Thursday, November 28, 2013

Giving thanks to... YOU.

Thanksgiving is the time of year where we express the things we are most thankful for; the people, opportunities and/or objects we love that make our lives easier, more bearable and absolutely amazing. I am honestly thankful for so many things; for family and pets, smiles and friends. One of my goals for 2013 was to continually communicate my gratitude and love, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to you, dear readers, for all of the views and comments, because I know I do not say it enough.

So thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This blog, created with no real purpose in mind, has turned into a genuine passion. I have always been a fan of books, but never imagined that there was a whole community of fellow bloggers that enjoyed reading and discussing just as much as I did. I have discovered so many amazing blogs and people throughout the last few months, and am really looking forward to delving deeper into the book-blogger world in 2014. In the meantime, a serious thank you goes to those that have stopped by my blog, if only for a moment or two, to give my posts and I a chance. I appreciate each and every view, comment and follower more than I could ever properly express, as you have introduced me to such a friendly and open community that I am proud to be a part of. You're lovely. I mean it.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Teaser Tuesday [November 19]


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. All you have to do is grab your current read, open to a random page, and share two teaser sentences (that don't give too much away). 
 
 
 
This week's teaser is brought to you by Cassie Sullivan of The 5th Wave:

"Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity. And if this is humanity's last war, then I am the battlefield."

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (page 101)

Friday, November 15, 2013

Book Review: Velveteen by Daniel Marks




Author: Daniel Marks
Series: Standalone (?)
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Pages: 464
Format: Hardcover
Average Rating: 3.64
Read it in: 5 days
Source: Bought from Amazon





- Summary -
Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that’s not the problem. The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days. It’ll be brutal... and awesome. But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Sequels


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they update their blog with a list of ten things that have to do with a predetermined topic.

This week's topic is: What are ten sequels you cannot wait to get your hands on?




The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) by Michelle Hodkin. I NEED TO HAVE THIS BOOK IN MY POSSESSION. NOW. To say that I was heartbroken upon learning that its release was changed from October 2013 to June of next year would be a colossal understatement.

Untitled (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken. I must know how this series ends! Do Ruby and Liam end up together? Is Clancy really that much of an ass? Chubs/Vida? WHAT ABOUT ZU?! All fair questions that are eating me alive I need to know the answer to.

The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan. Obviously.

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi. Hello, gorgeous cover. *drools* Despite my attraction attachment to certain characters, I am ready to see how Tahereh Mafi ends this series. Team dontevenTHINKaboutkillingWarner! :D

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare. Who on this planet is not anticipating the final installment in the Mortal Instruments series? While this is not as dire a read as, say, Mara Dyer, I am still quite curious to find out how everything ends.

Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna #3) by Stephanie Perkins. I really like how, though each book is told from a new/different character's perspective, their story-lines all kind of travel together and connect throughout the series. I am really interested in seeing how everything comes together in the final book.

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine #2) by Ransom Riggs. Why does it feel like I've been waiting two years for this release? Oh. Probably because I have been...

Between the Spark and the Burn (Between #2) by April Genevieve Tucholke. What can I say? I have a habit of gravitating toward really weird and/or creepy reads. The first book in this duo, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, was just that; eerie, ominous, and even a bit disturbing - like Anna Dressed in Blood, but without ghosts. I am really looking forward to discovering how this story plays out. Also: I definitely need more of River in my life.

The Initiate (Divergent #0.2) by Veronica Roth. Currently suffering from a serious case of mourning, I am on the look-out for anything and everything Divergent related - novellas and movie included. I really enjoyed reading from Four's point-of-view in The Transfer, and am excited to learn more about his character.

. . . .

I have just realized that the majority of these books come out next year...

What sequels are you most excited for? We have quite a few final installments coming out soon(ish).

Saturday, November 2, 2013

October 2013 Wrap-up [spoiler free!]

If there was ever any doubt about whether or not our favorite authors got together to plan out how best to ruin their readers, the fact that so many anticipated books were released this month should be enough to prove that, yes; they are all out to get us. My emotions will never be the same.




☆☆☆





1. Through the Zombie Glass (Alice in Zombieland #2) by Gena Showalter. Book number two in the Alice in Zombieland series/trilogy. I have been raving about the start of this series since finishing book one a few months ago and, man, what a disappointment this was. The plot and writing were amazing and I still found myself enjoying the whole "Zombie attack" thing—which is saying something, considering how I have never been a fan of the video games, role playing or movies done in their honor—but the characters were extremely annoying this time around... As big of a fan as I was of kick-ass Ali in the previous book, I found her just as unbearable and far too whiny/clingy—dependent on Cole and their relationship—during the sequel. Don't get me wrong, there were things I did like, but they were not enough to bump up the rating.




☆☆☆





2. Dance of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #2) by Bethany Griffin. Besides the gorgeous covers, there is not much all that outstanding about this series. In my previous wrap-up, I mentioned that this duo, based off of Edgar Allen Poe's Masque of the Red Death, contained likeable/relatable characters and extremely realistic situations. That is still true. When the first book ended, however, I had hoped that we would experience a thrilling continuation of the story and that things would be resolved in a big way which, unfortunately, was not the case. Instead, nothing really happened. Characters did an attitude one-eighty (Elliott was a particular disappointment), morale was completely lost, and the ending just kind of... ended, leaving me feeling absolutely no attachment to anything whatsoever. The writing was amazing, sure, but I think the story would have been much better off as a standalone. Overall, I think I just expected... more, and was let down when that wasn't the case.

I hate it when that happens.




☆☆☆☆☆





3. House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan. Oh, man. Where to begin? Well, for starters: PERCEBETH! NICO! BOB! LITTLE BOB! LEO! CALYPSO! OHMYGODTHEFEELS!!!!!!

How can I possibly be expected to wait an entire year before the Blood of Olympus? How?!




☆☆☆☆☆





4. Never Fade (The Darkest Minds) by Alexandra Bracken. Yet another anticipated release of 2013. Like the House of Hades, I have been waiting for this book to arrive in the mail with baited breath, and it did not disappoint. While reading, I found myself falling in love with Ruby and Liam and Chubs all over again (but where was Zu??!), despised Clancy just a little bit more (which I did not think was possible), and really, really enjoyed the character development and story, overall. The romance, which was pretty dominant this time around (obviously), did not take away from the actual plot and I LOVED all of the action sequences and suspense that took place. I think this probably goes without saying, but I cannot wait for the final book in the series; due out during the fall of next year. Especially after that ending.




☆☆☆☆





5. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. After reading Eleanor and Park a few months ago, I was really interested in experiencing some more of Rowell's work; which led me to this purchase. I adored the email conversations that took place within the book and really enjoyed watching the characters interact and seeing how their different relationships ended and then began. Lincoln was adorable, and definitely a likeable and relatable character from the get-go. I am excited to hear more from Miss Rowell, as she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Fangirl, I am coming for you!




☆☆☆☆





6. Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth. This book broke my heart. Not only is it the final release in an amazing series (maybe you've heart of it? Divergent is its name, I think. Ha.), but the author, Veronica Roth, knows just how to HIT HER READERS WHERE IT COUNTS. Farewell, Tris. I enjoyed your story. Four, I will be seeing you again soon.




☆☆☆☆





7. The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen. After the emotional trauma I experienced upon finishing Allegiant, I was definitely in the mood for something light and entertaining. This book was perfect. The plot was simplistic and easy to follow, the characters likeable and cute (especially Alex) and I absolutely enjoyed leaving behind the dystopian societies I seem to be favoring as of late for something short, sweet and to-the-point. Not to mention fluffy.


 *ahem*




☆☆☆☆☆





8. The Transfer (Divergent #0.1) by Veronica Roth. I did not think I would be ready to jump back into the Divergent world so quickly after finishing Allegiant, but whatdoyahknow? The allure of reading more from Four's point-of-view was too great and I could not resist. And, good news: apparently there are more novellas to come! I am quite glad that I decided to end the month with this lovely little read.

Also, that cover... *drools*

. . . .

October Stats:

Read 7 books (and one novella)
Read 3,156 pages

Upcoming Releases:

NONE



Did you guys read any of the new releases that we were bombarded with this month? Which one was your favorite? I think my choice is going to have to be Never Fade. Liam was definitely a highlight.