. And you didn't do one single piece of homework! Fabulous!
Also we have a feeling that you have a History test today. And you're trying to study now? On the bus? With the Brookfield boys climbing onto each other's shoulders to get to the emergency roof exit? And with Celia about to get on the bus at any moment? And you think that's going to make a difference!!! That's really very amusing, Elizabeth. We like you for it. You're perfect for our Society and we're very excited about having you join.
Yours sincerely,

Society of People who are Definitely Going to Fail High School
(and Most Probably Life as Well!)

I picked this up both because it sounded interesting and I was in need of some Aussie YA. Ever since I started doing the Aussie YA challenge I've needed to read at least two Aussie books a month. Seriously, some of them are great and I'm addicted to them now!

This is all in the format of letters. Letters to Elizabeth's new pen pal Christina, crazy, all-caps letters to Elizabeth from her mum, and oh my, an Anonymous Stranger who likes Liz! This book started off a bit slow but I quickly really got into it. There was a moment where I cried because it was so sad.

Elizabeth's best friend Celia keeps disappearing, Liz's dad returns to Sydney for his job (he lives in Canada with his new wife and step-son) and Elizabeth starts a new project for her teacher, Mr Botherit. They have to write letters to the school across the road and Liz is lucky enough to have someone who replies, and they start off writing letters o each other, not actually meeting until the last quarter of the book.

Reading all these crazy letters detailing Christina and Liz's lives is so cool and rather funny. They tell each other their problems and they don;t hold back. There's a certain aspect of anonymousness with pen pals, and you can basically tell another person anything because you can't see each other. This has extended to the Internet, obviously, and I found it fascinating as Christine and Liz tried to help each other out with advice and helpful comments in their letters.

Jaclyn had a great idea and Feeling Sorry for Celia is how she put it into words. Pan Macmillan has done re-prints of this book and I was lucky enough to find it in a Big W. I'm really glad I did because I could really relate to both girls as well as the letter writing. I love writing letters and sending them, as well as receiving replies. I think most of us love getting mail. :)

My verdict: This is kind of an oldie, but it's great. This book really embraces letter writing and I think it's a great idea. This book definitely wowed me (I gave it the Big City Stamp!-- scroll down to see more info on it) and I would recommend this to anyone.

Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

2011-05-09T22:22:00.005+10:00

Falling Under, Gwen Hayes

Release date: 1st March 2011

Publisher: Penguin Group
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Pages: 324

Series: Falling Under

1. Falling Under

2. Dreaming Awake (January 2012)

Author's website

In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.

Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

I picked up Falling Under with low expectations. I had read an excerpt, and the whole 'I'm not safe for you' reminded me too much of Twilight. The whole concept of the book reminded me of Twilight. And I'm really just sick of Twilight. But I had read a great review of the book and decided, Why not?

Let me tell you: While it may sound like Twilight, it's not. The beginning sucks you in, and I just couldn't put it down. Theia is a very relateable character-- she's not super strong or confident, and is very sheltered but wants to breaks free of her father's strong cage. She's got two great friends which aren't just accessories; they add to the story and help move it along, as well as adding sub-plots to the book.

I don't know about Haden. I didn't really like him much. What I mean is, I just didn't fall for him. He was way too hot-and-cold for me. I mean, who wants a guy who's a bastard to you one minute and then sweet the next? Oh, wait... *coughBellacough*. I just didn't end up liking Haden, despite him turning out to be a good guy in the end. Haden is very confident in his abilities to embarrass and frighten Theia, and he uses his hotness to make her jealous. He appears in her dreams and despite them getting on together in the dreams, Haden ignores Theia or isn't very nice to her in real life. I just didn't like that. If a guy was like that to me, I'd either ignore him or ask him what the hell was going on-- which Theia did, but waaayyy too late int he book, in my opinion.

Talking about Twilight, I loved what Theia said:

Haden sighed and his eyelids lowered, his gaze resting on my lips. "I'm serious, Theia. You'll never be safe with me."

"If you are about to tell me you are a vampire that glitters in the sunshine, I will--"

I thought that was funny, kind of making fun of Twilight, but also ringing very true: The whole 'You aren't safe around me!' crap got annoying so damn fast, I can't tell you how much I wanted to stab Haden. That got old the first time he said it, and the whole trying to keep Theia away from him? We all know they're gonna end up together anyways; just hurry up and skip all the teen angst crap!

The good points are that while it wasn't too fast paced, some things did happen and they were hugely dramatic. I actually did enjoy this book, despite being very unhappy at some points. It got a bit steamy at one point and I was all for it, but then something happened and I ended up cursing Gwen Hayes!

My verdict: Whist a compelling and interesting read, its plot and themes ran too close with Twilight for me to fully appreciate the book. I always enjoy a book where I feel strongly enough about it that I want to chuck it at a wall-- even if it's annoyance. A definite book to add to every one's TBR pile. :)

Rachel Caine! :)

2011-05-05T16:39:00.005+10:00

I could hardly sleep last night I was so excited. I think I finally fell asleep at about 2am, and was woken up at 5.30am. Thank God I heard my alarm, because there have been times when I've been so deeply asleep that I didn't even hear the alarm. So I decided to sleep for twenty more minutes and then got up. I got ready pretty quick and Dad and I left-- fifteen minute later than I wanted to. We got into some pretty heavy traffic and were like 25 minutes late, which kind of sucked, but oh well. We did get there and that's all that matters.

Meeting Rachel was so amazingly awesome. For us Aussies, we don't get too many authors come down because it costs so much and the profits aren't as good because of the much smaller fan base, so Rachel touring Australia is awesome and I hope she encourages other authors (hint hint: Richelle Mead!) to come here!

So when we finally got to the (very fancy) hotel, I had no idea where to go, but I had Felicity's number and we quickly found each other. She led me up to where Rachel and the other bloggers (Saskia and Roslyn from the Tea Mouse, and Kylie from The Talking Teacup) were breakfasting and I sat down and we all started talking. I got a signed copy of Bite Club (Morganville Vampires #10), but I can't read it till I finish reading the books before it!

Rachel had to leave forty minutes later, but we got photos, and she said she'd be by Dymocks on george St later so I could interview her, which was very nice of her. After she and Felicity left, the other bloggers and I stayed for another hour to talk and eat (well, I ate because they'd already eaten). Kylie, Roslyn and Saskia are all super cool and nice and didn't care that I was a couple of years younger than them, which is so good. We talked a lot about books, movies and things.

So after walking around the city for a bit and visiting bookstores, we went to Dymocks and I interviewed Rachel. We sat in the cafe on the top floor and talked a bit first and then did the interviewing. As Rachel and Felicity ordered Cokes, the girls and I realised that we'd forgotten to pay for the coffees we'd had an hour earlier-- because we were sitting in the aisle of the Strand Arcade, and because cafe was ten or so metres down from us, we totally forgot to stop in and pay. (Don't worry, we went back after we finished with Rachel, so it's okay!)

I would have made the interview longer, but I didn't have enough memory on my SD card! :( But I might email her some more questions and hope she answers them.

I have to give a humungous thank you to my amazingly generous and nice parents, who not only let me skip school for this (shh!) but also drove me there. Mum, thanks for letting me go, and Dad, thanks for driving me and giving me heart attack with your crazy driving skills. Without these people, I wouldn't have been able to go! :) :)

Saskia, Roslyn, Rachel, Kylie and I posing. :)

Waiting on Wednesday #8

2011-05-04T14:01:00.001+10:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

One Grave at a Time, Jeaniene Frost (August 2011)

How do you send a killer to the grave when he’s already dead?

Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans’ voodoo queen just keeps on giving–leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity–forever. But one wrong step and they’ll be digging their own graves.

Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

2011-05-04T13:49:00.003+10:00

Abandon, Meg Cabot

Release date: 1st May, 2011

Publisher: Point
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Pages: 304

Series: Abandon Trilogy

1. Abandon

2. Underworld (publication date unknown)

3. TBA

She didn't fall into his world. She was taken.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce knows what happens to us when we die.
That's how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who's made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible.
Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong. He finds her.

What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows... just like she knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven. But she can't stay away from him, either, especially since he's always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears the most.

And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her: The Underworld.

So this story is about Pierce, who mysteriously died a year and a half before and had a weird experience. Her story is slowly revealed as more clues are uncovered.And by 'uncovered' I mean this book is a mess of the rpesent and the past. Like, Pierce can go to her house, and then describes a big event that happened ont he way to the house ten pages later. This book confused me and I found myself re-reading some chapters.

I have a thing with Meg Cabot: her writing style is very similar in most of her YA books. She writes in first-person, and it's gotten to the point where the personalities of the leads have melded into one because they all sound like one another, if you know what I mean. I was really happy that Abandon is completely different. It's a completely different style to the other YA books that Meg's written. This is a lot more serious and less comedic than most of her others, and I really like the writing.

I got a bit confused because there were a few mysteries in this book that got explained towards the end, and I know some authors like to keep their readers on their feet, but the whole hinting at something huge that's happened in the past and slooowly revealing it thing gets on my nerves. Seriously, is it that hard to just tell us what happened in the beginning? I mean, yeah, gotta be mysterious, but to me it just looks like the author is trying to make her readers finish the book just so they know what huge thing/accident/event happened that made the main character move/change personalities/whatever. It bugs me so darn much!

Other than that, I liked this book. It's a kind of re-telling of the Persephone/Hades myth from greek mythology, but the mythology took kind of a back seat, you know? It was barely mentioned. The part of the myth that I was waiting to happen happened in the last five pages, so i have to wait to the next book and hopefully it might be better.

I know a lot of this review criticises the book, but this book isn't bad at all. I give it four stars because it kept me interested and it's Meg Cabot, who is one of the goddesses I worship.

My verdict: While this book has its bad points and seems like a step down from some of the great YA series and novels that Cabot has written, it's interesting and I liked it. The change of writing style was what surprised me the most, but this novel needed a more serious sort of approach, which Meg Cabot aced.

Quick update

2011-05-02T22:16:00.001+10:00

So here's a quick vlog!

My interiew questions:

So you've been in Australia for a couple of days now -- did you ever imagine that you'd get to go to so many places because of your books?
Since you've got fans all over the world, what's it like meeting them? Any weird fan experiences?
Most of the vampires in the series are baddies -- why didn't you romanticise them like ninety percent of other authors did?
When you first started writing the series, did you ever think it'd get so popular?
How long did it take for you to get published? Were you rejected a lot, or were you one of the lucky ones who got picked up straight away?
In your radio interview in Perth, you mentioned that someone stole all your laundry in university -- what was your reaction? Was it like Claire's?

Feel free to comment and ask your questions-- I've got room for two more. :)

Big news!

2011-04-28T22:54:00.000+10:00

In a week, I am going to meet Rachel Caine! I was chosen as BTL's guest blogger-- I was surprised because I never expected to, you know, be chosen-- and I'm going to a breakfast on 5th May, at 7.30am in the Sydney CBD. Means I have to get up at like 4am to make sure I get to the place on time and don't get lost. Kinda nervous!!

So I'm interviewing her for BTL (Betweent the Lines, it's a YA thing Penguin Australia has going) and I. Am. So. NERVOUS!! Guys, I need you help. I just emailed BTL, confirming that I was able to go (can you guys believe my parents let me? I'm 16 and in high school still, and missing school for this... ahh! Need to buy some nice clothes!) and told them my age. I hope they don't, you know, let me go on account of school or something. *fingers crossed*

Okay, so I'm supposed to get more info on this and hopefully guidance, but I need some advice! For those of you who've done this sort of thing before... what was it like? How did you come up with good questions? How should I interview her?? Ahh. I'll update you guys when I get more info!

Oh, and have I mentioned I read the first four book back in October and have forgotten what happens? I'm not past book four!! AHH. Have to buy them all and hope I don't go bankrupt. D:

Big apology

2011-04-28T22:27:00.000+10:00

Sorry for not being on much this month, guys! I'm having a couple of rough weeks and haven't really been focused on book blogging during this time. I have to apologise for this and assure you that I will be blogging much more in May!! I actually have some very exciting news to announce in my next post!

Review: Tommy Sullivan is a Freak by Meg Cabot

2011-04-20T00:54:00.001+10:00

Tommy Sullivan is a Freak, Meg Cabot

Release date: 2007

Publisher: Macmillan
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 249

Why everyone LOVES Katie Ellison
She's top of the class, she parties with A-list, she's bursting with talent- and she's got the kind of boyfriend any girl would kill to get their hands on.

Why everyone HATES Tommy Sullivan
Four years ago he exposed the football team as cheats- and had to leave town, along with his family. But the graffiti branding him a freak still scars the gymnasium wall and no one has EVER forgotten.

Now Tommy's back in town
But he's very far from being a freak. In fact, Tom's hot- TOTALLY hot. And if Katie's not very careful he could ruin everything!

I think this book goes under the name of Pants on Fire in the US, but in the UK (and automatically Australia and NZ) it's called Tommy Sullivan is a Freak. So it's about a girl called Katie Ellison who is about to be a senior in high school. It's the summer holidays now, and she;s working heaps of shifts at her work, has an awesome boyfriend and is popular. Her life is pretty much perfect. But she's a compulsive liar. She lies about everything... including about cheating on her boyfriend. Or that she hates the quahog's that her town is well known for. (You can't tell people you hate quahogs-- it's just not done.)

So then Katie finds out that her old friend Tommy Sullivan is back in town after four years. We all know that something really bad happened four years ago-- bad enough for Tommy to leave town. So when he's back in town, Katie is scared and nervous. Oh, and she's also really into him, because Tommy Sullivan has gotten hot.

Okay, let me tell you that I find books with a 'secret that we only find out at the very end' theme kind of annoying. I hate the suspension and curiosity. Just... no. So I was a bit peeved off right from the beginning. This is why I don't like mysteries! So that was one of the things that annoyed me a bit. Another was the voice Meg writes in: it's basically the same one for all of her heroines, so while I could be reading about Katie, I'm reminded of, say, Mia from The Princess Diaries or Suze from The Mediator series. While the heroines don't have the same traits, the voices are all remarkably the same.

As always, Meg Cabot keeps me pulled in with her humorous writing and situations. I love Meg Cabot because her writing and books have this amazing quality of grabbing my attention and keeping it till the very last word on the page. This book was no different. It's hilarious how Katie can't keep track of her lies, but manages to fool everyone, and the relatively fast pacing of the book keeps my attention from wandering.

My verdict: This book is funny and interesting, as Meg's books always are. While it's a romance, there isn't really much romance until the very end, and the sexiness of it is very limited-- which is usual for Cabot's YA books in most cases.

Review: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

2011-04-13T03:16:00.001+10:00

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?, Melissa Kantor

Release date: September 2005

Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 283

Author's website

Wicked stepmother? Check. Evil stepsisters? Check. Miserable life? Check.

Lucy Norton’s life has all the makings of a Cinderella story. Her dad’s always away on business, leaving Lucy with her cruel stepmother and bratty stepsisters. She’s burdened with chores, and has a hard time fitting in at her new school. So when she sees Connor Pearson, the star player on the varsity basketball team, Lucy hopes her destiny has finally changed. With everything else going on in her life, doesn’t she at least deserve to get the handsome prince?

This book was published a couple years back, but it's a goodie. I love Cinderella plot lines, mainly because it gives us uncool, less-prettier girls some hope that we, too, can get the coolest guy in school. Come on, admit it! :)

Lucy is a tall, red-headed art lover who moved to New York seven months ago, and still has no friends. Her father's married Mara, Lucy very own wicked stepmother, and now Lucy has step sisters-- twins, actually. So she, like every other girl in school, totally wants to catch Connor Pearson's attention-- and that happens when he and his friends sit down at the same table where she's sitting at lunch and one of the guys makes a comment about how the Chicago basketball team will beat the LA one. Lucy is also in love with basketball, and a huge follower of the LA team, so she disagrees. And Connor notices how cool she is... you know, 'cause she likes basketball.

So their romance starts, and throughout Lucy starts hanging out with this guy called Sam Wolff-- a fellow art geek. Ooh-la-la, we all know where this will go.

I really liked this book. It's funny and brings out emotions-- especially frustration at Lucy's new family. Her stepmother Mara is kind of a bitch who can't see past her reflection, and her stepsisters are those stereotypical girls who are obsessed with clothes, hair, makeup and what they look like. Very superficial. I was also frustrated at how Connor kept calling Lucy 'Red' because of her hair colour. I don't think he called her by her name once in the book. As well as Lucy's new friends, Jessica and Madison. They started being friends with her only after she and Connor hooked up. Maybe it's just me, but I'm sick of the whole 'uncool girl suddenly becomes popular because she's dating the hottest guy in school' thing.

This book is really good, and I couldn't put it down. It's interesting-- despite the over-used plot line-- funny, sad, happy, and best of all: it has a happily ever after... kind of. They're teenagers. I'm sure they'll breakup in a couple of years.

My verdict: A kind of oldie (6 years old), but a goodie. For anyone who's looking for a fluffy, light-hearted read that won't take too long to finish.

Review: Cinderella: Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan

2011-04-10T19:30:00.001+10:00

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior, Maureen McGowan

Release date: April 2011

Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Adventure, Historical
Pages: 320

Series: Twisted Tales

1. Cinderella: Ninja Warrior

2. Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer (April 2011)

Author's website

In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

I put this in a Waiting for Wednesday post months ago, and I actually got in on NetGalley but may have changed my mind about reading it because I don't usually read the 'choose your adventure' type books. But I decided that I should try it out because, well, the cover looks absolutely awesome.

I expected having to make a decision at every other page, like with all the other (read: 2) books I've read like this, but this one is better: you get to read a pretty long chapter and then when it's decision time, there's two decisions to make, and they lead to another long chapter. There's 320 pages in this book and 8 possible routes to the end. I only had the time for one, but I am planning to go ahead and see the other ways.

The book started off with Cinderella trapped in her house by her evil stepmother who is a wizard who practises dark magic. And Cinderella's stray cat Max found her a ninja training book, and now Cinderella is training to be a ninja so she can escape from the house because her stepmother has magically trapped her there. Yeah, it's pretty full on. Then a messenger comes to invite 'all the young, unmarried women' in the household to His Royal Highness, Prince Tiberus' ball-- where he will pick a bride. We come to the decision on whether Cinderella should accept the invitation. I chose to accept it.

I'm not gonna give anything away, so I won't go on about my own 'adventure', which was pretty damn awesome. McGowan has really made a fantastic novel: who would've thought to make Cinderella a magical ninja? The storyline involved Cinderella falling in love with 'Ty' who suspiciously changes his outfit around, appearing as a beggar, messenger and a waiter throughout the story (well, my story anyways).I gotta say... have you guys watched the 1997 Cinderella movie with Whitney Houston? This one? The one where the prince disguises himself as a simple towns person? I'm not gonna say anything more, but you get the idea!

My verdict: I liked this book. I wanna go back and try all the other possible ways for Cinderella to have an awesome HEA. McGowan has written a pretty damn awesome book, and I'm eager to read the other one-- Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer. Oh, yeah.

Review: Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

2011-04-09T16:58:00.003+10:00

Friendship on Fire, Danielle Weiler

Release date: March 2011

Publisher: Sid Harta Publishers
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 471

Author's website

The first few days of Year 12 are disastrous for school captain Daisy Brooks.

But Daisy’s life takes a sudden turn when she is dared by Skye, the leader of the Blonde Brigade, to meet the mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous stranger, Nate, from rival school Addison Grammar. Daisy’s instant attraction to him disrupts her world. But what about her best friend Roman? How will he respond to this intruder?

Daisy is a vulnerable, yet fiery girl going through the chaotic phase between teenage-hood and adulthood. She is about to discover the complexities of relationships, the etiquette of friendship, and most of all, the development of herself as a woman.

Is it too late for Daisy to realise that the choices she makes shapes who she is and who she will become?

So I actually won this book (signed!) in a giveaway, and since it's Aussie YA, I was really happy about it. So this book is about Daisy's last year of high school-- Yr 12. And we all know how stressful that is! I loved the beginning of the book. I thought it quite funny and typical of kids my age. The same thing also happens to one of my friends, so I totally got it. No wonder the publishers liked the book:

... 'RANGA.'
Not for the first time today.

Oh, yes. Daisy's dad picked the wrong shade of hair dye (Tip 1: don't even trust your dad to pick out hair dye for you when he goes to the shops!), and her hair is now a very vibrant shade of red. Daisy's a blonde, by the way. Her school also has a really nasty rule about dyeing your hair natural colours only (I wasn't sure school even had rules that this! My school certainly doesn't), so her principal, Mr Head, is really not quite happy.

I have to tell you guys this: this book is long. Close to 500 pages. So of course it dragged on a bit at a few points. All books tend to. I spent hours in my bed reading it, refusing to put it down because it was so interesting! I loved how Daisy's life wasn't the glamorous, cool one of a popular senior girl. She's just a normal girl with three brothers, two best friends, and a new boyfriend. Her new boyfriend Nate is really lovely, and Daisy ends up really loving him.

This book is all about life and its really unattractive bits, like betrayals, sadness and general bad luck. Daisy has it all, as well as a great best friend Roman to help her out, though he starts acting kind of weird when she gets a boyfriend... Hmm! I don't want to spoil it for you guys, but you get the idea. ;)

Can I say that I want Daisy's brothers? DUDE. I'm a twin, which means my sister is older by two minutes-- a fact which she lords over me at every possible minute of our lives-- but I've always wanted a big brother to look out for me and tease me. I love to read stories with awesome big brothers, and I loved all of Daisy's. I must say that I am very jealous!

A few things that I wasn't a fan of: the length, I found, was a bit long for a YA novel, because let's admit it: teenagers don't have such a great attention span when it comes to long books, and long books tend to take ages to get to the point. Friendship on Fire didn't really have a 'point': it documented Daisy's last year of school, and the point was at the end when heaps of good things made up for the bad ones that she'd gone through. I also didn't like the kind of cliched mean-popular-girl-gets-what-she-kind-of-deserves-in-the-end-but-turns-good factor. Really quite cliched, and I don't like cliches. And I thought some of the punctuation needed a bit of work. Some sentences didn't have commas where I thought they needed to be-- as in, if I said the sentence, I would have pauses in it that weren't there in the book, if you get what I mean.

My verdict: I really liked this book. It highlighted a really important thing that teenagers need to realise: Life isn't going to magically work out, and when it does, you'll have suffered some mishaps and unfortunate things one the way. Yeah, it wasn't perfect, but I would recommend this to anyone who wanted to read about real life and how it works with and against you.

Review: Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

2011-03-30T23:52:00.001+11:00

Storm Glass, Maria V. Snyder

Release date: May, 2010

Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 488
Series: Glass Series
1. Storm Glass
2. Sea Glass
3. Spy Glass

Author's website

Untrained. Untested. Unleashed.

As a glass maker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers - particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade - require Opal's unique talents to prevent it from happening again.

But when the mission goes wrong, Opal must tap into a new kind of power as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the deeper she delves into the mystery, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance Opal and Kade must learn to control unknown powers... powers that could lead to disaster beyond anything they've ever seen.

So I got home from the convention and immediately started reading Storm Glass. It didn't sound particularly interesting, but I decided to give it a try. Turns out that I should have read the Study/Soulfinder books first, just to get a bit of the back story, but it was quite well explained.

This is Opal's story, who was introducedc back in Magic Study, the second of the Study series. Opal is now nineteen and is sent on a mission to help the Stormdancer clan, whose glass orbs are breaking when they try to put the storm's energy into them, and the magicians are being killed, which is bad because they're kind of rare, and even one death is really, really bad.

So Opal sets off, and we learn more about her glass magic. She actually has the really cool ability to put magic into the glass animals she creates, and they can be used as kind of mobile phones by magicians with mind reading powers. Pretty awesome, huh?

This book sucked me in! I didn't expect to enjoy it, since I've now learned that Maria doesn't really stick romance in... or at least, it's shoved to the side and labelled 'Not an Important Part of the Story'. Yeah, I've read the first two Study books (yes, already!) and am onto the third, wishing to see more of Valek. But anyways, I enjoyed Opal's story a lot.

I loved the world because I wish magic did exist, and Opal's magic is so awesome. Making glass sounds beyond cool. I'm gonna YouTube it to see if they've got any videos! Okay, so this book is fast paced with everything happening all at once, but it's so easy to follow. Maria writes really well and the plot is easy to understand and I didn't get lost at all.

My verdict: Read this book, guys. Actually, read the Study books first, and then this one! Maria Snyder is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, and she's coming to Australia in August!

P.S. Have you guys seen the UK cover? I AM IN LOVE. I am in love with the UK covers of both the Study series and the Glass ones!! I am seriously debating whether to buy them instead of the Aussie editions... help me decide? >.<

Waiting on Wednesday #7

2011-03-30T23:36:00.000+11:00

Hi again, guys! I've been sooo busy reading Maria Snyder's books and not reviewing them like I should have, haha.

So yeah, my WoW this week is:

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - 23rd August, 2011

Rose's story might have wrapped up in the Vampire Academy series, but there's still lots more to tell about the other characters from that world. This spin-off series centers around Sydney the Alchemist, as well as Jill, Eddie, and everyone's favorite heartbroken hero from the last series. More details coming later this year!

^ From Richelle's site. :)

ARRC 2011: Day Two

2011-03-27T21:11:00.004+11:00

Can I first say that this has been one of the funnest and best weekends of my life? Meeting authors, being able to talk with them, meeting other obsessed readers, talking about books, laughing at what the authors said... bringing home 23 books-- none of which I paid for, by the way!-- and just being at this place with all the authors, book, and readers was amazing.

This morning, we had American author Cindy Gerard as the keynote speaker. She spoke about how she first got published, gave us some tips on how to persevere, told us the process which she went through while she was working on a book. It was interesting and funny. All of the three authors who gave speeches were funny and interesting.

I also got four new books from HarlequinTeen (offered as samples from the representative since she saw that I was the only one in my teens and said I could get some samples since I liked HarlequinTeen so much!), and then got five as secondhand from a girl who had brought a large plastic tub of books that she didn't want anymore, and then won some when my raffle ticket was called, and then took some when it was obvious that they were leftovers. I came home with twenty three books in total, and all free of charge. WOOT.

I then went to the This Other Time panel, which just had little anecdotes from authors about fans, family reactions, experiences, etc. They had the whole audience laughing and I really enjoyed listening to various authors talking about their lives.

I also got a second photo with Nalini (who I want to stalk and keep with me forever because she is so AWESOME!!), as well as Keri Arthur. I sat next to Erica Hayes, but she ran away before I was able to ask for a photo. No, no, I wasn't chasing her. Geez, you guys, your accusations HURT. I was actually looking at books and then lost track of Erica's whereabouts so I didn't get a photo. Let me tell you-- she looks absolutely different to her photo on her website. I almost didn't recognise her!! Click for a larger version! :)


Nalini and I... again. :)

Keri Arhutr! :)

I then went to the Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Futuristic Romance session, which had Nalini on it, as well as other cool authors like Keri Arthur and Erica Hayes. That was fun, and I really just loved listening to the authors talk about their writing! It's so interesting-- and it was a convention for readers, not writers, which was great.

After that (the last session-- boo hoo~!), we had our by invitation panel, which featured authors that readers wanted to hear more from, so they wrote the authors' names down yesterday and the ones who got the most votes, got put on. This, of course, had Nalini on it! I think I was her number one fan at the convention... ands just number one in general! I sat next to Erica Hayes during the session... but forgot to ask for a photo. :(

Overall, this was a great event, and for anyone who wants to go to the next one, it's in 2013, and will probably be in Melbourne. I'm gonna have to save up heaps for that if I want to fly out to it, which I do want to do!

Can I please add that this event really did help me in humungous ways? I learnt to put away my wimpiness and just go for it, because if I hadn't, I'd have missed the opportunity to talk with authors and get to know other awesome readers. <3

ARRC 2011: Day One

2011-03-26T19:03:00.002+11:00

Sorry for my long absence, guys! I've had school, tests, and assignments. BUT, I will be able to blog a lot more next week because I have assessment week and only have to come to school for one day! Woo. But I also have six or so assignments due on the 4th, none of which I've started... Hmm!

So anyways, today was my first day at the Australian Romance Readers' Convention and I absolutely LOVED it. In fact, I wish these things happened every weekend. Because guess what? I MET NALINI SINGH!1!!!

Yeah... She made my week. I had lunch with her (just the two of us at the table!!) and we talked for an hour or so. She is my second favourite author, guys... I hope you know how much this means to me!!

So enough about me, you know, fangirling over Nalini (who is so nice and easy to talk to!!). Let's talk about the amazing experience of meeting with other readers and over 30 Australian authors.

So I woke up pretty early because I was excited. But, umm, I was a bit nervous. I knew I'd be the youngest there-- and I was. I'm 16-- everyone else was in their late twenties, 30s, 40s, 50s and probably 60s. There were also other differences that I can't mention without offending a lot of people. >__>

So I sat down and waited till the convention thingo started, and the first speaker was Anna Campbell, who is a pretty well known historical romance author here and in the US. She started off with romances of our childhoods. And by 'our' I mean everyone over the age of pretty much 30, so a LOT of people knew who she was talking about. Most of the books were before my time. But it was cool seeing everyone reminisce. While Anna was talking, I was looking over at all the people, and wondering if there wasa cool author sitting close to me. Nope, they were all sitting on the other side of the room... and then I saw Nalini. Oh my gosh, I was like, Eeeeeeeee!!! Not out loud, of course! But I was full on trying not to jump up and down in excitement!! XD XD

I actually talked to her for a bit after the session, as we were walking to morning tea. I phoned my mum straight after, telling her about sitting ten metres away from Nalini (the closest I thought I would ever get to her!), and saying I wanted to talk to her but was pretty much too wimpy. Mum was encouraging me, and I think i made a very interesting sight, arguing on the phone in Russian. Well, I hung up just as Nalini was next to me, so I just went for it and told her I loved the Guild Hunter series. We talked for a minute and then went in different directions.

I then had morning tea, and gathered for the first concurrent session. I went to the Paranormal one, which had Nalini Singh in it as well as four or five other authors who wrote in the paranormal genre. They talked about everything paranormal and it was absolutely hilarious. There was Hugh Jackman, werebunnies and cows, "How much is too much in the shifter genre?" (which meant how much could the shifter shift into his animal while having sex before it turned into bestiality), zombies... We spent half of the session all laughing at what the authors said. I videoed some of it, but I missed all the funny bits. D: (click the photos to view the larger version)

Then we went to lunch. Curious about how I got to have lunch with Nalini? I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE. DON'T DENY IT. SERIOUSLY. But fine... I shall tell you. Sheesh, calm down! :)

Okay, so after the Paranormal session, I saw Nalini talking to someone, and decided that I might not get another chance to have a photo with her, so I came up to her and asked if I could get a photo with her, and she said yes, and we got the photo taken. I then asked her how to pronounce Elena's name (from the Guild Hunter series), because there were two ways to pronounce it. We ended up walking down to lunch together and she invited me to sit with her... it was then at that moment that I believed that some unseen force out there LOVED ME. So we talked for about an hour about movies, different books, what she did before writing. Wow. I will not stop obsessing about this for a couple of months!

Me and the amazing Nalini!

Me and Anna Campbell.

After lunch was another concurrent session, and I went to the Publishing In and Outs one, where they talked about all aspects of publishing books. After that, Nalini Singh was the keynote speaker and spoke about writing her series, keeping a series bible, which is where she keeps all the info about her series, like maps, world, characters. After that was the book signing, and I got to talk to a girl who worked as a publishing assistant, and told me about her job, and we just talked BOOKS. She's 20, and the closeness of age was pretty cool.

I can't wait till tomorrow! I also got like five books in the goodie bag. I got all three of my Guild Hunter books signed, as well as a bookmark.

Review: This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

2011-03-15T22:21:00.001+11:00

This Side of the Grave, Jeaniene Frost

Release date: February, 2011

Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 357
Series: The Night Huntress
1. Halfway to the Grave
2. One Foot in the Grave
3. At Grave's End

4. Destined for an Early grave

5. This Side of the Grave

Danger waits on both sides of the grave…

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they’ve triumphed over the latest battle, Cat’s new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance…
With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous “ally”—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war. …to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

*Spoiler warning - don't read if you don't want to find out what happens during the book and series!*

So this is the fifth book in Jeaniene's The Night Huntress series. As readers of this series will know, Cat is now a vampire, and things have finally settled down with her and Bones, so they can start planning their wedding and generally being a happy couple. So totally wrong - sadly! Trouble just keeps on following them! This time in the form of a certain ghoul named Apollyon claiming that Cat will be the destruction of them all because he reckons she can be a half-vampire half-ghoul.

I was so excited to read this book, because I became a huge fan last year after reading them all. I devoured this as soon as I got home after school today, and finished it half an hour ago. Oh my gosh. I loved it. Cat is a great protagonist - she's strong, loyal, sticks to her morals, and tries not to let things get her down. She and Bones are both stubborn, and that leads to some pretty hilarious situations... like when Bones tries to teach Cat to fly, and threatens to push her off a bridge into the Misissipi river. Which he does do. Lovely couple, they are.

Jeaniene surprised me with the plot. It was interesting, funny, fast-paced, sad - basically everything a good book should be. I couldn't put the book down, and I think a certain Bones is part of the reason! Once again, I find myself falling in love with Bones! He's hot, sexy, strong, awesome, witty and is willing to go head on with Cat if they don't agree on something. I would be absolutely devastated if something were to happen to him!

Cat and Bones are just part of the reason that I love this series: it has some awesomely badass vampires, creepy ghouls, friendly ghosts, a ghoul queen, and Kira and Mencheres making a cameo in it. I don't particularly like Mencheres, but I have to admit that without him (and who could forget Vlad!), the story wouldn't be as cool. This book made my heart race, my sides hurt from laughing and I'm totally eager to read the next book in the series, which comes out in (sadly) autumn of this year.

My verdict: If you haven't read this series, you need to. It's attention-grabbing, hilarious, sexy, fun... from the moment I picked it up, I was hooked. The fifth book rocked, and I am eager to read the sixth.

Camp!

2011-03-13T00:50:00.003+11:00

Hey guys!

I'm back from camp (with a cold, scraped kness, and a pretty painful scab-thing on my hand) and here are a couple of videos! :)

I did some amazing things (like archery, a mud pit, and raft building), had a great time, and got a 'healthy glow' from the sun... which turned into a light tan. It's a lot better than another girl who forgot to put on sunscreen when we went to the beach and came back with massive tan lines - her skin was like three sahdes darker, and it looked preeeeetty bad.

Review: You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

2011-03-12T23:41:00.002+11:00

You Slay Me, Katie MacAlister

Release date: September, 2004
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Comedy
Pages: 351
Series: Aisling Grey
1. You Slay Me
2. Fire Me Up
3. Light My Fire

4. Holy Smokes

5. Death's Excellent Vacation - The Perils of Effrijim (anthology)

Author's Website

Aisling finds her true calling when she travels to Paris to deliver a medieval object that is part of a set sought after for the power it wields.

There she meets the handsome Drake, a man who is not at all what he seems. Implicated in the circumstances of two murders, Aisling, the demon she summons for help (and subsequently can’t get rid of) named Jim, and Drake find themselves caught up in a web of lies and confusion that could well result in the demon lords of hell ruling the mortal world.

So I had originally read MacAlister's Silver Dragons series first, so I was a bit fuzzy on Aisling (pronounced Ashling) and Drake's history. I was excited to read this series because I love, love, love dragons, especially Katie's ones.

So we start off with Aisling trying to get through security at an airport in Paris because her uncle has set her up as a courier, and she's delivering a small dragon figurine to a rich lady. She then gets to the lady's house via a very nice taxi driver (who we will see more of throughout the series) and discovers that the woman has been murdered - as a sacrifice for some sort of demon.

While Aisling is trying not to panic and is figuring out what the hell to do, a (very hot!) man comes inside the room, and proceeds to steal Aisling's gold dragon - the one she was supposed to deliver. Drake Vireo will rue the day he stole Aisling's dragon - she finds out more about him and along the way, she learns she's some sot of Guardian, magic exists, and that he is a dragon. Basically, Aisling is thrown head first into a magical murder mystery while trying to get back her dragon figurine.

Aisling is awesome. She manages to keep a (somewhat) cool head, and has a very minimal sort of reaction to the whole magical world thing. No, seriously. She pretty much goes, "Okay. Will this stop me from stealing back my dragon from Drake?" Her taxi driver, Renee, takes it suspiciously well - and he made me real curious, too, when I read the sequels!

I don't know what to say abut Drake apart from this: Yum-ee! He's awesome. Hot, smart, sexy... a dragon. Mmm, who wouldn't want that piece of sexiness? Aisling, that's who! Well, not at first... Their love/hate relationship kept me on my toes, and I loved reading this book so much.

My verdict: The romance, the plot, the dragons - everything., basically - made this book so awesome. I was incredibly sad when I finished it!

Year 11 Camp

2011-03-09T00:21:00.002+11:00

I just wanna tell you guys that I will be away from Wednesday to Friday, but will be have a crap load of posts on Saturday!

I'll be making a couple of vids at camp-- just the activities and me and my friends being idiots-- and I might put them p on here to show you guys what an interesting life I have. :)

In My Mailbox #5

2011-03-06T19:56:00.000+11:00

Hi people. In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. :)

I'm sorry but I got the number wrong-- this is my fifth IMM, not the sixth, haha.

Review: Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

2011-03-04T21:44:00.000+11:00

Burn Bright, Marianne de Pierres

Release date: March, 2011
Publisher: Random House
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 316
Series: The Night Creatures
1. Burn Bright
2. Angel Arias
3. Blaze Dark
Author's website

Retra doesn’t want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. Retra is a Seal – sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn’t crave parties and pleasure, experience and freedom.
But her brother Joel left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him. Braving the intense pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she’s ever known, Retra stows away on the barge that will take her to her brother.

When she can’t find Joel, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion?

Retra will find that Ixion has its pleasures, but its secrets are deadly. Will friendship, and the creation of an eternal bond with a Riper, be enough to save her from the darkness?

Listen well, baby bats. Burn bright, but do not stray from the paths. Remember, when you live in a place of darkness you also live with creatures of the dark.

Can I tell you guys how awesome the cover is? It is sooo cool. I think it's pretty much one of the top five Aussie book covers that I've seen.

So this book is twisted in a way that really confused me. But a good twisted. It's about good and evil, and how thin the line between the two is. This book... well, it's one that makes you wonder what will happen next, and you will always be surprised. I haven't read a book like this in a long time. It's great that this came from an Aussie author -- we need more of them!

So Retra is a Seal. It means that they're really withdrawn, not used to having fun... repressed a lot. She learns about a lot of things that she wasn't taught at school. She is used to being punished for eating the wrong way, for speaking her mind, for showing emotions, for talking out of turn. Any little thing that doesn't scream 'repressed and obedient'. And she comes to Ixion -- a party island where teens can let go and have the time of their lives. She's overwhelmed and confused, scared, alone... Marianne de Pierres writes her so well that I literally felt as isolated as Retra did at the beginning.

Things in Ixion seem cool, but Retra senses something else. Because of her Seal training, she notices other things that the partyers don't. Voices, the dangerous atmosphere. There's a lot going on at Ixion that should be feared, and the Ripers -- guardians, protectors -- are becoming feared. It's pretty intense.

I didn't like how fast everything seemed to happen in this book. Burn Bright has an excellent and creative plot, but it felt like everything was kind of happening too fast in the last half of the book. I was a bit confused at the very end, and had to go back and re-read some bits. If Marianne slowed down a bit, then it'd be perfect.

My verdict: Easily one of the best YA books that I've read this year. I loved it. I was surprised sooo much, and this kind of dystopian setting blew me away. Marianne de Pierres is one creative author!

P.S. Marianne de Pierres is having a signing at the Galaxy Bookstore in Sydney City on 23rd March. You can see more details here.

Waiting on Wednesday #6

2011-03-02T18:55:00.003+11:00

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

Okay, this week, I am waiting on... (by the way, this isn't YA. Very definitely not YA! ;])

The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons, Katie MacAlister, 3rd May, 2011

Even an ancient dragon can learn how to multitask…

Ysolde de Bouchier is a woman beset with trials. The dragon part of her buried deep for centuries is still making itself known, but in ways that just don’t make sense. She’s continuing to have visions, but now they involve events she wasn’t present to witness.

As if that isn’t enough, she’s caught up in a tangled web of plans that seem to grow more complex each day. Not only does she have to work out peace between her Light Dragon mate Baltic and the weyr, she also has to free his friend, convince an archimage to lift the spell controlling her magic, figure out what it is that the First Dragon expects her to do, rescue a half-dragon damsel in over her head, and once and for all clear Baltic’s name of murder charges that continue to plague him.

No one told Ysolde that dragon love would be so hard...

I am in LOVE with dragons. And Katie MacAlister... so this book? WOW. I am SO excited! This is basically an ongoing series with three series. First four are the story of Ashling Grey, three are May Northcott, and now the story of Ysolde! This is the second book in Ysolde's series, and I cannot wait!!

In My Mailbox #4

2011-02-27T20:37:00.000+11:00

So I only got three books today -- which I've reviewed. :)

So my books are:

Anna and the French kiss, Stephanie Perkins
Afterlife, Claudia Gray
You Had Me at Halo, Amanda Ashby

Review: Afterlife by Claudia Gray

2011-02-25T23:57:00.004+11:00

Afterlife, Claudia Gray

Release date: March, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: YA Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance
Pages: 360
Series: Evernight
1. Evernight
2. Stargazer
3. Hourglass
4. Afterlife
Author's website

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a ghostly wraith, but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling.

Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help... Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her transformation has given her.

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They’ve overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life?

...wow. I saw Afterlife in Big W a couple of days ago and then bought it, because I loved the first two books in the Evernight series. I hadn't read them in a while, and the third had let me feeling a bit displeased, but I decided to read Afterlife to see how it all ended.

Afterlife starts off exactly where Hourglass left off: Bianca deciding to let Lucas rise from the dead (he was killed by Charity, Balthazar's crazy ass sister) as a vampire, no matter that Lucas said he wouldn't become one. Once he awakens and gets some bearing with being a vampire, Black Cross hunters arrive - Lucas had contacted his mum for help with Bianca when Bianca was dying. When Kate finds out that Lucas is a vampire, her hate for vampires overpowers her love for Lucas. It was saddening. Soon enough, Lucas, Vic, Balthazar, and Ranulf go to Evernight, with Bianca following. It is here that the book is mainly set, and we find out the reason why Mrs Bethany was trapping wraiths.

The book started out slow for me, but as a new characters was introduced around the middle, it got interesting. The new characters? I loved him so much. He was awesome, and I now have this little crush on him. He told us how Mrs Bethany became a vampire, who he was, everything. And I loved him. I kept picturing him looking like Justin Gaston from Taylor Swift's Music video for 'Love Story'. Hotness.

So apart from this mysterious character, I liked Patric a lot. She's really nice, and this book made me really like her. And Balthazar. I want Balthazar. Lucas is good and all, but Balthazar? Even better. I really do hope he gets a happy ending - since Claudia Gray will be doing a book for him - about his past, though. But still. This guy needs a happy ending.

The plot? It got better and better. This is one of those books where I get really attached to the characters and end up gasping and laughing and screaming when anything good or bad happens. The plot of this story involved the huge mystery about Mrs Bethany and her wraiths, Bianca's struggles with how to cope as a wraith, as well as Lucas' trouble with being an ex-hunter in a school full of vampires who hate him. This book was amazing, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading more books by Claudia Gray!

My verdict: I loved this book. It's left me a bit drained because of the twists and turns. Claudia Gray is a fantastic writer and I recommend anything by her.

Review: You Had Me at Halo by Amanda Ashby

2011-02-24T21:48:00.000+11:00

You Had Me at Halo, Amanda Ashby

Release date: August, 2007
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance
Pages: 304
Author's website

Holly Evans has just seen her own body laid to rest. Now she would like to move onto the afterlife. But apparently she has some mortal baggage to unload first, starting with the matter of how she died. Her heavenly shrink isn't buying that she didn't kill herself- and says she must return to earth to straighten things out.

The thing is, she needs to borrow the body of computer geek Vince Murphy to do it. Oh, and although Vince was supposed to have vacated the premises, he apparently never got the memo. Now, Holly has forty-eight hours to resolve her issues while sharing arms, legs, and...other things...with a guy she barely noticed while she was alive. But the real surprise is what life has to offer when you have only two days to live it.

I really wanted to read this book because the concept sounded cool, if not a little over used.

It starts off with Holly complaining about her funeral. I didn't really like the beginning of the book because of Holly's reaction to being dead. She doesn't really take it all seriously. Like, I know, she's dead and she can't do anything about it, buuuut still...

So Heaven is complicated. It's basically like a a job - there's different levels and the higher you get, the more privileges you have, like seeing your deceased family members. But you have to work hard to get 'promoted'.

So they send Holly back to Earth for a few days to sort out her problems - which include trying to prove that she didn't kill herself - and she gets sent into the body of a coworker... who is still there. I applaud Holly for not freaking out about her new body - and for not flipping out that every time she gets turned on, something makes it obvious to the world. Seriously, if I suddenly had a male body, I'd take a few days to stop freaking out.

So we find out that this coworker isn't just a geek, and as Holly spends two days in his body chatting with him, she gets to know him better, she falls for him. I thought that was a bit of a let down, because yes, she has spent two days straight with him, but suddenly liking him when she knows it's not a possibility to be with him? It's not a smart move, but from the experiences of women all around the world: you sometimes can't choose who you love.

This book is supposed to be funny. Hmm, usually I find funny books not so funny. I just don't laugh at the 'funny situations', and this book was the same. I didn't find it funny, nor did I find it very believable. Yes, this is fiction, but characters have to act in appropriate ways to a situation. Maybe Holly didn't take everything seriously, but her reactions to the situation are a bit of a 'meh'. Apart from me not finding it very funny, I quite liked this book. It was a good read and had a good ending, and it's also by an Aussie author.

My verdict: Okay, while I didn't think this book is the best thing in the world, I did like it and would definitely re-read it.

Prices of books

2011-02-23T20:23:00.003+11:00

I don't want to be a downer, but...

I gotta say this: I finally figured out the reason why I read so many blog posts by bloggers saying they went into a bookstore and came out with, like, three books. I always went, "Whaaat? How the hell can you afford that??", but now I get it. Because the books are so much cheaper in the US.

Books over here cost a heck of a lot more than what they do in the US. By 'here', I mean Australia. I don't know about the UK or anywhere else. Here, in a book store (Borders, Angus & Robertson, Unleash, etc) you can't find a paperback that costs less than AU$15 (some can even cost a whopping $23). And hardcovers? What a joke. I don't own any hardcovers because they are wayyyyy too expensive, each coming in at over $25 on average. And you know what sucks? Some books don't come out in paperback till a couple of months later, so the only option is a hardcover.

I do have evidence: I went to the AU and US Borders sites, and compared around seven book titles. And the funny thing: the book with American covers here cost less than the one with Aussie/UK covers! Seriously - if there is a choice between buying a book with the US cover and the UK/Aussie cover, the US will be cheaper. Can anyone explain this to me?

I am so lucky that Big W, Kmart and Target exist, though they do have a much, much, much smaller variety. It may be cheaper (by even a few dollars), but I can't find all the books I want. Yes, people, I am complaining! I want to know why books cost that much more here, and I want to murder the person who makes them cost so damn much.

"Well, if you don't like the prices, there's always the Book Depository and online stores!" YES, there are, but I also don't want to wait over a week for a book to be delivered. And e-books? They're only two or so dollars cheaper.

So there: there's a big mystery solved, and now I want it fixed. I want more books to be available here, and I want prices that I can afford without putting a humungous dent into my bank account.

What do you guys think? I'd really love to get a few opinions, because I'm actually gonna send this in as a guest post to a blog, and I'd like to be able to quote a couple of people to get their points of views and stuff. :) If you'd like to be quoted, just say so in the comment, and then leave a name and location - or an 'Anon' if you want to remain anonymous. I'd also love it if you linked this post to others so I can get more opinions!

Waiting on Wednesday #5

2011-02-23T19:31:00.000+11:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

Abandon by Meg Cabot (April, 2011)

She knows what it's like to die. Now Death wants her back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce knows what happens to us when we die.
That's how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who's made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible.
Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong.

He finds her.

What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows... just like she knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven. But she can't stay away from him, either, especially since he's always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears the most. And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her: The Underworld.

Dude. DUDE. DUDE!! Oh my gosh, one of my most awaited book ever. Meg Cabot, you rock my world so much.

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2011-02-22T23:17:00.011+11:00

Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins

Release date: December, 2010
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: YA, YA Romance, Romance,
Pages: 381
Author's Website

Anna was 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. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris-until she meets Etienne St. Clair. Smart charming beautiful Etienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

Oh my God. This book deserves every bit of praise that it has gotten. I won it in a giveaway (which means yay for me, since I didn't have to pay for it, haha), and I'd been wanting to read it for some time, so I was amazingly happy and excited to have won it - because who doesn't love a nice surprise on Valentine's Day in the form of a free book? :) Has anyone else noticed the botched Photoshop job they did on the cover? =/ I am not impressed!

I started reading immediately, and pretty much instantly fell in love. The very idea of experiencing Paris with Anna gave me the shivers, because I've longed to go overseas and attend school there - okay, in America, which is a lot less cultured, but please, I really do want to live there for a bit - so I was interested to learn with Anna. I liked the friends she made who were genuinely nice people and were all down-to-earth. All of the people in this book are pretty much nice.

It starts off with Anna making a good friend on her first night in the dorm, and then meeting a certain someone - Etienne St Clair, who is a hottie. He's funny, smart, nice, friendly - an all around good guy with a steady girlfriend. I love Anna because she tells herself it's wrong to like someone with a girlfriend. I love how she doesn't plot to break them up or seduce St Clair like many other girls would have done. Anna is a lovely person, too. She's confident in herself (though not enough to order things off the menu in French in case she orders something like egg stew!), funny, sweet and tries to make the best of her situation. I liked St Clair and Anna because they're very real.

This book made me laugh so hard, because Stephanie Perkins wrote about real things that can happen, and I could relate to that. Of course there's a mean girl - Amanda - but she's not the normal type you get in other books - she doesn't rule the school, nor does she set out to make Anna's life miserable apart from a couple remarks, and while she has a few friends who make bitchy comments to Anna while Amanda is saying something not too nice. Anna chooses to ignore it, and I must say - I respect Anna a lot!

Anna and St Clair's relationship... wow! I wish it was that easy with the guys I've liked. They go so well together, and they slowly get to know each other better and things start happening between them, like going to the cinema together, walking around Paris, St Clair spending more time with Anna than his girlfriend. They had problems, yeah, but they always made up after. They have a great relationship together and it was so exciting to basically watch it develop.

My verdict: Yes, yes, yes, this is definitely one of the books that I will treasure forever - no doubt about it. It's awesome in pretty much every way. Seriously, amazingly, completely awesome. I've awarded it the Big CIty Stamp, which means I loved it just a lot more than just 5 stars. Click on the label below and you'll see other books that I've loved a lot.

Review: All American Girl: Ready or Not by Meg Cabot

2011-02-19T21:43:00.003+11:00

American Girl: Ready or Not, Meg Cabot

Release date: 2005
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Genre: YA, YA Romance, Comedy

Pages: 214
Series: All American Girl
1. All American Girl

2. All American Girl: Ready or Not?
Author's Website

Top ten things Samantha Madison isn't ready for:
10. Spending Thanksgiving at Camp David
9. With her boyfriend, the president's son
8. Who wants to take things to the Next Level
7. Which Sam inadvertently announces live on MTV
6. While discussing the president's dubious policies on families, morals, and, yes, sex
5. Juggling her new after-school job at Potomac Video
4. Even though she's already the (unpaid) teen ambassador to the UN
3. Getting accosted because she's "the redheaded girl who saved the president's life," despite her new ebony tresses
2. Dealing with her popular sister Lucy, who for once can't get the guy she wants

And the number-one thing Sam isn't ready for?
1. Finding out the hard way that in art class, "life drawing" means "naked people".

I didn't like the sequel as much as I liked the first book in this series. This book starts off a year after American Girl finished, and Thanksgiving is a week or so away, and Sam's school is having the President talk about his new bill in the hall and it's gonna be filmed on MTV.

And the drama begins when Sam's boyfriend David asks her to go away for Thanksgiving with him to Camp David, the presidential retreat. It goes something like this:

"Come on, Sharona [instead of cute nicknames like 'Schmoopie', Sam and David gave each other white trash/trailer park names. David is Daryl and Sam is Sharona]. It'll be fun. There's all sorts of stuff to do. Horseback riding. Movies. Parcheesi."

Parcheesi? PARCHEESI? Was that some kind of weird, boy-code name for sex?

And Sam starts freaking out. And the whole book is mostly her going, "Am I ready to have sex with David? SEX WITH DAVID. Oh my God. Should I?" I mean, there were other parts to the book, but that was basically what I was reading in most chapters. Sam overreacted, and instead of just, say, asking David, she just obsesses over it. It really did get annoying.

While Sam is obsessing over David and sex, the president is introducing a new bill called Return to Family, and during the whole MTV thing, Sam finds out that the president wants pharmacists, etc, to alert the teenagers' parents if they are supplying them with contraception. Sam had no idea, and confronts the president on live TV, and then screws it up by saying, "So because I've said yes to sex, that makes me a bad example to this nation?" Oopsie!

Apart from Sam acting wonked, the book was funny and easy to read. Sam's family is amazing. They are all completely different from each other, and while they are stereotypes, it works. They each have a personality, and I enjoyed reading their interactions. And David is awesome. I want him as a boyfriend!

My verdict: I liked this book, but Sam acted a bit too immature for her age. I laughed a lot, and I recommend this book (or any of Meg Cabot's books) to everyone.

It is a great pleasure to announce...

2011-02-18T11:46:00.001+11:00

...that I am going to the Australian Romance Readers Convention in March! The logo has a link to the website, and I am seriously excited! I just finished paying (a whopping AU$300 for two full days), and am waiting for the confirmation email.

I decided to go because a) I've never been to one, and b) it's exciting to meet Aussie authors as well as Nalini Singh!

Geez, I am so excited right now you can't believe it! Is anyone else going?

Review: All American Girl by Meg Cabot

2011-02-18T09:34:00.004+11:00

All American Girl, Meg Cabot

Release date: 2005
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Genre: YA, YA Romance, Comedy

Pages: 232
Series: All American Girl
1. All American Girl

2. All American Girl: Ready or Not?
Author's Website

Just as a general thing, when you have saved the life of the leader of the free world, most people really want to hear about that and, sadly, don't want to hear a long-winded description of your dog.

Sam Madison has always been totally ordinary. Apart from having two weird sisters, of course. But then she does something utterly out of the ordinary- she stops a crazy psycho from assassinating the American President.

Now Sam's an instant, world-famous celebrity. Dining at the White House sure isn't easy for someone who only eats hamburgers and lives in combat boots. In fact, there's only one compensation - David, the President's son...

I love Meg Cabot. I own most of her books, and I have been reading her since I was about ten years old. I've read All American Girl before, but it was absolutely hilarious, so I decide to re-read and then review it for you guys, so you would try it.

This book is about a girl called Sam Madison who is basically an outcast at school because of her contradicting views: she hates popular girls, tries to be different and wear black and combat boots (somehow, this combination means that Sam is a rebel), is in love with her older sister's boyfriend Jack who is a rebel and artist (Sam believes they are soulmates), and has one friend whose parents are super strict.

Anyways, after Sam's parents find out that she has been drawing girls with their favourite celebrities and charging them money for it (really, it's a smart idea. Her parents just don't get it - but that may be because she has a C minus in German class because of this), she has to go to drawing class, which she doesn't want to. While she is skipping her second drawing class, she saves the president from a bullet in the head, instantly becoming famous. Hilarity really does ensue. This is one of the books that has truly made me laugh.

In this book, we deal with Sam's indignation about being famous, being hopelessly in love with Jack, and trying to figure out what is happening between her and the president's son David. Meg Cabot writes this book amazingly well, and the fast pacing of it keeps your eyes open. Sam has to deal with her family trying to dress her up (because every article of her own clothing is black or just not appropriate to be seen in if you're a celebrity), drawing classes, her sister Lucy being perfect, and surviving some pretty embarrassing and hilarious situations, some of which made me cringe.

Meg Cabot is a great writer. One of the best I've read. She can write great books that are funny, heart wrenching, or just plain interesting, and every book of hers that I've read is one that I loved. This was no exception. The plot was funny, and while it probably wouldn't happen in real life, it wasn't over the top fake. Sam is (kind of) an ordinary girl and I loved that about her. She sometimes takes things far too seriously, but I loved her. She makes lists and I liked reading them, especially since she has an obsession with Gwen Stefani.

My verdict: I laughed, I cringed, and I couldn't put this book down, despite it being the third or fourth time that I've read it. The plot is great, the characters are funny, and this YA romance and comedy is great for a night in. Is definitely a must-read for everyone. Meg Cabot is one of those authors that you can't pass by. She has some great adult romances, too.

Small Break

2011-02-12T00:04:00.000+11:00

Hey guys,

I jsut wanted to let you know I need to take a week's break from blogging. I'm having a few bits of trouble in real life, as well as being busier than normal. I'm sorry for this, but I need to take some time out for a week or so.

Alice

Review: Shadowspell by Jenna Black

2011-02-09T21:02:00.003+11:00

Shadowspell, Jenna Black

Release date: January, 2011
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Genre: YA, YA Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal

Pages: 295

Source: Bought

On top of spending most of her time in a bunker-like safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?

This book had me soooo frustrated! But in a good way... kind of.

We start with Dana going on a 'date'-- she keeps insisting it's not-- with Ethan, whose name I keep saying as 'Eric' for some reason. They get a little hot and Dana's bodyguard Finn throws popcorn at them. I looooove Finn and Keane! They are pretty much my absolutely favourite characters because they are both awesome and badass.

While Dana is having dinner with her mum and dad at a restaurant, this guy on a horse with a couple of other guys suddenly burst into Avalon from Faerie and behead a person that they were chasing. Welcome to Erlking, Faerie's hottest assassin. He wants something from Dana, and isn't above sneaking around for it.

I didn't like Dana in this book. She's the one who frustrated me a lot. This will probably contain spoilers, so I've made the text white. Highlight it to see it.

So towards the last third of the book where Dana has to make a decision about a deal-- and she accepts the deal without even asking much about it. She just believes what is said to her and accepts. And I knew it was gonna be dodgy, so I totally wanted to run over her with a bus.

I LOVED the Erlking! This guys is so awesome. The concept of him and his huntsmen is also pretty cool. I liked Shadowspell a lot more than Glimmerglass because of all the cool and badass characters, and Dana really disappointed me.

My verdict: This book is a fantastic sequel to Glimmerglass, and whoever hasn't read it should go buy it now. I absolutely loved it!

Review: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderdson

2011-02-09T18:36:00.002+11:00

Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson

Release date: 1999
Publisher:Douglas & McIntyre

Genre: YA

Pages: 198

Source: Borrowed

Since the beginning of the school year, high school freshman Melinda has found that it's been getting harder and harder for her to speak out loud: "My throat is always sore, my lips raw.... Every time I try to talk to my parents or a teacher, I sputter or freeze.... It's like I have some kind of spastic laryngitis." What could have caused Melinda to suddenly fall mute? Could it be due to the fact that no one at school is speaking to her because she called the cops and got everyone busted at the seniors' big end-of-summer party? Or maybe it's because her parents' only form of communication is Post-It notes written on their way out the door to their nine-to-whenever jobs. While Melinda is bothered by these things, deep down she knows the real reason why she's been struck mute...

I picked up Speak with high expectations. All around the blogosphere I've been reading great reviews, calling the book amazing and a must-read. Hmm, I wouldn't go that far, but it is a pretty good book.

I already knew the reason why Melinda was mute-- I'd read it in reviews, etc, but I don't want to ruin anything for you guys, so I won't tell you. It's kind of given away within the first few chapters, though, so once you finally know the whole story, it won't seem like that much of a surprise.

Basically, Melinda is bullied and ostracised by the whole school because she called the police at a party, and she only had one friend, Helen, who proves to be a really sucky friend. We don't really find out much about why she doesn't talk much, but we know that she bites her lips a lot (or something) because they're described as 'crusted', 'raw'. It's really sad, in a way; kind of like she bites them to keep her mouth shut.

This book is told in mini chapters. The author skims past a lot, so we could be reading about one week for one chapter, and then suddenly we're a month ahead. It's pretty much a journal where the writer skips days. But it actually works well. We go through her whole school year in this book, and the ending is good... in a way. I thought there'd be more, but Melinda ends up making small progress. In a way, I'm proud of her a lot, but also kind of wanting to push her and go, "Come on, you can do better than that!"

My verdict: My review is kinda short, but only because I don't know what else to sday about this book other than, Go read it, because it makes you feel. It makes you want to take Melinda and shake her and hug her. I enjoyed this book.

Sorry for the really late post, guys! I've had school, and I was going to post this last night, but I may or may not have fallen asleep. >.<

Review: Mercy by Rebecca Lim

2011-02-05T15:49:00.003+11:00

Mercy, Rebecca Lim

Release date: October, 2010

Publisher: Angus & Robertson

Genre: YA/Paranormal romance

Pages: 279

Source: Borrowed
Series: Mercy
1. Mercy
2. Exile (July, 2011)
3. Muse (2012)

Mercy ′wakes′ on a school bus bound for Paradise, a small town where everyone knows everyone else′s business... or thinks they do. But Mercy has a secret life. She is an angel, doomed to return repeatedly to Earth, taking on a new ′persona′ each time she does, in an effort to resolve a cataclysmic rift between heavenly beings.

The first of a brilliant new series sees Mercy meeting Ryan, an eighteen-year-old whose sister was kidnapped two years ago and is presumed dead. When another girl is also kidnapped, Mercy knows she has to act quickly and use extraordinary powers to rescue her, even if it means exposing her true identity.

My friend lent me this book because I wasn't sure whether I would like it or not, so I decided to save some money in case I didn't like it. I liked it. Heaps.

The beginning was kind of a slow start for me. I sometimes get really addicted to a book at pretty much the first page, but other times it's towards the middle or end, so I kept reading it. The book engaged me as I read further in and I ended up not able to rip myself away from it.

Mercy doesn't really understand why she keeps being 'reincarnated' in new people, but she does know that once she finally settles in, she's ripped from her life and stuck into a new one. Annoying, right? She isn't surprised to find herself in a completely different place than she was when she fell asleep, and I admired her for her bravery and perseverance.Mercy is strong-willed, bold, doesn't care what others think of her (after all, if you're in a new person, taking their place, and they get a personality change because Mercy isn't at all like her 'host', you learn to not give a damn about what others think of you), and a great heroine for this book. She makes the most of what she has, and tries her best to overcome all the crap thrown at her.

One of my favourite moments was when her host family's son finds her in his dead sister's room, in a towel after her shower. Ryan hasn't gotten over the death of his twin sister, and isn't pleased to see that his parents have hosted a girl at their place for two weeks, let alone in Lauren's (his sister) bedroom.

"What the hell are you smiling about?" Ryan - it must be Ryan - roars.
Carmen's [Mercy's host body] reaction would probably be to burst into noisy tears. But this me me we're talking about.
...
So instead, I plant a fist on each hip and stare up at him out of Carmen's muddy, green-flecked eyes. "I was just thinking," I say coolly, "about what you'd be like in bed."

This book has a murder mystery in it, and what bugged me was how easily Ryan and Mercy had solved it! Ryan had been at it for two years and hadn't come up with anything, and then Mercy suddenly shows up and starts helping him, and then voila: they've solved it. Or they think they have. Either way, I sometimes wonder how two teenagers can solve such a puzzle while policemen and detectives can't. What I did love was the ending. It makes me eager to read the next book and find out what happens, as Mercy has found some clues about why she was exiled and is closer to finding out the truth now. I'm very curious!

My verdict: This is a great beginning to a very interesting series, and it will keep you on your toes, guessing what will happen next.

Review: Good Oil by Laura Buzo

2011-02-04T17:53:00.007+11:00

Good Oil, Laura Buzo

Release date: August, 2010

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Genre: YA romance

Pages: 283

Source: Borrowed

'Miss Amelia Hayes, welcome to The Land of Dreams. I am the staff trainer. I will call you grasshopper and you will call me sensei and I will give you the good oil. Right? And just so you know, I'm open to all kinds of bribery.'

From the moment 15-year-old Amelia begins work on the checkout at Woolworths she is sunk, gone, lost...head-over-heels in love with Chris. Chris is the funny, charming, man-about-Woolies, but he's 21, and the 6-year difference in their ages may as well be 100. Chris and Amelia talk about everything from Second Wave Feminism to Great Expectations and Alien but will he ever look at her in the way she wants him to? And if he does, will it be everything she hopes?

I started reading this book because a) it's for the Aussie YA challenge, b) it looked interesting and c) this is the exact same situation I was in a year ago! This is one of those things that happens to a lot of girls in life, and this author has taken something as simple as a crush on your older manager and turned it into a great novel!

This book is read from both Chris and Amelia's points of view-- but in chunks. Amelia for the first hundred or so pages, and then Chris's experiences and thoughts in the form of a diary. And then back to Amelia, and then Chris.

Amelia is fifteen, doesn't really have a social life, is unhappy with how her dad treats her mum (and with how unhappy her mum seems), and has started a job at Woolworths. She has a huge crush on her trainer Chris. He calls her 'Youngster' and they talk about a lot of interesting things. Amelia is pretty deep and I immediately fell in love with her. She's... compelling. She takes things seriously and is a hard worker. I love the way she doesn't stammer or blush around Chris, like I did with my manager!

And Chris... Jeez! Man, this guy is pretty damn cool. Usually a guy that old (22) wouldn't want to hang out with girls her age, but they do and they talk. It's not just about how hot he is. Actually, he's 'ordinary looking'. Amelia likes Chris because he's nice, smart, funny, charismatic and doesn't treat her like a kid. I think it's awesome that they never run out of things to day. We also find out how their age differences affects them both-- Amelia was invited to have a 'cone' with Chris and a few others, and she thought it meant ice cream (so did I!), but then it turned out it was another name for drugs, and I totally felt Amelia's embarrassment with her.

This book is well written, is funny, embarrassing, sad, happy, romantic and stupid all at the same time. But it's serious, and I understand exactly what Amelia is going through. I love reading it, cringing at those moments when Amelia embarrassed herself, smiling when something good happened. Basically, this book is a huge flashback to my experiences, and it made me realise that I wasn't the only girl out there that got rejected.

My verdict: Read this book. It's good. Amazingly good. It's about an experience all girls will face sometime in their lives, and what sets it apart from the rest is that it didn't end in a predictable manner. Definitely worth buying! I don't think this book will ever really get 'old' and I look forward to re-reading it heaps.

Review: Desire Untamed by Pamela Palmer

2011-02-02T20:37:00.009+11:00

Desire Untamed, Pamela Palmer

Release date: October, 2009

Publisher: Harper Collins

Genre: Paranormal romance

Pages: 384

Source: Borrowed

Series: Feral Warriors

1. Desire Untamed

2. Obsession Untamed

3. Passion Untamed

4. Rapture Untamed

5. Hunger Untamed

Author's Website

Kara MacAllister's quiet small-town life is transformed forever the night a powerful stranger rips her from her home, claiming she is the chosen one – the key to his survival. Spiriting her away into the rain-soaked night, Lyon reveals a truth Kara can barely credit. She's immortal, and the only one who can save his race. And deep within her, he arouses a fierce, primal hunger beyond anything she's ever imagined. But only when their lives are threatened by an ancient evil will Kara and Lyon realize they have found a love they would risk their immortal souls to claim...and a powerful desire that could never, ever be tamed.

Welcome to the first adult book review for me. I read a lot of adult books-- but I don't review them for some reason, haha. But I haven't finished Mercy by Rebecca Lim yet (which my friend lent me), so I decided that I'd review one of the other books that I read recently.

Basically, this guy called Lyon kidnaps a girl who has the power to save his Feral race. The Ferals are Therian (a race superior to humans-- they're immortal and strong) warrior selected specially by the 'goddess' (Mother Nature) and they fight these bad things called dradens, which suck the life from you. The Ferals need a Radiant (a woman who shines with the goddess' light and provides them with energy) to keep them alive, and Kara's the one.

So Lyon is a sexy beast. Seriously. He's so sexy and awesome. He's the leader and a recluse, and I totally fell in love with him. And so did Kara, haha. His methods of getting her to the Feral House and actually agreeing to be their Radiant are kinda twisted, and there's so much sexual tension with these two, I just wanted them both to just hurry up and do it.

The plot of this book is great-- it's not too complicated, the world is easy to understand and the characters are lovable-- and I really enjoyed reading it. Pamela Palmer has set this series off to a great start, and I've already read the next three books in this series. I absolutely love it.

My verdict: Get this book fast, because you're missing out on a lot if you haven't read this series yet. Powerful alpha males, shapeshifters and hot romance make this book a fantastic and un-put-downable read.

Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

2011-01-30T22:06:00.002+11:00

Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver

Release date: June, 2010
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughdon

Genre: YA

Pages: 340

Source: Bought

Author's Website

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

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

Samantha is one of those very cliched popular girls: she has a clique of bitchy friends, thinks everyone is is pretty much a loser, makes fun of those not pretty or good enough and everyone is terrified of offending her. Her character didn't warm up to me, even if she did try to save a girl from dying. I didn't at all like her and her friends.

So the book got a bit boring after basically reading about the same day over and over again. While the days had differences, it was still boring. I put the book down after a while and picked it up again after a couple of days because I was bored and couldn't sleep. So I finished it, curious to find out what happens: Will she still die? Or will she just keep on living the same day forever?

This is a short review, but only because I just don't have much to say about this book. What I liked about this book, though, is that Sam does try to make things better for those people whose lives she influenced with small actions. She experiments with how a little action like not skipping school could affect others, or how telling a girl that her boyfriend was cheating on her could possibly change her night. It was intriguing how much weight Sam's actions and words had on the people around her. It was very interesting to read, and the ending was quite good.

My verdict: This book is... okay. It did get a little boring for me, but that's probably because this isn't typically a genre I read-- I need to have romance in my books, haha. This is good for a light read, but it is a bit sad.

P.S.!! I'm starting school tomorrow-- I won't be able to post every day, or maybe even every second day. Please bare with me here, guys. :)

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

2011-01-28T01:35:00.005+11:00

Across the Universe, Beth Revis

Release date: January, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Australia

Genre: YA/Sci-Fi romance

Pages: 398

Source: Bought

Author's Website

Amy has left the life she loves for a world 300 years away.

Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she's violdently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.

Yet someone is waiting for her. He wants to protect her - and more if she'll let him.

I didn't really want to read this book, because as I've previously stated, it kind of reminded meof a horror movie I saw a while back. But I bought this anyway because a lot of people said they loved it.

I'm not into sci-fi. The concept of this book-- space travel and finding a new planet to live in-- gives me an uneasy feeling. But I plowed through the book, mildly interested. It's YA and-- supposedly-- romance. I was up for it. I gave it two stars because for me, two stars is indifferent. I didn't like it, nor did I dislike it. So I'm indifferent. I wouldn't rave about this book, nor would I start up a protest against it.

The whole futuristic thing gives a lot of room for authors to invent new things and new concepts, and Beth Revis did. She invented a whole new world basically, and it's a good one. While I'm not a huge fan of the book, I do like the world in it. And the world is a dystopian one. I didn't expect dystopia in a sci-fi novel for some reason. But in a way, it fit, and most important: it worked.

Now, this is classified as a romance-- anyone who looks at the cover can see that. The romance fell flat. It may develop in the next book (I think is is a trilogy), but in this book, there was barely anything. Apart from that, the characters were great. The characters are an important part of a book, and in this, they made the mystery. There were a couple of suspects, but the biggest giveaway was waayyyyy at the beginning. I suspected, and was glad to find out I was right. It's a good feeling.

My verdict: What kept me reading this book was curiosity. I was intrigued by the mystery and the possible romance. I finished the book with no particular feelings-- that is to say, I would read the sequel, but not squeal and count down the days until it came out. This isn't one of those books that I'd re-read all the time like I do with some. It was an okay book.

Waiting on Wednesday #4

2011-01-26T08:00:00.003+11:00

First of all, I wanna say: HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY, EVERYONE!! I love this day. I'm proud to be Australian and I think Australia is one of the best places to live, despite my grumbles about it being isolated, and thus not getting all the books, food, etc. I wouldn't live anywhere else (at leasty, not permanently, lol! I'd like to spend a couple of years in the US) and I'm happy that we have this day to celebrate being Aussies. :)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's so book bloggers can highlight upcoming releases that we're looking forward to.

Mine is really very obvious.

Archangel's Consort, Nalini Singh
10th February, 2011

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil…

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.

The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed…

I can't decide which cover I like better: the US or the UK.

Review: Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-01-25T15:16:00.017+11:00

Lament, Maggie Stiefvater

Release date: January, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Teen

Genre: YA/Paranormal romance

Pages: 356

Source: Bought

Series: Books of Faerie

1. Lament

2. Ballad

Author's Website

Sixteen-year-old Dee is a cloverhand - someone who can see faeries. When she is irresistibly drawn to beautiful, mysterious Luke, Dee sense that he wants something more dangerous than a summer romance.

But Dee doesn't realise that Luke is an assassin from the faerie world.

And that she is his next target.

So I bought Lament on a whim. I was deciding between Across the Universe (which I bought later) and Lament, and since Across the Universe made me conjure up horrifying images from a horror movie I watched a while back (Event Horizon-- IMDb it), I chose Lament. I've never actually read any of Maggie's books before, so I decide it was time to give them a try.

Basically, Dee is like this musical genius, and when she's throwing up before a big performance (she always throws up before performing), Luke helps her. They play a duet together after Luke tells her something inspiring and they hook-up in a couple of days. Bloody teenagers, you know? ;) All these covers keep popping up and Dee suddenly discovers amazing new powers. She's surprisingly calm about this, even when she learns what the faerie Queen does to cloverhands.

Luke and Dee's romance is pretty typical: bad boy meets good girl and they fall in love. Bad boy's past comes back to haunt him and good girl is sucked into it. Their romance ran along these lines. I didn't really like Luke. I just didn't warm to him like I did to, say, Dimitri in the VA series. To me, Luke isn't something more than just a character. He's just a guy who is a killer and is trying to get rid of his dark past. So that kind of ruined it for me.

What I really loved was Dee's mum and aunt. Those two fought a lot, and I can totally relate to that, since I have a twin sister and we mostly fight, haha. I loved them for some inane reason.

The language in this book is simple-- that is to say, I didn't learn any new words or wasn't amazed at Maggie's writing style. It's simple and easy, which has its own pros. I liked it, in a way. I wanted to focus more on faeries instead of real life. I love faerie books because most of them have a great world within them that I really wish existed. I'm one of those people who wants to believe that there's something more out there. Maggie didn't really delve into faerie mythology and stuff like that-- she kept it simple enough and I think that's a good idea, because there are now heaps of authors writing about faeries and some of them really just don't get it right-- in my opinion, of course.

My verdict: I enjoyed this book. It was the typical 'boy meets girl, they fall in love and things complicate their tragic love story and then they live happily ever after' plotline, but it worked because we all love happy endings.

Review: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

2011-01-24T19:40:00.004+11:00

Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr

Release date: May, 2008

Publisher: Harper Collins

Genre: YA/Paranormal romance

Pages: 328

Source: Bought

Series: Soul Screamers

1. Wicked Lovely

2. Ink Exchange

3. Fragile Eternity

4. Radiant Shadows

5. Darkest Mercy (February, 2011)

Author's Website

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

I read this book a couple of years ago and quite liked it-- I went on and finished the second book, but didn't go any furhter than that. Now I think it's been a big mistake to not read all the books in this series!

Aislinn (pronounced Ashlinn, to those, who like me, thought it was Ayzlinn) can see faeries. Simple...ish. When you can see them, it makes it harder to pretend that you can't see them. Aislinn's gran has warned her how they'll kill her, steal her-- basically, faeries are Aislinn's worst nightmare. And suddenly, this faery king starts stalking her and she has no idea why. Yeah, she's terrified. And she's also trying to kind of but not start a relationship with her good friend Seth. So... that makes for a pretty complicated life, huh?

This book sucked me in. I love faery books! (If you love faerie books as much as I do, I suggest you read everything by Karen Moning.) I like how different authors use pretty much the same mythology but manage to make them different at the same time. It's not a completely different mythology in ever book, so it's pretty easy to follow. I think Meliss's books are the first faery books I actually read, so every other faery thing I've come by reminds me of the first faery book I read.

The characters are pretty awesome. Aislinn is pretty terrified but she remains stubborn (even when Keenan starts going to her school and trying to ask her out) and strong throughout the book, and her friend Seth is awesome, He's so adorable. I definitely want a friend like him! I loved the descriptions of all the summer fey-- they're a really happy lot, unline the winter court fey. And speaking of the winter court, there's always that evil bitch trying to kill everyone. Meet Keena's mother Beira, Winter Queen and evil bitch. Don't worry, good always trumps evil... right?

My verdict: Melissa Marr is a great author, and this bvook is pretty much amazing. Faeries, romance, stalking and, of course, a homicidal mother in-law: it has everything. I loved this book and need to buy the ones following it. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves paranormal romances.

In My Mailbox #3

2011-01-23T11:20:00.007+11:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme orignated by The Story Siren.

This week, I've bought three books and borrowed two. Sorry for the crappy quality-- my camera's... 'sick'. As in, it's probably not gonna survive and I can't afford a new one. I'm hoping my parents pity me enough to get me a new one and I can pay them back, lol!

Also... have you guys seen the UK cover of Across the Universe? It looks, well, incomplete! There's a great white space between the faces, like they weren't bothered photoshopping the rest of the space in!

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater (who has a pretty awesome YouTube channel)
Fury by Shirley Marr
Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (Whenever I read the title, Demi Lovato's Catch Me pops into my head!)

I'm also really, really upset today because I found out my super perfect plan to buy the Archangel's Consort ebook on the 25th just... died. See, because Australia is so lame (at least in this aspect), they're only releasing Archangel's Consort on the 10th February. Unfair, right? So I just decided to buy the ebook when it was released on the 25th and buy the paper book when it was released in Australia.

I pre-ordered the ebook last night and got a message about "territorial rights restrictions" and "not allowed to sell to my region" or some other crap like that. Cue the waterworks-- YES, I actually cried! How unfair is this? This is one of my favourite series and now I have to wait another two weeks? As you can see, I am going to be in a bad mood the whole week. Or month. Or just a really long time. I sometimes wish I lived in the US so I could enjoy those priviledges that a lot of people don't even realise they have.

And... I'm done complaining.