The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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)