Rather Be Reading

Taft 2012 by Jason Heller

2012-01-24T18:31:00.001-05:00

Summary from quirkbooks.com –

He is the perfect presidential candidate. Conservatives love his hard-hitting Republican résumé. Liberals love his passion for peaceful diplomacy. The media can’t get enough of his larger-than-life personality. Regular folks can identify with his larger-than-life physique. And all the American people love that he’s an honest, hard-working man who tells it like it is.

There’s just one problem: He is William Howard Taft... and he was already U.S. president a hundred years ago. So what on earth is he doing alive and well and considering a running mate in 2012?

Rhia’s Review –

When I started reading Taft 2012, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. This was probably a very good thing, as it made reading the book more fun, never able to quite predict what would happen next. It certainly made me more interested in looking into Taft's presidency, which is something I really know very little about.

Regardless of whatever you might expect of this book, it is sure to entertain you. Interspersed with documents relative to the story, the book follows Taft through his sudden re-emergence into the spotlight, and his slightly unwilling campaign for presidency in 2012. I loved all the characters that were brought into the story. they each served a purpose in the story, and were memorable, but never over or underused.

While the story is about a former president, and a political campaign, this is not a book about politics. it's a book about our society, about how it has changed over the years, and about how we are reluctant to face change. it also the story of a man who is given a second chance to succeed where he made mistakes before. wouldn't we all love a chance like that?

All in all, Taft 2012 was a very good read, and I’m glad to add it to my collection.

The Recommendation –

I'd recommend Taft 2012 for any fans of satire, especially of the political or societal variety. Also, if you are a Taft fan, you might find this fictionalized account of his further adventures very entertaining.

The Vitals* – Taft 2012 is available in paperback for $14.95.

The Links – Taft 2012 Official Campaign Website

*=All prices are from the cover of the book itself and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Currently Reading

2011-09-30T14:03:00.001-04:00

I could have sworn I had already updated this blog a thousand times. I must be working in my dreams.

Anyway, I’m currently reading The Hidden by Jessica Verday, which is crazy good so far. I’m also working on the Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, which I picked up at my local Borders on my last visit. It is really interesting. I think it started out a little slowly, but it’s getting better and better as I read.

Stay tuned for a review and an interview I was certain I’d posted months ago…

Happy Reading Everyone!

I love books!

2011-09-06T19:05:00.001-04:00

Last night I started Beyond the Grave by Mara Purnhagen, which she generously sent me to review. I read the whole thing in one sitting, and I’ll be reviewing it tomorrow.

I also began Cryer’s Cross last night, which has just completely captured me. I can’t wait to read more!

Today, the Hidden by Jessica Verday arrived! I won a copy from Jessica, and I started the first few pages already!

I can’t remember whether or not I’ve posted about it, but I’ve also been reading Steel by Carrie Vaughn. It’s also incredibly good, and I can’t wait to read more of it and share my opinions with you all!

Well, off to wear my eyes out! Happy reading, everyone!

Decatur Book Festival 2011

2011-09-06T18:59:00.001-04:00

This past weekend was the Decatur Book Festival! This year, I went to see Lisa McMann and Libba Bray on Saturday! After hearing Lisa speak, I couldn’t resist grabbing a copy of Cryer’s Cross, which I am now currently reading. Both she and Libba were really great, and I loved meeting them. I can’t wait to see who’ll be there next year!

^^Lisa McMann and I. I took my copies of WAKE and FADE for her to sign, along with my newly bought copy of Cryer’s Cross.

^^ Libba Bray and I. I took my set of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy to get signed.

Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters

2011-09-06T18:50:00.001-04:00

Summary from Goodreads.com - Alex and Susan Wendt are the perfect couple in search of the perfect brownstone-and they find their dream house in the heart of Brooklyn Heights. Sure, the landlady is a little eccentric, and the handyman drops some cryptic remarks about the previous tenants. But the rent is so low, it's too good to pass up!
Big mistake: Susan soon discovers that the brownstone is crawling with bedbugs . . . Or is it? She awakens every morning with fresh bites, but neither Alex nor their daughter Emma has a single welt. Exterminators search the property and turn up nothing. Neighbors insist the building is clean. Susan fears that she's going mad-but as the mysteries deepen, a more sinister explanation presents itself: She may literally be confronting the bedbug problem from hell.

Rhia’s Review - *Shudder* This was a really great book.

Susan, our protagonist, was not a character; she was a person. She was so real, and I related to her very easily, despite the fact that she's a married woman with a child, and I'm a 19 year old girl without a current boyfriend. All her feelings are still very real, and felt by everyone at some point or another. Because I knew Susan so well, her slow descent into madness as she struggles with her insect tormenters really affected me emotionally. I was rooting with her all the way, fighting with her. You don't always get such a relatable character - I mean person - in books these days. How much I related to Susan struck me for some reason, so I had to express that here.

The storyline itself moves a little slowly in the beginning, but there is a slight sense of foreboding, because we all know *something* is going to happen, but getting there is half the fun. There are plenty of creepy and mysterious moments in the book as we meet all the characters, but in the climax of the story, Winters goes full on horror movie. It was perfect; just disturbing enough that I'll remember it, but not so disturbing as to downgrade my opinion of it.

Bedbugs managed to surprise me; I didn't have it all worked out by the end of the first half of the book. Of course, where I usually pause to think about it and guess, Bedbugs was so interesting, I was too busy reading to make any predictions.

This is one of those books that, as you are reading it, it actually plays out like a horror movie in your head. When all is said and done you think 'this would make a great movie,' but then you realized that just watched it in your head, and instead you hope Hollywood never ruins it. It was so well written, that no studio could ever do it justice.

The Recommendation - I’d recommend this book to any fan of suspense and horror stories. It's just a fantastic book!

the Other Books - Ben H. Winters is also the co-author of Quirk Classics Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, which I am currently reading, and Android Karenina, which I have reviewed previously on my blog. (link) Ben's purse talent really shined through in this novel, and I'm definitely looking forward to his future offerings.

The Vitals – Bedbugs is available in paperback for $14.95 starting today, and I highly suggest you all go get a copy.

New Arrivals and what I’m currently reading.

2011-08-29T22:40:00.001-04:00

Sorry for not keeping you all up to date! I'm not really sure what happened there, but you can probably blame the knitting.

Anyway, I'm currently reading Steel by Carrie Vaughn. It's really good so far, and I've noted that the pacing so far has been pretty much perfect. Nothing has happened without a reason, and there hasn't been too much happening at once.

Beyond the Grave by Mara Purnhagen arrived in the mail the other day, and I’ll be starting it soon. I'll probably switch back and forth between Beyond the Grave and Steel until I finish them both. That's a lot of fun to do. :)

So I'm off to catch up a little on my reading. Happy reading, everyone!!

Quick Review: Deltora Quest, Volume 1, by Emily Rodda.

2011-08-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

Rhia’s Review - Deltora Quest has always been pretty much my favorite series ever. It was my replacement series between Harry Potter books. It was one of my first obsessions. It is still one of those series that I can call a foundation of my life, helping to shape me into the person I am today. I still think about it often, especially during the summer (I have fond summer memories of the series) and in fact was just thinking about the other day. So, when I was at Borders and saw it sitting on a shelf where it didn't belong, practically appearing right in front of me, there wasn't a single moment of hesitation in me before I snatched it. Literally.

I read it in two nights. I hate to say it, but I'm not impressed.

Volume one covers what I would call about the first half of the Forests of Silence. The art is not visually spectacular, which is important if the story has already been told, because it's the only new thing you have to offer. While I don't think the art is *bad* per se, it's just nothing special. Also, if I didn't know better, I would have sworn that Endon was a female. He looked like a girl when he was young, and a woman when he was grown. Including pearl earrings. It just wasn't right.

I know it has been a while since I first read the series, but something about the adaptation for the mange didn't seem right. I think all the major plot points were covered pretty well, but it wasn't told the way the story deserved to be told. I think it's because it is geared for younger readers, and it felt as though the story was told to simply.

The only thing I really got out of it was an urge to re-read the original series, and yet somehow I still don't regret buying it.

Recommendation- This manga version is probably great for young or reluctant readers, and may spark an interest in reading the original books, which would be a step up. And hardcore fans of the series and/or its anime adaptation may find a need to include this in their collection. (I did.)

the Other Books- At $10.99 each, I don't think I’m really interested in buying the rest of the series. Even with the going out of business sale at Borders, the price is still a little too high. If I could get them a little cheaper, then I might consider getting them to complete my collection. Otherwise, I think it’ll stick to the real thing.

The Vitals – You can pick up the first volume of the manage in paperback for $10.99.

One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

2011-08-20T18:22:00.001-04:00

Summary from goodreads.com – It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, 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.

Rhia’s Review – One of the things I think I loved most about this book was how well I was able to relate to charlotte this time around. Seeing her in a more stable state of mind about her family and school lives, I feel like I met the real Charlotte this time.

The storyline of One Hundred Candles was a bit more mature that Past Midnight and I got sucked in a lot quicker. It was little darker, a little more intense, and events had a greater impact on Charlotte than I think they did in Past Midnight. However, this book would not be anywhere near as enjoyable if Past Midnight hadn't set everything up first, and I think the transition from the first book to this one is perfect. It feels like the story is growing, just like Charlotte.

I felt as though new character Dr. Zelden was going play a bigger part in the story, and while he was very important, I kept expecting for him have to, shall we say, screen time. I do think, though, that he will probably appear in the later books.

With this book, Mara Purnhagen has turned me into a loyal fan, and joined the ranks of my most favorite authors. I'm now officially hoping she'll make it to the Decatur Book Festival someday so I can meet her.

I can't wait to see what's in store for Charlotte next. In fact, one of the best things about these books so far is that you can't easily tell where the story is going to go next. In most series, the next step in the epic quest is pretty much laid out for in the book you're reading, but the books in the Past Midnight series are mostly self contained. So while we know some of the personal things that Charlotte will be dealing with come the next book, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what supernatural force she will encounter next.

The Recommendation – I think anyone who is a fan of a good ghost story will really enjoy this series. Also, if you read the first book and wanted to know what happened next, but hadn't made up your mind about reading it yet, it is definitely worth your time. You won't be disappointed.

The Other Books – The events that took place in One Hundred Candles have left me burning to see what will happen in Beyond the Grave, book 3, which is out in September. It's definitely on my list!

The Vitals* – One hundred Candles is available from Harlequin Teen in paperback for $9.99.

The Links – Mara Purnhagen's Website

*=All prices are from the cover of the book itself and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Currently Reading: One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

2011-08-16T20:50:00.003-04:00

Okay, I don't remember what page or chapter number I’m on, but all I know is that this book is awesome, and I stayed up much later than I should have reading last night. I can't wait to read more, maybe even finish the book, tonight! It's seriously that great!

I just have to say that while reading One Hundred Candles, I kept picturing Harris as the guy who plays Rick on Vampires Suck.

So far I am very satisfied with this sequel, and it is quickly working its way up on my favorite list!

New Arrivals!

2011-08-16T20:50:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the lack of updates the last couple of days. Don't really know what happened to the time. But I have some things to share, and I'll split it up into the appropriate posts. We'll start with my adventure Sunday.

Sunday I met a friend of mine, who I haven’t seen in a while, at Borders while she was in town. We wanted to see if they had anything good left, and I got a pretty good haul. I found Pretties by Scott Westerfeld, already marked down to 3.99, and then it got it for less than 3 bucks. I also got my hands on Entice by Carrie Jones, Steel by Carrie Vaughn, and the first volume of a manga based on Deltora Quest. I’ve already read that last one, and the review is coming up! I had a blast with one of my best friends, and actually managed to stick to my limit imposed, quite rightfully, by my parents! I even had to make a choice and put a book back, which I did, which was very hard. Mom left me with the credit card and told me she'd be in sears. Oh the temptation! But my mom doesn't trust me with things like for nothing, so I was a good girl.

Off to finish writing posts, and then on to more reading, and knitting!

Currently Reading: One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

2011-08-11T22:31:00.001-04:00

Current Page: 92

About to begin chapter 9 of One Hundred Candles. Really enjoying reading it, and I can't wait to see what happens next! I know new character H is hiding something. I can smell it. I find that both storylines, Charlotte's personal life, and her supernatural life, are both interesting, possibly even more so than Past Midnight. I'm definitely enjoying the more personal aspects this time around. The relationship conflict that's going on is very intriguing.
Off to read more!
Happy Reading, everyone!

Currently Reading: One Hundred Candles

2011-08-10T23:10:00.001-04:00

Current Page: 55

Last night I started One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen, the follow up to Past Midnight. Mara is super nice, so I couldn't wait to start reading this book when it came! I'm just getting to chapter 5, and I'm really interested so far. I feel like this book picks up more quickly than Past Midnight, which is it able to do because there isn't as much to explain.
Linking the introduction of new characters and elements so far; this books seems to have a bit more going on that Past Midnight did at this point.

Have to get back to reading now, I can't wait to see what happens next!

Happy reading, everyone!

Finished Reading: Bedbugs; late update.

2011-08-09T21:39:00.001-04:00

Last night I finished reading Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters. I did post about it, but apparently that post never actually went through, for some weird reason. I didn't not feature Bedbugs on Currently Reading because I want to wait until my official review on the 5th of September (The day before the book hits shelves).

In the meantime, I will be starting One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen either tonight or tomorrow. I have to study for my final exam tomorrow, but I’ll dig out that old post and send it out tomorrow evening.

Happy Reading, everyone!

Circle of Fire, by Michelle Zink

2011-07-31T22:13:00.001-04:00

Summary from goodreads.com – With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister--and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way.
There are some secrets sisters aren't meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them.

Rhia’s Review –Last night I stayed up until 2 in the morning finishing Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink, the third book in the Prophecy of the Sisters series. Reading this book was kind of bittersweet, because it is the last book in the series. It is certainly a very good finish, though! A few things didn't turn out quite the way I thought they would, but they were minor details, anyway.

This book was very well written, although there a few times when I felt as though Lia was acting a little childish. She was a bit angsty and angry at times, which got me a little irritated at her, but it worked well inside the story.

I couldn't help but notice a parallel or two to the final Harry Potter book, which may simply be because I have it on my mind. I doubt these parallels were on purpose, but they worked to the same meaningful affect.

I am very thrilled to have read to this series, and sorry to see it go. I'm just happy to see it end perfectly, if some things were left to be a little mysterious. This series will always have a home on my favorites list, and also my heart. Michelle Zink will also hold a place as one my most favorite authors! I can't wait to see more by her.

The Recommendation –I would recommend this series to all fans of fantasy, strong heroines, and a good story. I can't help but think fans of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy would also appreciate this one very well.

The Other Books –While Circle of Fire is the final book in this trilogy, I know that a Temptation of Angels, Michelle's next book, will be here before we know it. I'm already looking forward to it!

The Vitals* – Circle of Fire is currently available in hardcover at a list price of $17.99.

The Links – Michelle Zink's Official Website

*=All prices are from the cover of the book itself and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

New Arriva! Bedbugs!

2011-07-30T21:48:00.001-04:00

Today my copy of Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters arrived from Quirk books! I can’t wait to read and review it!

Big thanks to Quirk Books for sending me an ARC to review!

Currently Reading: Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

2011-07-30T21:44:00.001-04:00

Current Page: 218

So I was both a little right and wrong about something. I'm just about to start chapter twenty-six. I can't wait to see what happens with Lia and her friends. Things are getting very exciting, and I'm looking forward to how everything pans out. There aren't a lot of things I can say right now without spoiling things, or at the very least confusing everyone, but I'm still thoroughly un-disappointed by this book! I can't wait to share my final review with all of you!

Time to enjoy as many more chapters as I can before I fall asleep!

Happy reading, everyone!

Currently Reading: Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

2011-07-29T20:51:00.004-04:00

Current Page: 158

I. Am. Loving. This. Book! New character Helene is certainly interesting. There's now a character named Fergus, and all I can think about is Roar. (Y'know... the show with Heath Ledger?) I am absolutely suspicious of almost every character in the book, including Dimitri. I don't care how adorable romantic he gets; I'm still on Team James! I think I almost hope Dimitri is bad so those two will get back together...
I'm very enamored with this book, and I absolutely can't wait to read more! I'm about to start chapter nineteen. So far, not a single thing in this book has let me down. I feel like we've seen a little a piece of Alice that she keeps hidden away from the world. Very interesting.
Of course, so far I'm getting exactly what I expected from a fantastic author like Michelle Zink! I am flipping pages like nobody's business!
I found out, however, that there is one thing that can make put a book down in the middle of a sentence: Rick Steves Travel Bite! I love PBS.
Time to get back to reading this AMAZING book, and getting very sleep. I'm celebrating after a reasonably good grade on my math test today.
Happy reading, everyone!

Currently Reading: Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

2011-07-28T23:30:00.002-04:00

Currently on page: 65

Last night I dove into Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink. I've really been looking forward to this one, and so far I have not been disappointed. I'm just about to start chapter eight. I would have started it last night, but I got too sleepy to read anymore. The book is super interesting already, and I'm very happy to see the return of my favorite character, James. I can't wait to see what else this book has in store for me, and I've been looking forward to reading it all day. Now now I'm off to go do some more reading now.
Happy reading, everyone!

Past Midnight, by Mara Purnhagen

2011-07-27T21:35:00.001-04:00

Your dose of irony for the day: I finished Past Midnight at midnight last night.

Summary from goodreads.com – Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear.

Rhia’s Review – When I received Past Midnight for review, I was really looking forward to reading it. The tag line, "I don't believe in ghosts. Unfortunately, they believe in me" really intrigued me. The premise of a girl with paranormal investigator parents was something I'd never read about before. Charlotte's yearnings to be normal, however, I have read before. It's a concept I've never really understood, but I understand why it resonates with readers.

I had a bit of a hard time relating to Charlotte, although I think she is a character that many other readers will identify with quickly. I have never had much sympathy for the 'poor new student', mostly because I was homeschooled since the 4th grade, and so never really had that experience. (I'm certainly not sorry for it.) Charlotte was still a very likeable character, though, and I enjoyed sharing the story with her.

I feel a little like the book was leading up to something big throughout the whole story, and when it finally arrived, it seemed to go by quickly. Maybe I just read it quickly, or maybe it was because I was tired, but I can't help but feel like something happened and I kind of missed it. But it doesn't hurt my happy memories of reading this book.

At first, I wasn't really sure how the two storylines of Charlotte's normal, school life would relate to the events happening in Charlotte's paranormal life, but in the end, they came together quite nicely.

All in all, this book was quite interesting, and a very good read, especially for fans of ghost stories.

The Recommendation – I'd definitely recommend this book to fans of ghost stories that are maybe a little on the lighter side. Also, while reading this book, I kept getting the same kind of feeling I had when reading Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell, so fans of that will probably enjoy Past Midnight as well.

The Other Books –I’m definitely interested in reading One Hundred Candles, the sequel to Past Midnight. Mostly, I'm curious as to where Charlotte's life is heading next, as the main storyline in this book was wrapped up pretty well. I'll be keeping a look out for it.

The Vitals* – Past Midnight is available in paperback at list price of $9.99.

The Links – Mara Purnhagen's Official Website

*=List Price from book cover.

Currently Reading: Update!

2011-07-27T21:29:00.001-04:00

So last night I got totally carried away and finish Pat Midnight. I’m posting the review now, and then I’ll be starting Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink! I’ve really been looking forward to this one, and I can’t wait to share my opinions on it with all of you!

Don’t turn that page! My review of Past Midnight will be up in a moment.

Currently Reading: Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

2011-07-26T22:33:00.001-04:00

I won a copy of Faerie Winter, and it came in the mail today! I'm really looking forward to starting it! I have so much reading to do! I can't wait to get back to it!

Currently On Page 114

But first I have a few things to say about Past Midnight, by Mara Purnhagen.
I'm not on page 114, and the story is really picking up. I know what Charlotte is going for that will drive the plot forward, and I'm getting to know more about all the characters. I'm starting to feel like I'll be interested in the sequel when I'm done, something that Mara herself has probably helped. I friended her on facebook, and she's really nice. If i like the author, I enjoy a book ten times more, knowing that the person who wrote it is all kinds of cool.
So now I'm going to get back to the reading! I don't think it'll take me too long to finish this book, as long as my algebra homework doesn't get in my way too much. I won't let it; I'm really enjoying this book!

Currently Reading: Past Midnight, by Mara Purnhagen

2011-07-25T23:04:00.001-04:00

The other day I started reading Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen. I'm only about 80 or so pages into to, but it's very interesting. the creepy scenes are pretty... well, creepy and well written. right now it's too soon to tell exactly where the story will lead, but I'm very interested in reading more. (Which, by the way, I will be doing in just a few minutes!)

It’s really easy to read, and I read a big chunk last night. I don’t think it’ll take very long for me to finish it.

Way too early to tell if I’m interested in the sequel or not. It depends on how the story evolves from here.

So far, though, I’d definitely recommend it people.

A long overdue update, with some news!

2011-07-25T23:01:00.001-04:00

I know that once again I have sort of let this blog fall behind. I’m ready to try again at keeping it active, and I have a way I’m going to start doing that. Since I use my computer at some point everyday, I’m going to start updating right after I write my words on 750words.com, even it means only doing a quick update on the books I’m reading. These ‘Currently Reading’ posts, the first of which you’ll see right after this post, will just be me stating where I am in the book, and my impressions so far. They will all be spoiler free, of course! I’m very anti-spoiler!

In other news, I had pre-ordered Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink from Amazon, and it arrived the other day. I can't wait to start reading it, but I'd like to finish Past Midnight first. Reading has been hard with this algebra class; summer quarter homework is a killer. But that and city of Fall Angels are the first books I'll be reading as soon as I get the chance!

Also, I'm planning on holding another contest soon! I already have the book, but for now it's a surprise! I haven't posted my review of this book yet, and I will as soon as I'm ready to hold the contest! That’ll happen soon, I promise!

Time to get some reading done! Instead of doing algebra homework, because you know I’d Rather Be Reading!

So Silver Bright, by Lisa Mantchev

2011-06-16T22:47:00.001-04:00

Summary from Borders.com – All Beatrice Shakespeare Smith has ever wanted is a true family of her own. And she’s close to reuniting her parents when her father disappears. Now Bertie must deal with a vengeful sea goddess and a mysterious queen as she tries to keep her family – and the Theatre Illuminata – from crumbling. To complicate it all, Bertie is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate

Rhia’s Review – I received an ARC for review from the the publisher, Feiwel and Friends.

And boy am I glad I did! I have really loved this series by Lisa Mantchev, and I’m really sorry to see it go. But this is a really fun read, although I had forgotten some bits from Perchance to Dream due to reading it so fast, but that really didn’t take anything away from it. All our questions are finally answered, we meet some new characters and gain further understanding of some old ones, and of course, plenty of crazy fairies eating cake! (This series would be nothing without the fairies. ) Lisa’s prose is as magical as the story she weaves with it, and this book, and the whole series will always be in my top favorites list.

I love how Lisa manages to balance the romance and the love triangle with the rest of the story so well. She also keeps you guessing as to whom Bertie will end up with, and we really don’t find out for sure until the end. Each love interest gets their fair share of stage time, but it never takes away form the story as a whole. (I often have a problem with that in the books I read, but not here!) I can’t say too much more about things for risk of spoilers, but this really is a fantastic end to the trilogy! I’m really going to miss Bertie and the gang, but I’m really excited about what Lisa will come up with next!

The Recommendation – Anyone who’s been reading the series will not be disappointed by this ending. If you haven’t looked into this series yet, you really should! You won’t regret it!

The Other Books – My Review of Eyes Like Stars, My Review of Perchance to Dream Loved them both, just like I love this one!

The Vitals* – So Silver Bright will be available in Hardcover on September 13th, for about $16.99. (Borders.com and Amazon.com both have lower prices.) Pre-order it today!

The Links – Theatre Illuminata Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

2011-05-27T23:26:00.001-04:00

Summary from Borders.com –

A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book—a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-first birthday, they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and very little to go on, "Nell" sets out to trace her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell’s death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. A spellbinding tale of mystery and self-discovery, The Forgotten Garden will take hold of your imagination and never let go.

Rhia’s Review – I borrowed this book from one of my teachers, and I must say, it’s the best recommendation I’ve gotten in a long time. While the book is neither fantasy, nor YA, it is an engaging mystery, and is, at some times, historical. The story takes place at multiple points in time, which can be a little confusing at first, but the book wouldn’t have been as fun if it had been written any other way. I really enjoyed piecing together the mystery, and watch the present-day characters do the same. Now the book is over, I find I quite miss them all.

The Recommendation – I’d recommend this book for anyone who enjoys mystery and escapist reads. Historical fans might also find this is a good read, as much of the story takes place in the past. I wouldn’t recommend this book for reading over long stretches of time (I probably took nearly a year to read it), you need to stick with it, it’s much less confusing.

The Other Books – While The Forgotten Garden is not part of a series, and as I far as I know there are no plans for a companion novel, I am interested in reading Kate Morton’s other novels, The House at Riverton and The distant Hours.

The Vitals* – The list price seems to be $15.00 paperback, but Borders apparently has it for $9.00 right now. Get it! It’s worth it!

The Links – Kate Morton's Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

2011-05-03T17:54:00.001-04:00

Summary from Borders.com – Gabry lives a quiet life. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry's mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry.

Rhia’s Review – This books picks up several years after the events of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and the protagonist of that book has become a minor character in this one. That was a concept I really loved, and it hasn’t disappointed me yet in this series. Another thing I loved about this book this book was that it kept you in suspense to hear the answers to questions left at the end of FOHAT, as well as keeping you in suspense with a whole new story and characters.

Carrie Ryan really expanded on the world she created in The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by introducing new places, new rules and peoples, and also new concepts (Concealing a spoiler here) that really keep the story going, and stop it from becoming a clone of the first book. There are plenty of tense, zombie filled fights and escapes to an action lover happy, but there is so much more to this book than a monster factor. Gabry’s emotional journey is really captivating and enjoyable to read.

The Recommendation – All zombie fans will love this series, and fans of Ryan’s first book will not be disappointed by this one. In fact, it may be even better than the first!

The Other Books – The Dark and Hollow Places came out March 22nd. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC, and the review is coming soon!

The Vitals* – The Dead –Tossed Waves is available in hardcover for $17.99 and paperback for $8.99. Go get a copy!!

The Links – Carrie Ryan's Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After Book Trailer

2011-03-24T20:08:00.000-04:00

Here's the new trailer for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After!! It is absolutelty amazing! Makes me want to read the book again! Also makes me wish this trailer were for a movie, it looks that good!

Enjoy!

PPZ: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith

2011-03-22T21:16:00.001-04:00

Summary from quirkclassics.com - The story opens with our newly married protagonists, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, defending their village from an army of flesh-eating “unmentionables.” But the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the proper course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote under development in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after.

Rhia’s Review – You may remember when I reviewed PPZ: Dawn of the Dreadfuls for Quirk last year. I loved this book then times more that I love that one. (And I really like Dawn of the Dreadfuls.)

I feel that Hockensmith really stayed true to the characters form Pride and Prejudice, and I think he really did them justice. Kitty Bennet is a major character in this book, and Steve really gave her depth. The storyline was fantastic, and really fit with the other books. I felt that this book was more well-rounded, and more mature, that Dawn of the Dreadfuls. This is probably one of my most favorite of all the Quirk Classics!

Also, you’ll see in the review that I didn’t much care for the art in DOD. I feel like the art was much improved in Dreadfully Ever After, and I spent a little more time looking at it.

I know most people have disdain for the mash-up genre, and I will agree that some of the books in that vein have gotten a little silly and overdone. But Quirk, the original creator of the genre, is really keeping things fresh. Especially fi you’re like me, and you love Pride and Prejudice, and also love zombies. Sometimes you’re in the mood for Jane Austen, but you need something a little darker, or perhaps more comical, and zombies are just what you need. (Reading the original for the first time simultaneously with the mash-up is QUITE fun!)

But enough of my rant! The book trailer for Dreadfully Ever After will be debuted on the 24th, and I’ll share it with you all as soon as it’s live!

The Recommendation – If you enjoyed any of the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies books, you really need to read this one! It’s NOT just a lame add-on to make more money. It is it’s own story and needs to be read! It’s the best one yet! Any fan of Jane Austen and/or zombies should really read this!

The Other Books – Dreadfully Ever After is supposedly the end of the trilogy, and I think that’s fitting. If Quirk pushes the series too far, it’ll really lose its appeal. However, they’re still turning out mash-ups, such as the Meowmorphosis, and keeping it fresh. I will continue to read whatever Quirk throws at me!

The Vitals* – Dreadfully Ever After is available in paperback for $12.95.

The Links – Quirk’s Dreadfully Ever After Page, Become a Fan on Facebook!

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

the Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2011-03-08T19:40:00.001-05:00

Summary from Borders.com - In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Rhia’s Review – I started reading the Forest of Hands and Teeth the day before I met Carrie at DBF. I was really blown away! I even went ahead and bought the second book at DBF for her to sign before I finished this one! I was pretty confident that I’d want more, and I was right!

I really loved the mood of this book, and Mary’s voice really spoke to me throughout the whole book! While maybe the premise of Mary’s village isn’t totally original (fenced in tiny community with zombies or other evil creature raging outside),the story that takes place in it is something new. I loved the premise of the unknown breaching into Mary’s world, and her seizing chances and embarking on the adventure she did. While the ending leaves you hanging, with many unanswered questions, Carrie’s cliffhanger is done with finesse that enhances reading the second book, where old mysteries are slowly solved as they mingle with new ones.

Also, while being about zombies, the book didn’t read like a slasher film, with character being disgustingly killed off along the way. As someone who loves zombies, but not movies where the object is kill off all but one or two people, I really applaud that!

I am also among the people who are pleased with Carrie’s decision not to use the word ‘zombie’. It lends the book it own credit without being tied so much to the pop culture movement of brain eating zombies.

The Recommendation – I’d recommend this book to any zombie lover, and lovers of horror. The atmosphere is really great in this one!

The Other Books – The Dead-Tossed Waves, the second installment of the series, is already out. As I said, I couldn’t resist it, and the review is coming soon. The Dark and Hollow Places, book three, comes out later this month. I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of my copy!

The Vitals* – The Forest of Hands and Teeth is available in paperback for about $9.99, and also hardcover for $16.99.

The Links – Carrie Ryan's official website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

the Vespertine Cover

2011-02-22T18:37:00.003-05:00

Just in case you haven't seen it yet, this is cover for the Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell! Saundra is a really nice person, and I'm looking forward to reading this book in the future! When I finally allow myself new books, this is one of the first ones on my list!

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

2011-02-05T13:17:00.001-05:00

Summary from Borders.com - The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As 16-year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia.

Rhia’s Review - Getting to meet Michelle at DBF last year really enhanced my experience reading her books, but I didn’t think that would have been possible. She is such a wonderful person! And her books are equally wonderful! I really enjoyed this sequel to Prophecy of the Sisters, and the only thing I can say I had a problem isn’t even a problem. It’s Dimitri Markov, Lia’s new love interest. While he really added some spice to the story, James was so my type that I felt a little sorry for him. Though he really isn’t present for most of the book, I still consider this a love triangle, maybe even a love square, and though I’m not usually a fan, I can’t wait to see how it will turn out!

The Recommendation – I would recommend the Prophecy of the Sisters series for any fans of historical fiction, especially Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle Trilogy. If you haven’t check out this series yet, you definitely should! And fans of the first book won’t be disappointed in this follow-up!

The Other Books – Circle of Fire, the thrilling (I’m sure it will be) conclusion to the trilogy will be out later this year, I think, and I can’t wait! Definitely at the top of my buy list!

The Vitals* – You can pick up Guardian of the Gate in hardcover for $17.99, and I don’t know any details on a paperback yet. I’m sure you can get an e-book from the store of your choice, but I don’t know the pricing for that.

The Links – Michelle Zink's Official Website, Prophecy of the Sisters Series Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

I know, I know! I’m sorry!

2010-12-25T21:55:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I’m really behind. But when life gets crazy, things get neglected. I haven’t been reading quite as much, but I’m catching up, so I should be finishing some more books soon.

I do have plenty of books that I haven’t reviewed yet, but I have an idea that will make things easier for me.

I am pleased to announce the beginning of Mini-Reviews! When I don’t have a lot of time on my hands, but a book is in need of reviewing, I will post a mini-review. This will consist of: Summary; What I like most about this book; What I liked least about this book; The Recommendation; The Other Books; The Vitals; The Links.

If I have a profound amount to say on a book, or if I am reviewing a book for an author or publisher, I will post a full review.

I’ll also try to get on a schedule so that I can schedule posts to appear during the week. I’ll try to make that work.

I have a lot of work to do on the computer tomorrow, so I should be able to squeeze in at least one or two minis and schedule them.

Here’s a taste of what I want to review soon.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Mini)

Archenemy (Mini)

The Iron King (Mini)

The Haunted (Full)

Guardian of the Gate (Full)

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey

2010-09-22T20:13:00.001-04:00

Summary (from borders.com) -

Sadima lives in a world where magic has been banned. Centuries later, with magic restored, Hahp is a virtual prisoner in an academy run by the wizards who control it. Sadima and Hahp's worlds are separated by generations, but their lives are connected in surprising and powerful ways.

Rhia’s Review – I had never heard of Skin Hunger and the A Resurrection of Magic series until this year’s Decatur Book Festival. I realize now what a shame that was! After meeting Kathleen at one of the panels there, I really liked the sound of her book, and daddy was nice enough to buy me lots of books there, including this one! It’s definitely a great discovery!

The story switches back and forth between Sadima’s third person POV, and Hahp’s first person POV 200 years later. This is usually hard to pull off, but I think Duey’s done a great job, as I felt a strong connection to both the main characters. At first, it’s hard to tell how the two storylines relate, but as I read on, I found that the most fun in reading the book came from spotting the things connecting Hahp’s and Sadima’s lives. Duey also leaves enough mystery so that one character’s story isn’t ruined by reading the other.

The chapters in this book were a little short, which is something that I appreciate anyway, but it worked for this book because you never got bored by one storyline while you were waiting to see what happened in the other. Since the chapters were so short, I would save this one for last, after reading on my stack of books. “I’m awake enough to read a bit more… I’ll read a few quick chapters of Skin Hunger and then get to bed.” And about an hour later, I was still reading!

I am very glad that I found Kathleen’s books, and she’s such a nice person that I’m happy to support her in buying more of her books!

The Recommendation - Fans of high fantasy with darker tones should NOT miss this one! I doubt fans of fantasy of any kind will be disappointed by this book.

The Other Books – Sacred Scars, the sequel to Skin Hunger is already out in hardback, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! Very high on my buy list!

The Vitals* – Skin Hunger is available in paperback for about $9.99. Go get a copy. Really.

The Links - Kathleen Duey's Official Website

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

2010-09-09T12:34:00.001-04:00

Summary from borders.com -

Recently orphaned, 16-year-old Lia Milthorpe discovers she and her twin sister Alice are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does.

Rhia’s Review – I loved this book! It was already high up on my list of books to read, but once I realized it was historical (I didn’t know for a while) I knew I HAD to have it. After I heard about the re-jacket of the paperback and the sequel, I knew I wanted the original cover more. One day while browsing at Borders, there it was, in all it’s glory – the only copy in sight of the original cover art hardback! I snatched it up. Glad I did.

But I digress! You came here for a review, not the story of how I came to buy it! I really enjoyed reading this book! I love the characters, getting to know them all and watching them discover their place in the prophecy. I loved the storyline, as well. In a market that’s dominated by vampires, werewolves, fairies and the like, it’s nice to have a just a good ol’ fantasy to read. And since I really like Lia and James as people, I enjoyed all the romantic bits as well. All of the elements of this book tied together very well to make this a great read not to be missed!

The Recommendation - Any fan of fantasy and/or YA will definitely enjoy this book! I also recommend it for fans of Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy.

The Other Books – Guardian of the Gate came out this August. I’ve already got my copy and am somewhere in the middle. The way things are going, I’ll definitely be picking up a copy of the third book when it comes out!

The Vitals* – Prophecy of the Sisters is available in paperback for $8.99, and I think you can still find the hardcover with original art floating around for about $17.99 online. (I know borders.com has it.)

The Links - Michelle Zink's Official Website Prophecy of the Sisters Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Decatur Book Festival – Mini Wrap up

2010-09-05T19:25:00.002-04:00

Just got home from the Decatur Book Festival! Here’s a quick little wrap up of how things went!

Saturday:

I got to meet Carole Marsh! I bought a one of her new books and she signed it for me! I met Jessica Verday(She regocnized my name from facebook!), Cinda Williams Chima, Kethleen Duey, Saundra mitchell (At the ‘Method in the Magic’ panel) and Carrie ryan and Alyxandra Harvey (At ‘Vampires vs. Zombies’ panel)! While I really only went to see Jessica and Carrie, I thought the others were so cool, and I got better insight into their books, so daddy bought me copies of one book for each author, and I got them all signed! I also got a little swag from most of them! They’re all very nice, and I’m so glad I got to meet them.

Sunday:

I saw Cassandra Clare’s presentation, got to ask a question, picked up my copy of Clockwork Angel, and got ALL OF MY BOOKS by her signed, along with a poster, and I picked up some bookmarks and a teaser from her story in ‘Zombies vs. Unicorns’. And i got a picture with her!

Then I went to panel called ‘Sibling rivalry of the Best and Worst Kind’ to see Jackson Pearce, Michelle Zink, and robin Benway. It was a fun panel! Jessic Verday was there, she sat right in front of me, and she recognized me from yesterday! (Squee!)

then I met Michelle Zink and got my books signed! She knew me from the internet and it was AWESOME! She gave me big hugs and I got some bookmarks, and an exclusive soundtrack for her books! (I got the last one on the table!)

So I had a very exciting weekend! It was just too awesome! Hopefully tomorrow I’ll get around to uploading all my photos and video, and post a more thorough wrap up! Right now, I’m off to read, but I bet you could have guessed that!

Decatur Book Festival

2010-09-01T17:42:00.001-04:00

Here, in Georgia, the greatest literary event is the Decatur Book Festival, which happens to be taking place this weekend!

This is first year I’m going (I only just heard of it late last year) and I can’t wait!

If all goes well, I’ll get to meet Cassandra Clare, Michelle Zink, and if I get to go on Saturday as well as Sunday, Jessica Verday and Carrie Ryan!

I’ll post a wrap up after this weekend, and hopefully I’ll finally get those reviews up before then!

Plans

2010-08-05T21:39:00.001-04:00

Here are my plans for this blog over the weekend. I just hope to get this stuff typed up and organized; posts will be published whenever my laptop gets back into internet range.

Review Archenemy by Frank Beddor

Review The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Review Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

I have a contest in the works – stay tuned!

Also, I’ve been having a hard time picking which book to finish next, so I’m letting you guys decide! At the left of the blog is poll asking which book you guys want me to review next. This poll ends on the 14th, so vote fast! Whichever book wins the poll will be new top priority read, and I’ll get the review of it up as soon as possible. I’ll the poll going, so you can guys will always be able to help me pick which book to read!

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Another update

2010-07-30T18:16:00.001-04:00

Okay, okay, I know, I did it again! Things just keep getting crazier here, and I barely have any time to finish up the books on I’m working on. I still have 2 reviews, I owe you, I promise those are coming as soon as possible.

I also have another post coming up soon about the awesome special event coming up. If I get around to it, there’s a contest somewhere around here that needs to get up and running, soon!

So, I’ll get started writing up posts, and getting all my pictures and info together, and you just know that there’s awesomeness coming your way!

Android Karenina Book Trailer

2010-06-08T12:08:00.001-04:00

Below is the trailer for Android Karenina! Enjoy!

Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben H. Winters

2010-06-08T11:58:00.001-04:00

Summary from Quirk Classics.com -

As in the original novel, our story follows two relationships: the tragic adulterous romance of Anna Karenina and Count Alexei Vronsky, and the much more hopeful marriage of Nikolai Levin and Kitty Shcherbatskaya. These four, yearning for true love, live in a steampunk-inspired 19th century of mechanical butlers, extraterrestrial-worshiping cults, and airborne debutante balls. Their passions alone would be enough to consume them—but when a secret cabal of radical scientific revolutionaries launches an attack on Russian high society’s high-tech lifestyle, our heroes must fight back with all their courage, all their gadgets, and all the power of a sleek new cyborg model like nothing the world has ever seen.

Rhia’s Review – I went into this novel with little knowledge of Tolstoy, or the original novel Anna Karenina, so I really didn’t know what to expect from its being mashed with robots. But it’s a good thing.

I really enjoyed Android Karenina, and I like how Winters was able to use the incorporation of robots to really highlight the society of the times. (Only the well-to-do are presented with their own class III companion robot.)

Without straying too far from the original storyline, Winters includes humorous robots, each with their own idiosyncrasies, despite their programming, and a much darker, conspiratorial plot, which adds some excitement to our story of Russion society. Because, let’s face it, almost all classics are better with some sort of giant monster! (Made of tentacle, rotting flesh, or metal; it doesn’t really matter!)

The Recommendation – If you’re a fan of sci-fi, humor, or steampunk-ish things, you’ll find Android Karenina worth reading! And if you’ve been keeping up with Quirk’s mash-up classics, you won’t want to miss this one!

The Contest! – Once again, the fabulous folks at Quirk are having a contest for our lovely blog readers! Just go to this link, mention RATHER BE READING, and you’ll automatically be entered to win one of 25 Quirk Prize Packs, each with a value of about $100. Each prize pack includes:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies:Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith
How to Survive a Horror Move by Seth Graham-Smith
Dracula’s Heir:An Interactive Mystery by Sam Stall
Extreme Encounters by Greg Emmanuel
How to Tell if Your Boyfriend is The Antichrist by Patricia Carlin
An Android Karenina poster
And more!

The Other Books – While I haven’t seen any mention of the next Quirk Classic (which is probably good, because it means they’re not going publish just any crazy mix of classic and monster – keep it fresh, guys!) I’m eagerly awaiting number 5. I, personally, am hoping from something based on Dumas soon. Anyone else?

The Vitals – Android Karenina goes on sale today in paperback for about $12.95.

The Links – Quirk Classics Official Website Android Karenina book page Enter the Contest!

Overdue update, upcoming reviews

2010-05-12T21:39:00.001-04:00

Okay, wow. It has been a long time since I’ve updated here! Here’s why, and the scoop on my upcoming reviews, if anyone is interested.

So, after some personal business involving health issues with my mom, my schedule has totally turned upside down. So I’m reading less, but I’ve been doing a lot of sewing and stuff while hanging with my mom. I’m really trying to get my schedule straightened out so I can get in all my work, writing, reading, and sewing in during my week. Wish me luck!

Anyway, there are some reviews I hope to get posted soon! Hopefully by the time these are posted, I’ll have finished some more of currently reading pile, so there’ll be even more reviews for you.

I’ll be trying to get these reviews up by the middle of next week:

ArchEnemy by Frank Beddor
the Iron King by Julie Kagawa

and maybe there’ll be a few surprises in there as well, if I can some reading done really fast.

Happy reading everyone!

Manifest by Artist Arthur

2010-04-13T17:44:00.001-04:00

(Only copy of the cover I could find – May not be final)

Summary from Author’s Website -

When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she'd ever wanted except that he was killed a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?

Rhia’s Review – I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Krystal is a very cool person, someone I can easily relate too. She doesn’t obsess about boys, especially not an unrealistically beautiful love interest. There is a touch of romance, and Krystal does have emotions to get through in terms of terms of romance, but that’s not what this story is about. (Which I like.)

Artist sets a very good mood in this book. There are some very spooky scenes, and very exciting ones, as well. I loved her characters, they were very deep, and the whole book was very engaging. Definitely a great read, and so worth your time!

The Recommendation – I think everyone should read this book! But you’ll enjoy it a bit more if you’re a fan of books with teens with paranormal powers, slightly spooky stories, or stories about ghosts in general.

The Other Books – Manifest ends very open for a sequel, so I’m hoping there will be one. I’d definitely read it!

The Vitals* – The book releases on August 1st, and apparently will be available in paperback for about $9.99. (Could change.)

The Links – Artist Arthur's Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Crescendo cover so far!

2010-04-10T14:44:00.001-04:00

It looks so awesome!!

Crescendo Cover Art!

2010-04-10T08:55:00.001-04:00

So, in case you didn’t know, today is the day that the cover art for Crescendo, Becca Fitzpatrick’s sequel to Hush, Hush (One of my faves!), will be revealed today! There’s a handy button over on the side bar (<--------) or you can just check out this link: Fallen Archangel

Becca will be checking in live from the Denver Teen Lit Festival. the artwork will be revealed slowly, as a chalk artist there DRAWS IT. Omg. The action starts at 10 AM here on the east coast, (Little more than an hour.) I’m so excited! How about you guys?

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr for free!

2010-04-09T13:50:00.001-04:00

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, a fey story, has been on my list to read for a long time, but for some reason I’ve never actually gotten to it. But it’s available as a free e-book download, along with some extras! You can get from any of these sites - HarperTeen, Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

I’m super glad that they did this, because I’ve really wanted to read this, more so recently. I’ve been big into the fey lately. (Currently reading the Iron king by Julie Kagawa!)

So if you’re like me and just never got around to reading this, or if you’d just like to check it out, especially before the others in the series, there’s never been a better time.

Let me know what you all think of it!

Update

2010-04-09T13:38:00.001-04:00

Just a quick update! I haven’t been on for a while because of some problems in my personal life (family sicknesses – everybody’s okay now.) I do have a review to post – I had been holding off until my contest was over. I’ll get that up a little later. I haven’t been able to get any reading done since last Thursday until last night, so I’m a little behind. Tons to catch up on, wish me luck! Hopefully I’ll have some reviews up soon.

I haven’t had the strength to lower my stack before starting new books, so I’ve got tons to work on. Luckily my TBR and currently reading piles are nice and big, because newly purchased books will be rare for a while due to health bills. (Yay for contests!)

So stay tuned, I’m not gone, and I’ve got plenty coming up!

The Winner of Eyes Like Stars!

2010-03-28T09:47:00.001-04:00

And the winner of shiny new copy of Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev is…. (drum roll please)

NINEFLY!

I’ve e-mailed you, and your prize will head out sometime during the week.

Eyes Like Stars Contest!

2010-03-22T09:41:00.004-04:00

I have managed to secure a copy of Eyes Like Stars to give away as my first contest! (Thanks to dad, and Borders.)

AND Lisa Mantchev, the fabulous author of some my most favorite books ever, has graciously agreed to award a bookplate and a backstage pass bracelet to whoever wins this contest. Isn’t she amazing? Thank you Lisa!

I’d prefer if you leave an e-mail address so I can contact you, but the winner will be posted, so if you forget, you can just e-mail me if you win. If the winner doesn’t respond after 3 days, I’ll get another one.

So, here’s the breakdown. You’ll get a base entry for commenting on this post.

+1 for commenting on my review of Perchance to Dream

+1 for commenting on my review of Eyes Like Stars

+1 for commenting on my Interview with Lisa Mantchev

+3 for becoming a follower! (I need followers. See? Benefits.)

+5 if you’re already a follower! (I will be taking note.)

The deadline for entries is Midnight this Saturday. I’ll announce the winner Sunday, and mail out my prize next week.

Interview with Lisa Mantchev!

2010-03-22T09:41:00.001-04:00

The Absolutely amazing Lisa Mantchev was kind enough to answer a few questions for me! My first author interview, how awesome is that?

Rather Be Reading: What do you consider to be the location of the Theatre Illuminata? (Real place, fictional, etc) Will there more information about this in the second book?

Lisa Mantchev: It's completely fictional, and it's representative of all those beautiful art nouveau and Victorian era theaters. There will actually be more discussion of it's location and time period in the third book, So Silver Bright.

RBR: What information can you give us on book two as of now?

LM: Perchance To Dream picks up where Eyes Like Stars left off, with the merry band headed out on the road. Bertie is determined to save Nate, and--as usual--Ariel isn't sharing his plans with anyone. Of course, there is a lot of silliness and mayhem and cake.

RBR: How do you think professional stage actors/ theater workers feel about the book?

LM: I hope they like it! I'm actually more nervous, having a theater-person read the novel than just about anyone else... they have more context for criticism, I think, if I got anything wrong!

RBR: If Eyes Like Stars was to be made into a movie, can you picture any actors/actresses you think would portray the characters well? (Living or dead, as far as I care.)

LM: I have pictured Ellen Page as Bertie ever since I saw Jason Chan's cover art for ELS, and Daniel Henney as Ariel. Nate is a little harder, although Craig Horner (from Legend of the Seeker) can swing a sword and wear leather pants with the best of them. XD

RBR: Do you have any advice/tips/wisdom/pity for aspiring authors?

LM: Treat it like a job, with regular hours and dedication and professional behavior when interacting with agents, editors, and other authors.

RBR: If you could collaborate on a project with any author(s), living or dead, who would they be? What do you think the project would be like?

LM: At the risk of sounding like a complete fangirl, I pick Neil Gaiman. And the project could be absolutely anything (seriously, I'd sit there and write out his grocery list, if he asked me to.)

RBR: Are you working on any other projects?

LM: I am in the middle of revising a Retrofuturist NeoVictorian (somewhat steampunk) novel, the first of another series. I am up to my eyeballs in clockwork bits, gadgets, bustle skirts, and, yes... more dessert.

Thanks so much Lisa!

Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

2010-03-22T09:40:00.001-04:00

Summary from goodreads.com -

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Rhia’s Review – Okay, first off, Look at that cover! I mean, just look at it! It’s GORGEOUS! I love staring at it, and it really reflects the book so well. I’m sorry. I had to gush over it for a second.

But the words inside are just as good, okay maybe better, than the cover! I LOVED Eyes Like Stars and I’m very impressed by this sequel! It picks up right where the first left off, with all our favorite characters gallivanting off with mechanical horses. Pretty cool, huh?

We really see Bertie come to life in this book. She’s faced with difficult decisions, and is coming to fully understand her mysterious gift with words. She learns a lot about herself, and we’re right there learning with her.

But the other characters are just as important and developed, especially Ariel and those rascally fairies! (Who couldn’t love them??)

Lisa uses a lot of metaphor in this book, which was occasionally a little too much for me, but it’s nothing big. I really didn’t have any issues with this book.

I did get a little confused sometimes by Bertie’s magical journey’s and dreams. However, I was reading rather sporadically, because I was sick, so I know I missed a lot of things, which is my fault, not the writing. When I looked back over it, it would have made perfect sense, if I hadn’t left off in the middle of a chapter for like a week. (Try not to do that.) I might have to read it again before the final book, to make sure I didn’t miss anything important.

So essentially, everything about this book is great! The cover, the storyline, the characters, and Lisa is a really nice person! (You’ll really see why in a little bit.)

Now, you might want to head on over to that link in the left sidebar – and enter to win a copy of Eyes Like Stars!!!

The Recommendation – If you’re into innovative fantasy (There’s nothing like this one out there!) you’ll love this! However, I definitely wouldn’t read Perchance to Dream unless you’ve read Eyes Like Stars, because you’ll be really confused.

The Other Books – Book Three, tentatively titled So Silver Bright, will be out… sometime. Next year, I think. Too long, anyway. I want it in my hands now.

The Vitals* – According to Borders.com, Perchance to Dream will be out May 25th, in hardback for $16.99.

The Links – The Theatre Illuminata

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

A few things…

2010-03-19T22:19:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to let you all know that I’ve got something REALLY cool coming up! I promise! However… I’m feeling a little under the weather, so my reading is really slow, which is putting me behind. If all goes well, the awesomeness will be posted Sunday. If all goes not well, maybe a day later. But it’ll be SO worth it, I promise!

Thanks for your patience!

Dawn of the Dreadfuls Trailer!

2010-03-15T20:15:00.001-04:00

As a fan of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, I was excited to see the trailer for it! It’s really good, check it out below!

Thanks!

2010-03-15T10:52:00.001-04:00

As some of you may know, Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century was nice enough to feature me on her blog! Thanks, Kristen!

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who has followed and/or commented due to that post. I really appreciate it!

So, Thank you!!

I’m going to try to hold a contest soon, so stay tuned!

Abadazad, the Road to Inconceivable by J.M. DeMatteis

2010-03-13T15:26:00.001-05:00

Illustrated by Mike Ploog

Summary – Kate’s little brother Matt has been missing for five years. They both adored a series of books called Abadazad. After a mysterious chat with her neighbor, Kate is pulled into the mystical world she has read about in search of her brother. But Abadazad is not completely the whimsical place depicted in the books…

Rhia’s Review – I found this poking through Borders, and couldn’t resist checking it out. (It was marked down.) It’s part novel, part comic book/graphic novel, and the story is told as the diary of the main character Kate. It’s kind of a quick read (I think it’s on middle-school grade level) but it’s interesting.

The art is pretty nice, it kind of reminds me of the Disney movie Atlantis.

I tried to do some research on this book and it’s sequels (there are two). I don’t think it’s very popular anymore, I think the company might have gone bankrupt or something. Borders doesn’t even list it on their website anymore. I’m sure you can find out a lot more, but you’re on your own. :)

So, to sum up, it’s a really enjoyable read, and worth your time.

The Recommendation – If you like comic books/graphic novels and/or fantasy adventures, you’ll probably enjoy this, even if it is for younger readers.

The Other Books – I’m curious to follow the story, so I might check the others out if I can get a good deal on them.

The Vitals* – The only prices I could find were on Amazon, ranging from $0.01, to $10.00, (The 10 dollar one is signed.) so I guess you can pretty much pick your price.

Lack of Updates (Feeling guilty)

2010-03-06T00:20:00.001-05:00

I got new books today! Hooray! Look for reviews if the Iron King by Julie Kagawa and the Enchanted Quest by Frewin Jones!

Okay, here’s the deal: I’m feeling guilty about lack of updates and reviews lately. I don’t want anyone reading this blog to think I’m not dedicated or anything. I just read slow. And there’s not a library conveniently situated near us (yet), so I buy all my books. I don’t really know how people manage to read so any books per week, and update so often. When I have a review deadline, I can get it done fast and on time, but I just enjoy savoring my books too much. I usually don’t even get started on my reading until later at night. And maybe I read too many at one time…

But just remember that if you see a lack of updates, it’s not because I’m not reading for because I don’t take this blog seriously, it’s just that I do things differently.

Okay, I feel a little better now. :)

Dawn of the Dreadfuls, by Steve Hockensmith

2010-03-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Summary from Borders.com - Witness the genesis of the zombie plague in early 19th-century England in this terrifying and hilarious prequel to the bestselling Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Watch as Elizabeth Bennet evolves from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead.

Rhia’s Review – This book was hilarious! And also a bit gruesome, but it was all good fun! There are a few quotes that link this with Pride and Prejudice, such as lines that remind the reader of events in the original. (I won’t spoil anything for you, but there’s one involving Lydia… and most of us know what happened there.) There are even some instances that (if the Zombies were removed) this book really seems like a possible Pride and Prejudice prequel! This was a great book, the exceptions perhaps being that the illustrations aren’t quite as good as those in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (in my opinion), and there are a few sexual references I feel could have been left out. But I don’t let these spoil my opinion of the rest of the book, because the good SO outweighs the bad.

The Exciting Stuff! – The Most Awesome People at Quirk Books (Who also provided this book.) are also holding a contest for those who read this review. Just go Here. The way I understand it, you’ll be prompted to mention the blog you saw this on (please remember that you’d RATHER BE READING. :)) All participants will automatically be entered.

You’ll have a chance to win one of 50 Quirk Classics Prize Packs! Each Prize Pack, with a retail value of over $100, will include:

An Advance Copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Audiobooks of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
A password redeemable online for sample audio chapters of Dawn of the Dreadfuls
An awesome Dawn of the Dreadfuls Poster (It is awesome, they sent one with my book.)
A Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Journal
A box set of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Postcards

Whew! That’s a lot of awesome stuff!

The Recommendation – If you like Zombies, Pride and Prejudice (and don’t mind zombies) and if you like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, you should really read this book! Totally worth it!

The Other Books – Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters are already earning a high place on my shelf, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls is a welcome addition! Android Karenina is on its way and, though I know little about the original(I’m sure this book will change that), I can’t wait!

The Vitals* – Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls releases on March 23rd in paperback for $12.95.

The Links – The home page of Quirk Classics The Dawn of the Dreadfuls page on Quirk Classics Enter the Contest!

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

the Immortal Realm, by Frewin Jones

2010-03-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

Summary from Borders.com - Princess Tania thinks she's found a way to bring her two worlds together. But as faeries fall to a mysterious illness, Tania must race to save her beloved immortal realm from a dangerous mortal threat.

Rhia’s Review – So, book number 4. You’d think I’d be a little tired of it by now, but no. This 4th book begins kind of a new story arc. It’s really interesting to see sickness in the ‘Immortal Realm’ of Faerie, showing that no land is free from sickness and disease. This one really has a sense of suspense, given the ultimatums that are presented to Tania, and the end really left me wondering what the next course of action will be.

The Recommendation – Same as the others really; Faerie fans will probably love it. If you’re a fan of the series and were doubtful about the next one (I get nervous about continuing series, sometimes.) well don’t be! It’s well worth it.

The Other Books – The Enchanted Quest, the fifth book in the series, came out last month. I have yet to get my hands on it, but it’s definitely on my buy list!

There’s also a ‘manga’ graphic novel series, but I’ve never had an affinity for the Americanized manga.

The Vitals* – Hardback only as of yet, for the usual hardback price of $16.99.

The Links – (Allan) Frewin Jones Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

the Sorcerer King, by Frewin Jones

2010-02-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

Also published as the Seventh Daughter.

Summary – Tania returns to Faerie with her lost mother only to find it under the control of the evil Sorcerer King! With everything seemingly in ruins, what can Tania do to set things right?

Rhia’s Review – The third book in The Faerie Path series shows us the Princesses of Faerie battle an evil sorcerer who seeks to control all of Faerie himself. Tania’s quest to defeat him takes her, her sisters, and Edric to new places in Faerie, where they encounter new creatures, and meet some new friends. The story still hasn’t lost appeal for me, and I love watching the story unfold, as some of the twists involve important characters. Definitely a great read!

The Recommendation – If you’re a fan so far, keep sticking with the series.

The Other Books – So far, so good!

The Vitals* – This book is available in hardback for $16.99 and paperback (As The Seventh Daughter) for $8.99.

The Links – (Allan) Frewin Jones Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

City of Glass(Mortal Instruments, #3), by Cassandra Clare

2010-02-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

Summary from Borders.com - In the final installment of the "New York Times"-bestselling Mortal Instruments trilogy, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters, to save her mother's life. Never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death.

Rhia’s Review – This book is an amazing culmination of the series! It had suspense, romance, tragedy, and it wouldn’t be a Mortal Instruments book without humor! There’s a lot of emotion, and Idris is painted so believably, I thought I was there! This is definitely a fantastic book, and I honestly find it hard to think anyone might dislike it.

The Recommendation – Everybody. Anybody. Seriously, you guys have to read this series!

The Other Books – Surprise! The fourth book, City of Fallen Angels will be out March of next year, and I just can’t wait! Later this year, The Clockwork Angel, the first book in the prequel trilogy The Infernal Devices will be out, and I can’t wait for that, either!! AND graphic novels are in the works, too! I’m looking forward to checking that out, as well.

The Vitals* – You can buy City of Glass in hardback ($17.99), and it releases in paperback on August 3rd for $10.99

The Links – Official Mortal Instruments Page, Official Infernal Devices Page, Cassandra Clare's Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Waiting on Wednesday – Android Karenina

2010-02-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

From Quirk's Official Website :

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters coauthor Ben H. Winters is back with an all-new collaborator, legendary Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, and the result is Android Karenina: an enhanced edition of the classic love story set in a strange new world of robots, cyborgs, and interplanetary travel.

Squee! I’m so excited!

the Lost Queen, by Frewin Jones

2010-02-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

Summary – Picking up right where the The Faerie Path left off, Tania and Edric return to London, and come to begin a search for the Princess’s lost mother, Titania, who is somewhere in the Mortal Realm.

Rhia’s Review – This is another of those sequels that doesn’t make you lose interest in the series as a whole. Things really get interesting as old enemies return, and there’s a good bit of action and suspense.

The Recommendation – If you like Faeries, or if you read The Faerie Path and enjoyed it, you should really read this book.

The Other Books – So far, I’ve bought all the sequels, and I don’t intend to stop.

The Vitals* – the Lost Queen is available in both hardback($16.99) and paperback($8.99).

The Links – (Allan) Frewin Jones Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Captivate, by Carrie Jones

2010-02-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

Summary from Borders.com -

Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.
A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

Carrie Jones will be discussing Captivate at Book Divas from February 22-March 22. Come stop by and ask her a question! (I’ll be there!)

Rhia’s Review – Gosh, I loved this book! Why? Let’s start with Zara, the main character. Her voice is so strong, so individual. (Did I already say that in my Need review? Well, it’s still true, so whatever.) Throughout the book Zara is faced with some serious emotional issues, and she reacts with strong emotion. She doesn’t read like a character, she reads like a person. I developed a bond with her, even if we’re not very much a like.

At first glance at the summary, it might seem a little ‘eh’, and close to other YA book plots. But it so isn’t. Even though another male character enters the mix, Zara doesn’t get all confused and whiny. She sticks to her beliefs. And the supporting characters are perfect! Just enough about them to love and know who they are, but not so much we get distracted from our heroine.

In short, this is a REALLY good book! I couldn’t put it down, and enjoyed every minute of it!

The Recommendation – Fans of Need won’t be disappointed in this sequel, and if haven’t already, you should really check this series out!

The Other Books – I’ve heard that Carrie is officially contracted for two more books in the Need series, and from the looks of things, they’ll both be high on my buy list! Can’t wait!

The Vitals* – Captivate is available in hardback for $16.99.

The Links – Carrie Jones Official Website, Official Website for Need and its sequels

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Android Karenina cover released!

2010-02-20T09:15:00.001-05:00

Just yesterday the cover of Quirk Books’ new mash up Android Karenina was released. I am so psyched for this book and look forward to adding it to my personal collection. It will look great sitting on my shelf with the other three!

So, without further ado, here’s the cover.

City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments, #2), by Cassandra Clare

2010-02-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Summary from Borders.com - Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries?

Rhia’s Review – I love this book!!! Okay, now that that’s out of my system, I can tell you why. Cassandra Clare really has really created this amazing world that’s so easy to become immersed in. I love the characters, I love the story, I love pretty much everything about this series.

The Recommendation – If you’re into any kind of YA fantasy series, you’ll love this. It has everything!

The Other Books – I was so excited for the next book, I couldn’t stop chattering about the series to a friend of mine. I might have annoyed him a little bit, but he took it really well. So, needless to say, I already bought it. So, yes I think it’s worth it.

The Vitals* – Go buy this book now! Paperback is $9.99 and hardback is $17.99

The Links – Official Mortal Instruments Page, Official Infernal Devices Page, Cassandra Clare's Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

the Faerie Path, by Frewin Jones

2010-02-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

Summary from Borders.com – Swept away into a court of magic and beauty, she discovers she is Tania, the lost princess of Faerie. But Tania can't forget Anita's world, or the boy she loved there. Torn between two loves and between two worlds, Tania slowly remembers why she disappeared, and realizes that she is the only one who can stop a sinister plan that threatens the entire world of Faerie.

Rhia’s Review – Once again this book falls into the category of spin offs and derivations of classics, which is something that first drew me to it! I was so excited when I saw that Tania was the daughter of Titania and Oberon, as A Midsummer Night’s Dream is my favorite Shakespeare play! But the best part of all is that this book did not disappoint!

Frewin Jones has created beautiful and magical world, and the story really drew me in. There were a couple of neat twists, and I love the characters! With so many sisters, you might think that all of their personalities would overlap and jumble up, but that doesn’t happen. the Faerie Path was really well written, and let’s face it, the covers are simply beautiful!

The Recommendation – While there isn’t a lot reminding me of Shakespeare in the book, fans of Faeries will really enjoy this book! But of course, I think everyone should read it.

The Other Books – There are four other books published in the series so far. I have three of them. Look fore more info in coming reviews.

The Vitals* – You can get this fantastic book in paperback ($8.99) or hardback($16.99).

The Links – (Allan) Frewin Jones Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange

2010-02-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

Summary – Elizabeth Bennet has just married the love of her life, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Once they embark on their wedding tour, however, Mr. Darcy begins behaving strangely, and Lizzy begins to suspect that he may regret marrying here. But whatever is troubling Mr. Darcy is not as simple as that…

Rhia’s Review – Well, if you’ve read anything else in my blog, you may already know that I love books that are spin-offs or derivations of classic literature. I also love Jane Austen. And I like Vampires. All the criteria is there. This was a really good book, even if some of the big secret is given away in the title., and I think it works very well as an unofficial Pride and Prejudice sequel. There weren’t many action scenes, but it works well for the novel considering it’s supposed to be similar to Austen. It gives a host of characters, and takes place in several beautiful locations (Like Venice. Yay!), and spends a lot of time with the society they come across.

As a historical novel, I personally give it an A, but as a vampire novel, not so much. There are really only a few aspects that give it originality in an over-vampired age, but the book sets a nice tone of mystery so there’s good regency horror ambiance. I’m just thankful Mr. Darcy doesn’t. sparkle.

The Recommendation – I’d recommend Mr Darcy, Vampyre to big fans of historical novels and Jane Austen. And If you really like vampires, you’ll probably enjoy it. If any of those isn’t your thing, I probably wouldn’t bother.

The Vitals* – Mr Darcy, Vampyre is available in paperback for $14.99.

The Links – Amanda Grange's official website Here's a pretty book trailer

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Updating this weekend!

2010-02-14T18:20:00.001-05:00

I’m currently scheduling some reviews that need to be posted. I like to schedule one every other day to make sure I don’t run out of content. I’m trying to change my reading pattern, so I should be able to finish books more often to review here. Right now I have to post reviews for books I read a while back because I’m reading too many at the same time to finish anything, but I don’t want blank spaces on this blog. I’m super serious and I want everyone to know it!

I hope you all had a great Valentine’s Day!

Mason by Thomas Pendleton

2010-02-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

It suddenly dawned on me that I never put up my review for Mason by Thomas Pendleton. I adored that book, and I just can’t let it be left out.

Summary from Borders.com -

Some kids say Mason Avrett is slow. What they don't know is that he also has a terrifying power that he's just beginning to understand. But that's not his worst problem: Mason lives with a sadist. His older brother, Gene, doles out punishments so brutal that all Mason can do is cover his head for the beating and try to forget the horrific things he's seen.

Rene Denton, one of Mason's only friends, knows that Gene is evil, but she doesn't know how evil until the terrible night she becomes a victim of Gene's cruelty. Suddenly Mason's power--raging beyond his control--becomes the only thing that might just be as frightening as Gene.

Rhia’s Review – This is one of the greatest horror novels I’ve ever read. Finishing it at 4 o’clock in the morning with a flashlight during a thunderstorm which has knocked the power out really helped, too. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the writing.

Thomas Pendleton (pen name for Lee Thomas) gives us an inside look into the character’s thoughts, really giving a good sense of their motivation. The imagery he uses is amazing, I was able to perfectly visualize everything he wrote. And watching as Mason uses his newfound ability to try to fix things really gives a sense of grim satisfaction about what he does to the antagonists.

This will always be one of my favorite books. With the imagery, I think it’d make a great movie, all of the elements are there. But none of that is in the works, but that’s okay. Who needs a movie when you can see it in your head so perfectly?

The Recommendation – Love horror? READ THIS BOOK. The easily scared will probably get more fright out of it than someone who’s super into scary like me, but I think it’s just right in it’s elements to be appropriate for anyone, no matter what your scare level is.

The Other Books – There are no ‘other books’ where Mason is concerned, but I am interested in reading anything else Thomas Pendleton has to offer.

The Vitals* – Mason can be acquired in paperback for $8.99.

The Links – No links right now, as Thomas Pendleton/Dallas Reed/Lee Thomas or whoever he is today has so many names and his YA website doesn’t appear to be working right now.

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

gives us an inside look into the character’s thoughts, really giving a good sense of their motivation.

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, #1), by Cassandra Clare

2010-02-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

Summary from Borders.com -

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Rhia’s Review – One fateful day, daddy took Rhia to the mall and let her pick out a book. Rhia picked a dragon book, but while she was there spotted a book that looked interesting. She picked it up and read about it, and the more she read the more she liked, but still decided to get the dragon book she had already picked. When Rhia got home, she couldn’t remember the name or author of the book, and it started driving her crazy. So crazy the she got online and asked for help, describing what she remember about the book on a forum. They lead her to the book she had forgotten, and the next trip to Borders, Rhia got that book, called City of Bones.

In case you didn’t figure it out, I’m that Rhia. And I’ve always regretted not choosing City of Bones instead, because that dragon book kind of sucked, while City of Bones is awesomeness incarnate. I love it so much I’ve babbled about the series so much to a friend of mine that he knows more about it that someone who has never read it should.

Combining Angels, Demons, Warlocks, Werewolves and Vampires, some of my most favorite things to read about, without making any of them dull or overdone, Cassandra Clare has written a book that will always have a place in my heart. The characters and settings are vivid and real, really giving you a sense of being there. The writing is fantastic, and the story and plot really pull you in. Love the twists as well.

All in all, a simply wonderful book that I will never cease to love.

There’s also talk of a movie, which I think may be really official and underway. But I try not to get my hopes up too far when it comes to this sort of thing.

The Recommendation – This is a fantastic book, and a fantastic series, that all lovers of fantasy should try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

The Other Books – City of Ashes and City of Glass, the other two books in the series, have already been read and are sitting with their brother on the shelf. (Reviews coming soon.) So, obviously, I think it’s worth it. Clare has recently revealed that a surprise fourth book in the series, City of Fallen Angels will be released in early 2011. (I believe I’m right on the time. Just don’t sue if I’m wrong.) I can’t wait. There is also a prequel series in the works, called the Infernal Devices. The Clockwork Angel, first in the series, will be out later this year. Also can’t wait for that.

The Vitals* – City of Bones is available in both hardback ($17.99) and paperback ($9.99).

The Links – Official Mortal Instruments Page, Official Infernal Devices Page, Cassandra Clare's Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

the Hollow, by Jessica Verday

2010-02-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

Summary from Borders.com - When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes, everyone thinks Kristen is dead. Caspian, the mysterious boy who shows up at Kristen's funeral, helps Abbey through her grief. Soon, however, Abbey learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend.

Rhia’s Review - I like books that have something to do with a classic novel or story. I just do. It’s cool. Jessica Verday’s The Hollow takes place in Sleepy Hollow, the small town made infamous by Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Every chapter begins with a short quote from Legend, usually one having some small relation to the contents of the chapter. Win.

Abbey is a character I can really relate to. I’ve never been in her position before, but I see a lot of myself in her. But that’s really only one small reason why I love this book so much. The romance is perfectly proportioned to the rest of the book, having just the right amount of fluff, and none of it made me nauseous, even if the romantic interest of the story does belong in the ‘doesn’t exist’ category. There’s plenty of emotion in this book, and I just feel so close to Abbey when I’m reading, I know Jessica’s done her job well.

This book was not tied up all nicely with a bow at the end, unlike most books today, especially romances. But this isn’t a bad thing. It left me craving more of the story, and looking forward to the sequel even more.

Also, you can buy perfumes based on the characters (Abbey makes perfume in the book), which is one of the coolest things ever. In my humble opinion, of course.

The Recommendation – Everybody needs to read this book. Seriously. If you like paranormal, YA, romance, or any combination of them, get this book.

The Other Books – According to Borders.com, The Haunted, sequel to The Hollow will be out August 31st, but I don’t know for sure how accurate that is. The only thing I know is that I can’t wait for it. Definitely high on the buy list.

The Vitals* – The Hollow is out in hardback for $17.99.

The Links – Official Website of the Hollow, Jessica's Blog

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Rebel Angels, by Libba Bray

2010-02-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

I’m getting tired of writing summaries as well as the review, so I’m going to a cheat a little here and there.

Summary from Borders.com (Edited slightly for length)-

Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy -- spending time with her friends in the city, attending balls in fancy gowns with plunging necklines, and dallying with the handsome Lord Denby. Yet amid these distractions, her visions intensify -- visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened that only the realms can explain.

But all is not well in the realms -- or out. Kartik is back, desperately insisting to Gemma that she must bind the magic, lest colossal disaster befall her. Gemma is willing to comply, for this would bring her face-to-face with her late mother's greatest friend, now Gemma's foe -- Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task. . . .

Rhia’s Review – Rebel Angels is a fantastic follow up to A Great and Terrible Beauty. This is one of those sequels where nothing is lost in between books; none of the characters have sudden differences that weren’t brought on by the plot of the previous book, etc. Gemma’s voice is still as strong as it was in the first book, and Libba Bray really blends Gemma’s experiences in London society and her abilities and experiences in the realms and together well. She does a great job of showing how Gemma’s sudden vision are a danger to her social standing, and how that affects her family. Very well written.

The Recommendation – I’d recommend this book to pretty much anyone, though I’d suggest you read A Great and Terrible Beauty first. If you have read said book, and enjoyed it, pick up a copy of Rebel Angels. You won’t be disappointed.

The Other Books – The Sweet Far Thing is the third and final book in the trilogy. I already have my copy, but I haven’t gotten very far yet. What I’ve read so far, though, is great. I knew as soon as I finished Rebel Angels that I wanted the third book.

The Vitals* – Rebel Angels is available in both hardback ($16.95) and paperback ($9.99).

The Links – The Official Website of the series ; Libba Bray's Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Need, by Carrie Jones

2010-02-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

After Zara's stepfather died, Zara’s mother saw that she was having a hard time coping. So Zara's mother sends her to Coldwater, Maine to live with her grandmother, hoping the change will do her good. Once in Maine, however, Zara finds herself apparently stalked by a strange man, and learns that boys have been mysteriously disappearing. Whilst probing into the disappearances, and the strange man, she discovers that something inhuman plague streets of Coldwater, and even she herself isn't what she seems.

Need is individual in choice of supernatural being, the pixie, which is one of my Favorite things about this book. Instead of giving into many of the most popular trends in teen fiction, such as vampires, Carrie Jones gives us something completely different because, even though pixies can be compared to fairies, another rising trend in YA Lit, they are clearly their own, different species.

Also, instead of the usual werewolf, which Carrie does supply, she also gives us other were animals, such as tigers and eagles, which is a nice little change.

All in all, this was a great read, great characters. Zara’s voice was loud and clear; she’s very individual.

Carrie Jones will be visiting Book Divas February 22-March 22.

The Recommendation – This is a superb read for anyone into Paranormal YA.

The Other Books – Captivate, the sequel to Need hit shelves in January. I’ve already bought it, and am currently diving in. I’ll have the review definitely before the 22nd. Carrie has confirmed that there will be two more books in the series, but I don’t know much about them yet.

The Vitals* – Need is available in hardback ($16.99) and paperback ($9.99), while Captivate is in hardback for $16.99.

The Links – Carrie Jones Official Website, Official Website for Need and its sequels

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Bones of Faerie, by Janni Lee Simner

2010-02-02T11:00:00.000-05:00

Bones of Faerie is a post-apocalypse type tale set after a war between the Human and Faerie worlds. The after affects of faerie magic leave a mark upon the human world, such as plants and crops that attack at will, and faerie children born to human parents. Liza was born after the war. Her baby sister was born with trademarks of faerie heritage, and her father leaves her out on a hillside to die, for any trace magic found within their town must be destroyed, including children.

Shortly after Liza’s mother disappears into the dangerous forest surrounding their town, Liza discovers she has the faerie ability to ‘see’, into the past, the future, and so she flees the safety of the town to seek out both her mother and refuge for herself. But what Liza finds is a journey into Faerie and back, and the possibility of healing both the Faerie world and the Human world.

This book was shorter than I thought it would be, which does slightly count against it for me. But the story, the characters, and the world make up for the short length.

The Recommendation – Those looking for a faerie story similar to other YA faerie stories on the market today probably won’t find it here. But it is a good read, and I think most people can enjoy it.

The Other Books – There will be a sequel to Bones of Faerie tentatively scheduled for sometime in 2011. I haven’t really decided how far up the buy list it will be, but we’ll see as the time gets closer. Factors such as it’s plot and our economic standing have a lot of affect here.

The Vitals* – Bones of Faerie is currently available in hardcover for $16.99, and releases on January 27th in paperback for $9.99.

The Links - Janni Lee Simner's Official Website

*=All prices are from Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

Recent and upcoming reviews

2010-01-26T19:38:00.001-05:00

I was recently sitting at my desk hammering away at the keyboard writing up reviews. I was hoping to schedule them all and have a nice little regular type update.

Somehow I got distracted and none of them got published. So I published one (I may to need to proofread it later) and this weekend I’ll finish what I started. I’ll read like Mr. Dickens (I assume he read a lot) and type like nobody’s business, and get a bunch of reviews done.

And then I’ll try to tame my stack so I’ll finish books quicker.

Then dad will have buy me more mwa ha ha ha ha ha.

Okay, just kidding about that last part.

Mostly.

Happy Reading!

A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Book One)

2010-01-26T19:35:00.001-05:00

Gemma Doyle is determined to leave her home in British India and seek out a proper education at a boarding school in England. After a brief meeting with a mysterious man with an odd message about a woman named Circe, Gemma’s mother dies. in the light of this, and her father’s growing addiction to laudanum, Gemma is sent to the foreboding Spence Academy for young ladies. There she meets new friends and enemies, and learns that she has a special power to enter a magical place called the realms. With her own powers and the help of her friends, she discovers the dark history of the school, as well as he own heritage and the power she possesses.

This book really captured me, and it didn’t take me long to finish it and begin longing for the others. I really how Libba Bray is really able to blend Victorian England with fantasy that really suits the time. Although the magical elements aren’t as bold as, say, Harry Potter, which I usually prefer, it simply suits the story and era so well, that it really melds together. Plus, I really like historical fiction.

Now, when I had originally read about the books, and it mentioned ‘popular girl’ (Those may not have been the exact words, but that’s essentially the meaning) I was a bit put off because I thought it would be another of the usual YA fantasies filling the shelves, only set back in time a bit. I wrongly assumed that the new girl would be jealous and trying to fit in with the popular crowd. However, Gemma isn’t like that, and the way the relationships develop between all the characters is definitely not the norm.

Gemma has a strong voice, the setting seems accurate (I haven’t done an extraordinary amount of research to know), and all the characters are real and easily imagined. You can easily compare this book to everyday life, which means that the author has done their job of creating a believable story

The Recommendation – This book is great for anyone, especially fans of fantasy, YA lit, and historical stories.

The Other Books – Well, I’ve already bought them. So that should tell you something. :) Their reviews are coming up.

The Vitals* – A Great and Terrible Beauty can be purchase in either hardcover($16.95) or paperback ($9.99). Also available in audio for $44.00, and other bindings as well.

The Links - The Official Website of the series ; Libba Bray's Official Website

*=All prices are form Borders.com and are subject to change without notice, and without this page reflecting those changes.

In My Mailbox

2010-01-12T11:32:00.001-05:00

I know a lot of people do this meme called In My Mailbox, which is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren. This isn’t exactly like that, but it’s similar, so I thought I’d share the new books I got over the weekend. We had coupons, so Daddy took me to Borders.

I got:

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Captivate by Carrie Jones

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

So, look for some back logged reviews, as some of those are sequels, and new reviews as well, as I’m trying to steadily work my way through my growing pile of books.

Rhia’s Ten Favorite Books of 2009

2010-01-05T09:51:00.001-05:00

Everyone’s doing it. Everywhere I look, there’s another list of someone’s favorite books of the year. So why can’t I do one?

There is no reason. So without further ado, here are my ten favorite books of 2009! They are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER, because I just can’t do a thing that to my babies.

P.S. I’m not doing one for the decade, like a lot of people, because well there a lot of factors why. I’m just not.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben Winters

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Archenemy by Frank Beddor

Fade by Lisa McMann

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Storm Glass by Maria v Snyder

Forest Born by Shannon Hale

And here are some of the best books of 2009 that I missed out on:

Wings by Aprilynn Pike

the Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Soulless by Gail Carriger

These are all still on my reading list, but I just don’t know when I’ll get to them.

What are some of your favorite books of the year?

Hyperventilating

2010-01-04T08:40:00.001-05:00

Well, I’m still working on the reading thing. Didn't get to any yesterday, focused on the writing instead.

But OMG you guys I have some AMAZING NEWS!!! I’m bursting at the seams to tell you, but I want it to be a surprise. Let’s just say there’s a veerry special post coming up soon!

I totally can’t wait!!

Archenemy!!

2009-12-31T13:42:00.001-05:00

Oh my gosh, you guys! I can't believe that is New Year’s EVE!!! This year has gone by so fast!

Well, I know this baby seems pretty lonely right now, but I have some exciting news! Remember first (And only at the moment) feature of The Looking Glass Wars back in October? When the third and final book came out?

WELL I FINALLY GOT A COPY. So I’m going to start it soon, and then a review will follow!

I really haven’t had a lot of time to read lately, because I’ve been busy with so many projects, and new ones are still trying to pile up on me. (I like to stay occupied.) But I have a nice big stack of books that waiting for me now that the holidays are coming to a close, and believe I’m going to hit them hard! I have a writing class in January, but that hopefully won’t slow me down too much!

But I want you all to know that I have NOT forgotten this blog at all, it has NOT been abandoned, it is NOT on hiatus, and it WILL continue!

So I hope you all can bear with me while I get thing straightened, take the time to get reading, and slowly but surely keep updating!

Have a great new year!

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

2009-12-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Eyes Like Stars tells the story of orphaned Bertie Shakespeare Smith, who has lived the magical Theatre Illuminata as long as she can remember. The theatre Illuminata is where all of the characters in any play ever written perform their roles, their lives, endlessly. When Bertie’s escapades in the Theatre finally become the last straw for the Theatre Manager, she must prove herself in order to stay at the only home she’s ever known, and find out a little about herself in the process.

At the risk of soundly completely cliché, this is a very imaginative debut novel. I know I’ve never read anything like it. Lisa Mantchev really brings the characters to life, and creates a magnificent world and an incredible plot, tempered heavily with one of my favorite aspects: humor. Plenty of giggles, mostly brought by the fairies from the Bard’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Moth, Peaseblossom, Cobweb, and Mustardseed. I fell so totally in love with this book, that I couldn’t put it down. Literally, really. I’d make my nice big stack, and wound up reading more of this than anything. It’s even the book I celebrated with one night when I had finally earned reading time during NaNoWriMo. I was crazy for it!

As for some of the romance, there’s just enough fluff and triangle to make it interesting, but this book has so much more to offer! Which is one of its greatest points for me.

The Recommendation – I’d recommend this book to pretty much anyone, it’s such a great read! But if you’re a lover of fantasy and the stage, you’ll enjoy it all the more!

The Other Books – I MUST have the other books in the trilogy! (The second is titled Perchance to Dream, and that’s all I know right now.) We’re talking, top of the buy pile, please please daddy please, if I don’t get the next one I’ll scream. That’s how badly I want it. I will gladly pay the money for hardback.

The Vitals* – Eyes Like Stars is available in hardcover for $16.99, and will be available in paperback for $8.99 April 13, 2010.

The Links - The Theatre Illuminata's Website

* = All Prices from Borders.com, and are subject to change without notice. That change may not be reflected on this page.

December Update

2009-12-01T12:32:00.001-05:00

Since NaNoWriMo is finally over (I DID IT!!!) I can get back to work on everything else, while still working on writing. I’ll start with some new reviews here (I have two), but I’m also going to review a few books a while ago, to keep you occupied while I continue my reading.

I’ll try to get to those reviews later today, I’ll post one today, and schedule the other to come a little later. I have a lot of stuff to get to around the house, as well as other work regarding my writing, so it might take me a while to make a dent in my reading stack. But I’ll keep updating with older reviews, and I’ll work on this months’ Feature.

Thanks for being to patient!

A Very Fairy Holiday!

2009-11-17T19:21:00.001-05:00

Just taking a quick minute to let you know about Lisa Mantchev’s, author of Eyes Like Stars contest! Simply tell Lisa how you think Peaseblossom, Mustardseed, Moth and Cobweb would help you around the holidays, and you could win!

Full details here - A Very Fairy Holiday

And yes, my review of Eyes Like Stars is coming very soon!

A Quick little update

2009-11-04T15:54:00.001-05:00

So, since I’m doing National Novel Writing Month this year, and it’s officially started, my blog is pretty much on hiatus until December.

I’ll still try to post every now and then, but the writing is taking up most of my time. I haven’t had a chance to read at all. I’ll probably cancel this month’s feature.

I realized I forgot to do all the cool stuff i had planned for last month’s feature, but I should do better next time.

I’ll try to take some time this weekend and at least post about this month’s author visits.

So wish me luck on NaNo, and know that' I’ll be back ASAP and things will be kicking again!

Win books from Cynthia Leitich Smith!!

2009-10-30T14:59:00.001-04:00

Win books!!! from Author Cynthia Leitich Smith! She’s giving them away on her blog, and she’s got some good stuff on offer! Check it out!

Rather Be Reading and the Loch Ness Monster

2009-10-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

I am currently reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and loving them. Now, you may or may not have previously heard about Little Women and Werewolves, but this third book in the 'literary mash up trend', as it appears to be called, is stirring up some controversy. Take the article below, for example.

‘Little Women and Werewolves’: a step too far? csmonitor.com
Posted using ShareThis

Now, I wouldn’t be so hard on this, and similar, novels. I, personally, am loving them, and I hope they don’t stop anytime soon. (I think it’s be great to remix some Dumas with some evil creatures.)

Okay, so, maybe the concept does have the propensity to get old. But as long as they keep things fresh and unique, it could stick around for a while. Ad if you think about it, it’s the adult equivalent to Children’s Illustrated Classics. The addition of crazy monsters makes the book more accessible to reluctant readers of classic literature, by adding concepts more appealing to them. Maybe after reading the parody, or mash up, or what have you, they’re more interested in reading the original, to compare?

I can see how some people could somehow be offended by this destruction or demeaning of a classic novel. (Which really doesn’t make that much sense, cause they didn’t write it.) It’s how the co-authors (which you notice they call themselves, as well as list their name second) pay tribute to these works. I think that if the original authors of these classic pieces of literature knew about, and understood the motives behind, these works, they would probably think it was hilarious, even appreciate that their novel was famous enough to deserve a parody.

I think this just bight be blown out of proportion a little bit. But, what do you think?

By the way, did I mention that Seth Grahame-Smith, co-author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is currently working on a new title? Yep. It’s called Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. And I can’t wait to read it.

Waiting on Wednesday – Gone, by Lisa McMann

2009-10-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

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

Gone by Lisa McMann (Feb. 2010)*

Since I reviewed FADE yesterday, I thought this would be the best post for today.

From Lisa McMann's Official Website

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.
She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.
Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

He reaches toward her, his fingers black and bloody, his eyes deranged, unblinking. Janie is paralyzed. His cold hands reach around her neck, squeezing tight, tighter, until Janie has no breath left. She's unable to move, unable to think. As his grasp tightens further around Janie's neck, his face turns sickly alabaster. He strains harder and begins to shake.
Janie is dying.
She has no fight left in her.
It's over.

* = Subject to change.

FADE by Lisa McMann

2009-10-27T11:00:00.000-04:00

Since the events of Wake, Janie Hannagan has been working for the police, along with secret boyfriend Cabel. There’s a new case in the works at Fieldridge High, and undercover ‘Dream Catcher’ Janie is the only person with the skills to uncover the secret.

FADE is really a teen crime novel with a dash of paranormalcy (my new word) thrown in. I prefer my paranormal fiction with the paranormal a bit more prominent, while this book deals mostly with the crime drama/romance part, but in the end, it made the book’s chemistry just right. The passage of time marked by time stamps instead of prose really makes it feel like a case file sometimes, which helps set the mood for the story.

The book is really well written, and it’s always nice when characters have fully developed problems and background stories. Although, the two main characters have such sad pasts, it sometimes seems like they’re just trying to have themselves a pity-party, but it does make some of the character motives more believable, because really, they’re all each other has.

The Recommendation – FADE is perfect for fans of crime drama and romance. But I must warn you, there are some graphic elements in this book, including much cussing, and some scenes that are not sexually graphic, but, let’s say, sensual. (Just in case you can’t handle that kind of thing.)

The Other Books – I already own WAKE, the first book in the trilogy, and I really think I might buy GONE, the final book. I’m really curious to see how the story ends.

The Vitals* – FADE is available in hardcover for about $15.99, and WAKE is available in hardcover ($15.99) and Paperback ($8.99).

The Links - Lisa McMann's Official Website Some Fun Extras for WAKE

* = All prices from Borders.com, and are subject to change without notice.

An update

2009-10-19T15:19:00.001-04:00

Borders, I never thought the day would come! You have failed me! Archenemy still isn’t in, we called this morning. So we’ll either have to wait forever, or order it online. But I don’t like to do that because then I can’t pick the one that looks the least manhandled.

I’m slowly yet steadily making my way through my pile of books, and I should have another review ready pretty soon, but I can’t guarantee that I will or which book it will be.

Just wanted to post an update to make sure that any passersby know I AM working on it.

Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton

2009-10-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

When Blake and his sister Duck travel to Oxford with their mother, who is currently separating from their father, they find a mysterious Blank Book. Blake is pushed to uncover the centuries-old secret to gaining the knowledge that the book holds, while burning through the web of lies and and dangers surrounding it.

This book took me about three years to read. It’s not so much that it’s a bad book. It just that every other book that came into my possession was better, and more worth my time. The storyline was great, but I think it could have been executed better. It just never grabbed my interest, never made me burn with wonder at what would happen next.

The moments that are supposed to be ‘thrills and chills’ moments are really geared for a younger generation, even though (as far as I know, my research yields conflicting results.) it is a young adult book, not a children’s book. I just got kind of bored with it. (Maybe I’m so scary immune, it was darker than I thought.) I hate to sound harsh in any way about a book, because it did have its up points. But I think the characters could have had more depth, and it could have had a bit more intrigue. The ‘thrills and chills’ should have been a bit darker, more age appropriate for the group they’re marketing to.

The Recommendation – Despite the apparent harsh review, I still think this book is a good read, especially if you don’t like darker storylines.

The Vitals – Endymion Spring is available in hardback ($17.95) and paperback ($9.99) from Random House.

The Links - Random House's Official Endymion Spring webpage

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2009-10-16T21:47:00.001-04:00

Nora Grey hates her new biology partner, Patch. Yet, in typical teenage fashion, the more she gets to know him, the more she is drawn to him, even though she tries to tell herself she still hates him. But there is more to Patch than meets the eye.

Hush, Hush was a really awesome book. There isn’t a lot of YA fiction about the fallen or other angels, which is something I’m really into. So, I was pretty excited about this book. It kind of took a while for the really exciting stuff to happen, but there was enough suspense to keep up a good pace. Even though ‘romance’ is one of the first words in the description, I think the level of romance in the story was kept at a perfect level. There was enough spice to soothe the romance begging beast in all of us, without it becoming nauseating or graphic.

The characters are developed nicely, and so is the plot. There was even a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. (And lately YA books have disappointed me in that area. It takes the main characters most of the book to figure out the most obvious of things.) And the lack of cussing and sex-crazed main female protagonists was really very refreshing, and I definitely commend Fitzpatrick on that. A marvelous debut that’s finally something pretty different from the rest of the books on the YA shelf.

Don’t forget that Becca Fitzpatrick is chatting on Book Divas until the 21st!

The Recommendation – I’d recommend Hush, Hush to pretty much anyone! It’s really a fantastic read and deserves your attention!

The Other Books – Crescendo, the sequel to Hush, Hush will be out in about a year. And I’m really interested, so I’ll do my best to grab a copy when it comes out. Really worth my limited book money.

The Vitals – Hush, Hush is available in hardback for about $17.99 from Simon and Schuster.

The Links - Becca Fitzpatrick's Official Home Page

ArchEnemy is here!!

2009-10-16T20:52:00.001-04:00

Well, supposedly, anyway. Mom took me to get it at Borders yesterday, its release date, according to the official website, and no go. The employee we talked to said that it didn’t have a release date, and that they were just supposed to put on shelves when it got there, but apparently it was en route. So either it got there later that day (we went kind of early) or it was in the back and he didn’t see it.

So my review of the final LGW book may be a little late. I think you can forgive me this once. :)

Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor

2009-10-14T17:23:00.001-04:00

Redd’s back, and working to launch an attack against Alyss. But little do the people of Wonderland know, they have another threat working against then as well.

Seeing Redd really lives up to expectations as the sequel to The Looking Glass Wars, with the same strengths as a story as it’s predecessor had. The plot really begins to deepen as the story unfolds, revealing more about the characters and their motivations.

The Recommendation – I’d recommend this book to pretty much anyone, but especially fans of reimagined novels and Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and anyone who read The Looking Glass Wars.

The Other Books – The third and final book in The Looking Glass Wars trilogy comes out tomorrow, and I can’t wait until I can get my hands on a copy!

The Vitals* – Seeing Redd is available in Hardcover ($17.99) and Paperback ($8.99) from Dial Press.

The Links - the Looking Glass Wars Official Website

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

2009-10-14T13:27:00.001-04:00

Inspired by a deck of cards, Frank Beddor’s debut novel The Looking Glass Wars tells the ‘true’ story of Alyss Heart of Wonderland, where Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll / Charles Dodgson is the author’s misinterpretation of the Princess’s tragic tale.

One of the things I liked most about this book is how the author adds just the right amount of dark imagination to the story, not so much that it become something stupid for trying to hard. Some of the best reimaginings have really lost something in translation for changing either too much or too little, or changing it in the wrong way. But Frank Beddor has managed to avoid all those little missteps and created something perfect.

One of my favorite elements in the story are the dimension-jumping puddles, puddles where no puddles should be, that enable to inhabitants of Wonderland to cross form their world to ours, and vice versa. Very cool. They even have their own song. (More on that later.)

The story is expertly written, and the characters are very real, and understandable. You can really get to know them through the course of the story. Most of the characters are reimagined versions of characters from Lewis Carroll’s novels, and even though they are changed to fit the storyline, they stay true to the original characters, as do all elements of the story that come from the original novels. As I read, I really came close to believing that this was the true story; it’s very easy how everything could be interchange from dark, tragic story to silly, whimsical children’s novel.

The book even has it’s own soundtrack. I’ve only heard a few full tracks from the website, but I’ve really loved what I heard. Don’t be fooled into the thinking the soundtrack is just bunch of silly little instrumental tracks made to go with the books. While there are a few instrumental tracks, which are beautifully executed, the album does feature songs by established bands that fit with the theme of the book. There is also supposedly a movie in the works, but don’t tale my word for it. There’s information on the official site, though.

The Recommendation – I’d recommend this book to pretty much anyone, but especially fans of reimagined novels and Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

The Other Books – Well, I already own the sequel, so that should tell you how I feel about continuing with the story. There is also a companion book called Princess Alyss of Wonderland which is a book made similar to Dragonolgy and the other ‘Ology books. I’ve been meaning to give it my money, because I think it’s incredibly worth it (I collect those, too.) but I either can’t find it or have forgotten about it when I make it to the bookstore. But I think they’re well worth the money for my collection. A graphic novel series called Hatter M (Bet you can’t guess who it’s named for.) is also in publication.

The Vitals* – The Looking Glass Wars is available in Hardcover ($17.99) and Paperback ($8.99) from Dial Press.

The Links - the Looking Glass Wars Official Website has tons of information and extra content, as well a few tracks from the soundtrack you can stream for free. They also have specials in the store sometimes, so it can be a great place to purchase the books and other merchandise in combinations.

* = All prices from Borders.com and are approximate and subject to change.

Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

2009-10-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

Have you ever started a book and known as soon as you got a few pages in that you were going to love it? Well, that happened to me when I began Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, and I was not disappointed.

Yelena is a prisoner in the Commander’s dungeon, and faces execution, but is offered a choice to live. Because it can only be offered to someone whose life is forfeit, the position of food taster is offered to Yelena. She accepts, yet Valek, the Commander’s closest friend and advisor, knowingly gives her a poison called Butterfly’s Dust, and Yelena must report to him everyday to receive the antidote, or else she will die.

The book’s plot is very well done, with enough twists and turns to keep from being obvious. There were plenty of little off-the-plot things to occupy the story, without going crazy and veering off form the point. The characters each have their own histories and motivations, some not so obvious as others. The romantic element between the main characters is, in my opinion, the perfect amount. It never overshadows the rest of the story, which is how I like my romance.

Recommendation – I’d definitely recommend this book to pretty much anyone. Except for a little coarse language and some adult content (nothing graphic), there’s really nothing to shy away from.

The Other Books – I’m going to look into Maria V. Snyder’s other books, as well as the two sequels to Poison Study, because I’m really quite impressed. This book kept me up reading at night, where I had to force myself to sleep. Not many books have done that.

The Vitals – Poison Study is available in paperback for about $13.95 from Mira Books, a division of Harlequin. According to Borders.com there is another paperback edition that sells for about $9.99.

The Links – Maria V. Snyder’s official Website Buy the Book from eHarlequin.com (20% discount)

Waiting on Wednesday – ArchEnemy by Frank Beddor

2009-10-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

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

From Borders.com -

The Heart Crystal's power has been depleted. The people of Wonderland have all lost their creative drive. Even Queen Alyss is without her powers. The vicious Redd Heart seems to be similarly disabled and attempts to team up with her enemy, Alyss, in order to reclaim Wonderland from King Arch, in this riveting conclusion.

I can’t wait! I’m so excited! Just hoping I’ll be able to spare the funds for it soon, and won’t have to wait too long!

Win an ARC of Captivate by Carrie Jones!

2009-10-06T18:47:00.001-04:00

The fabulous Carrie Jones is holding a contest over on her livejournal to win an ARC of CAPTIVATE, the sequel to NEED.

Link - WIN CAPTIVATE

October Feature – The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor!

2009-10-04T21:32:00.001-04:00

My monthly feature, revealed the first weekend of every month, is something, be it author, series, book, whatever, that I think deserves your attention!

October’s Feature is the Looking Glass Wars Trilogy by Frank Beddor!

Inspired by a deck of cards, the Looking Glass Wars tells the ‘true’ story of Alyss Heart of Wonderland, where Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll / Charles Dodgson is the author’s misinterpretation of the Princess’s tragic tale.

I’m a big fan of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (And What Alice Found There), and I’m also a big fan of spin-offs, parodies and derivations. When mom heard about this book, she made sure to tell me and we picked up a copy, and I was an instant fan. The third and final book comes out this month, so I thought this was the perfect occasion for it to be my first feature!

I’ll be posting about reviews and all information LGW related through the month, so stay tuned!

Author Visit Roundup!

2009-10-02T16:16:00.001-04:00

Here’s a quick list of some of October’s author visits around the web.

Becca Fitzpatrick, author of Hush, Hush, will be hanging out at Book Divas from the 14th-21st.

Books Divas will also be hosting a virtual book club forum this month for LIAR by Justine Larbalestier, though the author will not be present. (To my knowledge anyway. You never know.)

James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner, will be discussing his work at Random Buzz.

Well, that’s all I really know of for this month, form the sites that I know. If I’ve missed something, or you’d like to introduce me to another site I should keep track of, let me know!

Be sure to check in tomorrow for the unveiling of this month’s FEATURE!!!

Forest Born, by Shannon Hale

2009-09-29T18:36:00.004-04:00

Well, my plan was to have this whole feature on Book Divas' author visit with Shannon Hale, author of The Books of Bayern. I was going to have trumpets and everything. Really.

But as usual, life got in the way. But I do have a nice review of Forest Born, and I might post her answers to my questions I asked on Book Divas.

Forest Born is the fourth novel in The Books of Bayern. This book tells the story of Rin. (If you’re familiar with the story of The Books of Bayern, you may know that Rin is the little sister of Razo.) Rin has always felt close to the trees in her forest home, seeking their refuge in troubled times. but when the trees turn their back on her, as Rin believes they have, she leaves her large family, and her life as Ma’s shadows, and accompanies her brother to the city for a change of scenery.

Whilst there she meets Isi, the Queen of Bayern, and her friends Enna and Dash, whom she lovingly names the Fire Sisters. Serving as a waiting woman and caring for the young Prince Tusken, she helps to uncover a plot which aims for one of Isi’s old enemies to take control of Bayern.

I hadn’t read the first three books in the series, yet even so the relationships of the characters came through very strong. Had I read the other books, they probably would have had more gravity with me, as I would have seen them grow. All of the characters were unique, and all with their own histories and problems. the book kept me engrossed, and I couldn’t wait to get back to it every night.

The only thing that really bothered me was some of the character’s speech. The book is set in a medieval type world, yet the characters use some really modern speech. This could have been intentional, since it is a fictitious world, but it still kind of stuck out at me. However, it was used to make the dialog more humorous, so I guess it was worth it.

Recommendation – I would recommend The Books of Bayern to any fan of fantasy, medieval fantasy, and fans of Fairy-Tale retellings. (The first book, The Goose-Girl, is a retelling of a story by the Brothers Grimm.)

The Other Books – I will probably backtrack and read the first three Books of Bayern at some point. They’ll be more toward the middle of my ‘To-Buy’ list, because funds are low (I know I’m not alone in that) and I have really important things coming out. But, I think they’re worth the money when the time comes.

The Vitals * – Forest Born is available from Bloomsbury in Hardcover for about $17.99, and The Goose-Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets are all available in both hardback (Prices seem to to range from $17.95 to $18.99) and paperback for $8.99 each. There is also a boxed set of the paperbacks of the first three for about $26.97. (The paperback covers match the hardcover of Forest Born, while the hardcover versions have different cover art.)

Shannon Hale is chatting about her books on Book Divas until October 5th!

* All prices from Borders.com

Intertwined Sweepstakes

2009-09-23T18:15:00.001-04:00