Friday, November 30, 2012

Book Blast (Giveaway): Poseidon and the Sea of Fury by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

No comments:




Poseidon and the Sea of Fury
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?

Purchase
Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

Heroes in Training by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies.

Praise for Heroes in Training:

Cover Reveal: The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

1 comment:


Title: The Summer I Became a Nerd
Author:
Leah Rae Miller
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: May 7, 2013


On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.


Pre-order your copy today on Amazon or Barnes & Noble


About the Author



Born and raised in northern Louisiana, Leah Rae Miller still lives there on a windy hill with her husband and kids. She loves comic books, lava lamps, fuzzy socks, and Cherry Coke. She spends most of her days reading things she likes and writing things she hopes other people will like.




You can keep up with Leah on her Website/Blog and Twitter!

ALSO - Be on the lookout for a Marked-to-Read contest on Goodreads in the weeks leading up to The Summer I Became a Nerd's release on May 7, 2013. Watch Leah’s site, http://leahraemillerblog.blogspot.com, for details on how to submit/enter to win!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Review: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

4 comments:


Title: Greta and the Goblin King (Mylena Chronicles #1)
Author:
Chloe Jacobs
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Acquired Via:
Publisher

While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse.

To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her—including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back...


My Review

The Writing of Greta and the Goblin King was imaginative and fun to read. It is a mixture of epic fantasy, paranormal romance, and fairy tale that incorporated many elements of each - enough to capture fans of any of the three genres.

The characters in the story were definitely unique. Greta is a teenage girl who found herself in Mylena (which I found myself reading as "Mylanta"), the land of goblins, gnomes, and other fantastic creatures. She not only survived from those who blamed humanity for the problems in that world, but adapted to her new life and, disturbingly, thrived as a ruthless bounty hunter. I asked myself many times if Greta could still be truly human after everything that had happened to her. However, she bored me a bit, for whatever reason that I cannot peg. Isaac, the goblin king, was mysterious and creepy, and I really did not find him to be a good match for Greta. In the name of protecting her, he behaved questionably, and I would have taken out a restraining order against him in the real world. Strangely, I still liked him. You see, he is neither human nor does he think as one, but this damn behavior of scary stalkers in YA books troubles me. (I had a read stalker once upon a time - not sexy.) Then there was Wyatt, who I dubbed Walter in my head because it made sense to me. He was a nice guy, and I always forget about them. He was all noble, and chivalrous, and wonderful... Yeah, I was pulling for the scary stalker goblin king. I feel bad, but I'm grown and I do what I want. :-P

Cover Reveal: Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman

2 comments:


Title: Shadow of Time
Author:
Jen Minkman
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Expected Release Date: January 1, 2013
Cover Designer: Jen Minkman
Cover Reveal Organized By: AToMR Tours



All Hannah needs is a nice and quiet vacation after her first year of teaching French at a high school. She joins her brother Ben for the summer in their mom’s log cabin in Arizona. There, she meets Josh again, Ben’s childhood friend from the Navajo reservation. The little boy from the rez has grown up fast, and Hannah can’t help but feeling more for him than just friendship.

But fate apparently has something else in store for her. And it’s not peace and quiet. Night after night, Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares about the past of Navajo Nation and terrifying shadows chasing her. They seem to come closer – and why is Josh always present in her dreams?

Sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you.


About the Author

Jen Minkman (1978) was born in Holland, in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn. When she was 19, she moved between The Hague, Salzburg (Austria), Brussels (Belgium) and Cambridge (UK) to complete her studies in intercultural communication. She is currently a teacher of English, career counselor and teenage coach at a secondary school in Voorburg, Holland. She tries to read at least 100 books a year (and write a few, too!). She is a published author in her own country, and translates her own books from Dutch into English for self-publication.

In her spare time, she plays the piano, the guitar and the violin. For every novel she writes, she creates a soundtrack.

You can keep up with Jen on her Website, Facebook, and Twitter!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Giveaway: Thunderstruck Combo Pack (Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Download)

13 comments:


NBA superstar Kevin Durant plays himself in this action-packed family film about a basketball star who switches talent with a klutzy 16-year-old fan. When Brian (Taylor Gray) magically switches basketball skills with his hero, Kevin Durant, he becomes the star of his high school team... while Kevin Durant suddenly can’t make a shot to save his life! But with the playoffs approaching, Brian learns that being a true winner means working hard at your own game, and he tries to make things right in time to prevent a catastrophic end to his hero’s season.


Warner Bros. is offering a giveaway for a copy of Thunderstruck, which will be released on DVD and Blu-ray December 4th 2012, to a lucky winner here on my blog. So, check out the app and be sure to enter to win on the Rafflecopter form below!

2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge

2 comments:


Yes, I am taking part in yet another reading challenge in 2013. I have found that I do a lot better which a little bit of structure and incentive. (You know, like finishing something.) Unless I'm doing this horribly wrong, I don't have to choose my books yet. I have a list and an embarrassing amount of books cluttering my house, but I want to try to focus on 2013 releases as much as possible since I'll be reading them anyways to be on top of things for work. The very dear Auntie Spinelli Reads and Megan Likes Books are kind enough to host this. Below is some information about the challenge, taken from the sign-up page.

Goal:

To read at least one book featuring each of the following paranormal creatures:

✷ Vampires
✷ Werewolves/Shifters
✷ Fey
✷ Angels/Nephilim
✷ Mermaids
✷ Dragons
✷ Zombies
✷ Demons
✷ Witches/Wizards
✷ Ghosts
✷ Aliens
✷ Other (ie: sirens, unicorns, centaurs, timetravel etc.)

Guidelines:

1. This challenge runs from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You must have a blog to able to participate, since reviews must be added to the linky.

3. When you sign up with the linky, please put the link to your post about joining the Paranormal Reading Challenge.

4. You're welcome to list your books beforehand or just add as you go.

5. Sign-ups are open until December 1, 2013 (You can do that HERE.)

6. At the beginning of each month, the blog hosts will post a kick-start post, each month featuring a different category of paranormal creature. This post will also include a linky to include your reviews from that month.

7. Each review you link will qualify you for an entry into the monthy giveaway and if your review includes the feature paranormal creature of that month, you get a bonus entry.

8. Each book can only count for one category, even if it contains more than one paranormal creature. For example, Twilight contains both vampires and werewolves, but you can't use it for both the vampires and werewolves/shifters categories.

9. Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered into a grand prize giveaway at the end of the year.

10. If you read multiple books from one category, feel free to add them to the linkies. Don't stop at just one!

11. Book can count for other challenges.

You should definitely go to the HOSTS' POST on the challenge to find out more information. I'm not the most reliable of sources, no matter how good my intentions may seem. As with the other challenges, leave me a link if you're playing along as well!

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

5 comments:

I have been going through the various challenges for 2013 that I wanted to participate in, and how in the world could I pass up a challenge that pushes me to work on this embarrassing TBR pile that I have in my house, ereaders, and wishlists. (And honestly, I don't do anything unless I have a fire underneath my backside.) When I found out about the challenge through my email (hosted by the fabulous Roof Beam Reader), I started rifling through my stacks of books to see which ones I wanted to commit to reading. And here they are:

My 2013 TBR Pile Challenge List

1. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

2. Heart of Stone by C.E. Murphy

3. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

4. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

5. Storm Front by Jim Butcher

6. Tithe by Holly Black

7. The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma

8. Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

9. Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

11. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

12. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Alternates:

1. His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm

2. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

In case you're wondering, the alternates are there in case I have trouble getting through one of the books. Anywho, as I read and review these books, I'll be updating this blog post to show my progress. I think the way I'm going to do this is to just read one book a month as I go down the list. (Which probably means that I'll be rushing through half of them in December if I know me at all.)

Want to know how it works and participate? Visit HERE by December 31st to check it out and sign up. Be sure to leave me the link to your post if you're taking part in this, too, so I can visit your blog and check out your list!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Dreaming of Summer Giveaway Hop (US/CAN)

1 comment:

Welcome to my stop on the Dreaming of Summer Hop co-hosted by two very wonderful blogs - I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Me, My Shelf & I! I live in the South, so it's not cold enough here yet for me to be dreaming of summer. (I also prefer the colder weather.) Be that as it may, I am giving you the opportunity to win a summerish book off of my shelf.

What You Can Win

The Other Boy by Hailey Abbott

Maddy's Boy Pros & Cons . . .

Brian--Super cute / hangs with my friends / goes to my high school / my boyfriend

David--Says I'm a spoiled princess / hates my friends / has amazing blue eyes / cooked me an unbelievable dinner / annoyingly irresistible

Summer for Maddy Sinclaire starts as a blur of house parties and dips in the pool--until she's caught throwing an unauthorized beachside bash. As punishment, her parents send her off to Napa Valley, where she'll spend her free time working on the family vineyard. Even with her boyfriend, Brian, miles away, Maddy's about to discover that the vineyard is a very romantic place. It's vast, sunny, magical . . . and there's "another" boy just waiting to steal her heart.


Blog Tour (Review): There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere by Howard Temperley

No comments:


Title: There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere! A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur History
Author:
Howard Temperley and Michael Kline (Illustrator)
Publisher: KWS Publishers
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Acquired Via: JKS Communications




The phenomenon of the dinosaur is one that continues to fascinate people of all ages. A fun-filled history of the many species of dinosaurs, their eras, and interesting facts about them, this book is not only informative, but funny and captivating as well. Featuring amusing and attractive illustrations, this unique edition discusses a variety of topics, from the Velociraptor and Pterodactylus to the Jurassic Era and dinosaur extinction.





My Review

This was another review that I did with my six year old daughter, Bug, and it was a hit. The Writing of There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere is both informative about dinosaurs and catchy to an easily distracted ear with its masculine rhyme. Bug is a big fan of books with rhyming stories (I used to only be able to read Dr. Seuss books to her), and she adored this one. The book provided a wealth of information about nearly two dozen different dinosaurs (in rhyme!), as well as explained about paleontologists, fossils, and the evolution of dinosaurs. There are also laugh-out-loud parts that are sure to win over even some of the most reluctant readers. The table of contents is specific enough to take kids of all ages back to their favorite dinosaur, and there is a lovely timeline of dinosaurs at the end of the book. Even though I'm not dinosaur expert, I was surprised to learn something from There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere. I never knew that the names of dinosaurs were in ancient Greek. It made me excited to learn something new!

Book Blast (Giveaway): Wisteria by Bisi Leyton

2 comments:


Title: Wisteria
Author: Bisi Leyton
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: August 2012
Number of pages: 275
Cover Artist: Olivia Smith

Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to survive among the hordes of living dead.

Eighteen year old Bach, from a race known as The Family, has no interest in human affairs. He was sent here to complete his Great Walk and return home as a man—as a Sen Son. The Family regard humans as Dirt People, but Bach is drawn to this Terran girl, whom he has never seen before, but somehow knows.

Hunted by flesh eaters, cannibals, and the mysterious blood thirsty group called Red Phoenix, Wisteria and Bach make their way back to the Isle of Smythe, a community built on secrets and lies.


Book Trailer


Praise

“I love the buildup of this story, getting to know the characters and watching their connection grow. I had no idea which way the story was headed and I was kept in suspense right up to the very end! It has plenty of action and a fascinating plot and I can’t wait to see what Bisi Leyton has for us next!!”
~ Naomi Hop

“There are a lot of great things in this book, so much more than zombies and a struggle for survival. At it’s base core it is about star-crossed lovers, literally and the supporting characters roles… Ms.Leyton brings to Wisteria a mixture of science fiction, fantasy, dystopic world with a twist to the paranormal romance angle!”
~ Cabin Goddess

“The book was full of nonstop action from the beginning until the end, and I did not put it down until I had finished it. I loved the book.”
~Author Monique Morgan

Excerpt

As she walked back to the ridge of the roof, Bach’s heart went with her. Someone had tried to hurt her. Tried to damage what belonged to him, and who he belonged to.

He started to feel dizzy from the volumes of strangle weed planted in the front of her house.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Blog Tour (Review): The Big Field by Anne Morddel

No comments:


Title: The Big Field: A Child's Year Under the Southern Cross
Author:
Anne Morddel
Publisher: KWS Publishers
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Acquired Via: JKS Communications

Beautifully illustrated, this is the charming story of a girl who spends a year with her grandmother on a farm at the edge of the South American Atlantic Rainforest. The child is from the city, but the time she spends with her grandmother teaches her about the seasons of the Southern Hemisphere and the beauty and transience of the rainforest—from the plant, animal, and insect life to the cycles of nature. Following them as they spend their days walking through the forest, lying on their backs under the trees, eating dinner outside, collecting seeds, and learning about the wildlife, this entertaining narrative is also environmentally sensitive in its approach. An illustrated, child-friendly glossary with sections dedicated to butterflies and moths, birds, bugs, and trees and plants concludes the book.

My Review

The Writing of The Big Field is great for a very young audience. The story is simple, and it slyly inserts a science lesson to its readers. Granny teaches her three grandchildren - the narrator, Chloe, and Baby - about nature around her farm. The various insects, birds, and plants of Paraná, Brazil are highlighted and discussed. As the book takes the reader through each month and the corresponding season, Anne Morddel weaves the flora and fauna that is active or in bloom into the story. At the back of the book is a glossary of the plants and animals that were featured.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Blog Tour (Excerpt): Morrigan by Laura DeLuca

1 comment:

Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.

Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír Na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.




Excerpt

“Guardians!” A low snarl emanated from the back of his throat. “What are you doing with Guardians?”

“Stop it! Sit down!” Morrigan wasn’t sure who she was addressing, the man or the animals. Luckily, they both obeyed her command. She stepped in between them to avoid any further confrontations.

The cats took a seat on either side her legs, but their posture hardly relaxed. They still glared warily at the newcomer, even though their hisses died down to an occasional soft growl.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Cover Reveal: Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

7 comments:
Today The Mod Podge Bookshelf and Mod Podge Blog Tours are hosting Kelsey Sutton's Some Quiet Place cover reveal!


Summary:

Elizabeth Caldwell has perfected the art of pretending to feel emotion, but it’s always a lie. After a near-fatal car accident when she was a small child, Elizabeth lost the ability to feel any emotion, but along with that loss she gained bizarre abilities: she can see the personified Emotions she cannot feel.  Fury, Resentment, Longing—they’ve all given up on her, because she doesn't succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one. Fear. He’s consumed by the mystery of Elizabeth’s past, consumed by her.

And then there are Elizabeth's cryptic, recurring dreams, in which there’s always love, and there’s always death. Haunted by these dreams, Elizabeth paints them, knowing that they somehow hold the key to the mystery of her past.

But a shadowy menace is stalking Elizabeth.  Her survival depends on uncovering the truth about herself.  And when it matters most, she won’t be able to rely on Fear to save her.


Kelsey is very enthusiastic about her debut novel's cover; here is what she has to say about the design:


"It is gorgeous, eerie, and maybe a little strange. I love how much relevance it has to the story, as well. The farmland in the background, the town, the stormy sky, the leaves, the way the girl is vanishing. The point is, I am in love. Hope you adore it as much as I do."

What relevance is she talking about?

Enter to win a Pre-Order of Some Quiet Place below to find out!!!

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, November 16, 2012

Guest Post: Vanessa Morgan (GPS With Benefits)

1 comment:
GUEST POST - GPS WITH BENEFITS
by Vanessa Morgan

Thank you for having me on your blog today. I'm truly honored to be here with all of you!

In my new release, GPS WITH BENEFITS, a womanizer purchases a GPS device with a mind of 'her' own. It got me thinking of other movies and books about intelligent machines. Here are some of my favorites...


Demon Seed

A scientist creates an organic super computer which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creator's wife. Demon Seed is one of Dean Koontz' best novels to date. Also check out the excellent movie adaptation from 1977 starring Julie Christie.

Chopping Mall

Cute security androids turn evil and kill the employees from a shopping mall. Lots of eighties movie fun!

Christine

Early Stephen King novel about the relationship between a nerdish boy and his evil car. John Carpenter directed the movie adaptation in 1983.

Ghost In The Machine

Fun horror movie from the nineties in which a serial killer's soul transforms into electrical energy. The killer then uses the electrical grid and computer networks to continue his killing spree.

Rubber

A tire discovers his telepathic powers. He sets his sights on a mysterious woman.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

November New Release Giveaway Hop (INT)

14 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the November New Release Giveaway Hop! It is being hosted by the magnificent O'Dell at Book Twirps and the glorious Dani at Refracted Light Reviews. It is very awesome of them to host the hop, because I cannot imagine how much work it requires. I, for one, am thankful for all of their hard work.

What You Can Win


Just so you know, I'm letting your choose which book you win, granted that it's less than $15US. The above collage is just some suggestions.

The Giveaway

Blog Tour (Review): Duchess of the Shallows by Neil McGarry & Daniel Ravipinto

No comments:


Title: The Duchess of the Shallows
Author:
Neil McGarry & Daniel Ravipinto
Publisher: Peccable Productions
Release Date: March 2, 2012
Acquired Via: ABG Reads Book Tours

A game is played in the fog-shrouded city of Rodaas, and every citizen, from the nameless of the Shallows to the noblest of the Garden, is a player or a pawn. And no one is as he appears.

Not Minette, brothel-keeper and obsessive collector of secrets. Not Uncle Cornelius, fearsome chief of the gang of brutes and murderers known as the Red. Not the cults of Death, Wisdom, and Illumination, eternally scheming and plotting along the Godswalk.

And certainly not the orphaned bread girl known as Duchess.

Yet armed with nothing more than her wits, her good friend Lysander and a brass mark of dubious origin Duchess will dare to play that game for the most coveted of prizes: initiation into a secret society of thieves, spies and rumormongers who stand supreme in a city where corruption and lies are common coin.

The Grey.


Will's Review

I’m not going to lie, this book was a struggle. It’s a good book, I just couldn’t get into it for at least 3/4 of it. Not sure why, ‘cause I ended up liking it.

I assumed this book to be YA, considering the age of the main character, but it didn’t read like it. There were male prostitutes, female prostitutes, torture, theft, gangs, drinking and intrigue up to your ears. I liked it. Even if it took me a while to get into it, the ending made the read worthwhile for me.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Book Blast (Giveaway): Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

No comments:


Greta and the Goblin King
by Chloe Jacobs

While trying to save her brother four years ago, Greta was thrown into the witch’s fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon.

To survive, seventeen-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…


Add Greta and the Goblin King to your TBR list on Goodreads today!

Praise

"High adventure and hot romance. Greta and the Goblin King is a winner!"
– Kelley Armstrong #1 New York Times bestselling author

Monday, November 12, 2012

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop #2 (US/CAN)

17 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop hosted by the mindblowingly awesome Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. As I said in the Thankful For Books Giveaway Hop, my bookshelves are overflowing and I need to thin it down a little.

What You Can Win


I'm going load up a box of books - it'll be a mixture of adult and YA - to send to the winner. I have probably three 2 1/2 foot tall piles of books that I no longer want, and whatever the winner says their favorite genre is will make up the majority of books in that box.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Review: Hell’s Reaping by James Bishop

1 comment:


Title: Hell's Reaping: Book One of The Apotheosis Trilogy
Author:
James Bishop
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: September 10, 2012
Acquired Via:
Author

Judgment day came, and humanity fought. We lost. Demons control Earth and civilization is reduced to a few scattered bastions. Desperate times, desperate measures. Five Templar Knights are damned and sent to Hell as humanity’s last hope. And then it gets better.

Holy crap this book was good! It hooked me from the very beginning. The first chapter was dark, darker than the rest of the book, but it did set the tone of what was to come. You can’t expect bunnies and unicorns when it’s a book about hell. Unless it’s The Evil Bunny of Doom or Bad Unicorn, fantasy version of Bad Horse. By the way, if you haven’t seen Dr. Horrible, go watch it now. But I digress.

I loved this book. Its split in five acts, each telling the story from each of the main character’s perspective. With a sixth pulling everything together. I enjoyed each tremendously. The characters were all compelling and unique. Each dealt with being damned in their own way, but all paths took them towards the same end. Some through more hardship than others, but each suffered to reach their destination.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway): Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas

2 comments:




Title: Luminosity
Author: Stephanie Thomas
Publisher:
Entangled Teen
Release Date: December 11, 2012*
Acquired Via: Itching for Books Blog Tour

Dystopian fantasy novel, Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas, is the author's young adult debut. The main character, Beatrice, is a Seer who has been receiving visions of an impending invasion by City's mortal enemy, the Dreamcatchers. As tensions mount and the City goes on high alert, Beatrice starts keeping secrets that could be dangerous to everyone.

Initially, I was not a fan of Luminosity. It is written in first person from Beatrice's point of view, and I was a little confused about the way Stephanie Thomas brought us into the story. For one, I thought Gabe was some sort of guard, and we're told the Keeper is supposed to be intimidated by Beatrice, but I never got that vibe. Despite these things, once I got into the novel, it really began to flow, and I was hooked.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Review: Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

1 comment:


Title: Valkyrie Rising
Author: Ingrid Paulson
Publisher:
Harper Teen
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Acquired Via: Southern Book Bloggers

Valkyrie Rising is the young adult debut novel of Ingrid Paulson. It is a mythology-based story set in modern Norway about Elsa "Ellie" Overholt, who discovers a family secret and more to this world during a visit to her grandmother's in Norway.

The Writing of Valkyrie Rising is something that I belive would be perfect for teen readers and other lovers of YA. The characters are interesting and engaging, and the plot never really dragged. The writing style itself is something that teens will have no trouble flying through, and the first person point of view will give the reader a chance to get to know Ellie and connect with her.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop (US/CAN)

2 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Tristi Pinkston! I'm thankful for all of the books in my life. As my shelves are overflowing, I'm going to be giving one of them away today.

What You Can Win



Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.




Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway): Zuto by Udi Aharoni

No comments:




Title: Zuto: The Adventures of a Computer Virus
Author:
Udi Aharoni and Gil Troitsa (Illus.)
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Acquired Via: JKS Communications


Zuto: The Adventures of a Computer Virus is the middle-grade debut novel of Udi Aharoni. The story is set inside of a boy named Tom's computer and follows a Zutrog-33 virus named Zuto.

The Writing of Zuto really made reading the book a breeze. The style is definitely aimed at a younger audience with short chapters and cute illustrations every ten pages or so. There is also a "Zutopedia" in the back that defines some of the computer terms that are used in the course of the book. The characters are funny, and Zuto is charming enough to make a virus a sympathetic character. The only drawback that I saw with the novel is that it may be a little too simple for the age group it is aimed at, but this one is not a major concern because most children (like adults) like an occasional easy read, and Zuto sneaks a little educational material into the story. 3.5/5 Stars

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Blog Tour (Guest Post): Zuto by Udi Aharoni

No comments:

Zuto: The Adventures of a Computer Virus takes place inside a strange, little known world: a personal computer, the perfect setting for a fast-paced, funny, one-minute-long story.

Zuto, a smart, sneaky computer virus, leads a happy life in his secret hiding place: the Recycle Bin. There, among heaps of junk full of surprising treasures, he plans his tricks. Everything changes when a far more malicious program invades the computer . . . and threatens to end all life in it. Together with his Recycle Bin friends—outdated, buggy programs—Zuto sets off to save his world.

The book’s colorful and imaginative metaphors offer an insightful glimpse inside a computer. An appendix, the ‘Zutopedia,’ explains the truth behind the story: how malware works, what’s the role of firewalls, binary numbers, Easter eggs, IP addresses, and many more.


World-Building in Zuto
by Udi Aharoni

Zuto is a story that takes place inside a computer. That is, the world in which the plot occurs is in fact a visualization of the inside of a computer, and the characters are personified programs. This in itself is not new. The 1982 movie “Tron”, for example, already depicted such a world, and since then there were several other movies, TV shows and books of the same kind. It’s interesting, though, to note the differences between Zuto and previous works.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Random Acts of Kindness - November

1 comment:
Book Soulmates
RAK is a monthly meme hosted by Book Soulmates. You can join in on the fun HERE.

For those of you who don't know, a RAK is a Random Act of Kindness. People sign up with their wishlist and then can look at other people's wish-lists and send them a Random Act of Kindness. It is really simple, but here are the rules:

COMPLETE RULES RE-CAP:
  • Please read carefully follow all rules! Thank you!
  • Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
  • Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar of the Book Soulmates page).
  • Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
  • If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
  • Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
  • E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.
  • At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from.

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all of our INTERNATIONAL brethren!
Remember, there's always the Book Depository or Fishpond, and they offer FREE shipping!

If you're feeling the urge to splurge on me this month, I have two different bookish wishlists on Amazon: one for YA/MG Books and another for Adult Books. If you just want highlights, here are the top 5 that I really want:

  1. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
  2. The Sorceress by Michael Scott
  3. Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
  4. Carnival of Souls by Marissa Marr
  5. Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Regan Barnhill

I can't wait to start sending things out to you guys!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Random Acts of Kindness - October Wrap-Up

No comments:
Book Soulmates
RAK is a monthly meme hosted by Book Soulmates. You can find out more and join in on the fun HERE.

My October RAK - Sent



I sent Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout to
Barbara at Basia's Bookshelf

My October RAK - Received

I didn't sign myself up to receive any RAK for October because I didn't send anything in September. I'm nearly caught up, so I'll probably sign up for November.

Now that has been all said and done, how was your month? Leave me links so I can go check it out!