Saturday, December 31, 2011

Bite Club by Rachel Caine


Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance
Morganville Vampire Series, Book 10

Description (taken from Goodreads):
After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.


There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare- knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other-or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire- accompanied by her friends and frenemies-to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville...




I don't think the description does this book justice.  Sure, the fighting theme is the main theme (and I'm fairly certain the title is a knock-off of 'Fight Club'), but there's more side stories.  And I honestly think it's the side stories that keep me interested in these books.

It took me quite a while before I liked Claire's character.  But she and the other three characters grew on me.  However, I've always had mixed feelings for Shane.  And this book furthered my mixed feelings for him, but I still think the story played out well.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys young adult vampire books.  This is one of the few vampire series that I would let my younger sister read without having terrible moral issues over.

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan


Genre:  YA Apocalyptic Future
Forest of Hands and Teeth Series, Book 2

Description (taken from Carrie Ryan's website):
Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness.

But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back.

Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.

One night beyond the Barrier...

One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery...

One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned.

Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past.


This book began with plenty of action and zombies.  And then it slowed down for a bit.  Once I got about halfway, the action picked up again.  I enjoy Carrie Ryan's writing, and how she describes the setting from Gabry's point of view.  I thoroughly enjoyed how she grew and matured within the story.  I wasn't as engrossed in this book as I was with the first one.  However, I still enjoyed it.

I've heard many people say the second one is a million times better than the first, and you can start the series with the second one without reading the first.  While the second book is from Mary's daughter's point of view making it a different story, I completely disagree.  There's a moment in the book where things click in to place; it makes the first one more well-rounded.  Plus, I absolutely loved Mary's character in the second book, and I don't think I could have had this much appreciation for her if I hadn't read the first book.  I'll be continuing this series because I'm still hoping for a happy ending in a zombie-apocalypse world.

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it spotlights upcoming books that we as readers are anxiously awaiting...

Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel
Genre: YA Fantasy
Sarah Zettel's website
Expected publication date:  June 26, 2012
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Sarah Zettel's website):
Callie LeRoux has lived all her life in small town Kansas. She thinks she knows all there is to know about herself and her mother. But with the coming of the biggest dust storm in history, Callie finds out there is much more to her family, her history and the world outside Slow Run than she ever guessed. Secrets and magics plunge Callie into danger with only her own nerve and the hobo boy Jack Holland to help, and Jack has his own secrets that might destroy them both…




There are a couple of reasons why I want to read this book.  Number one:  the cover.  Isn't it a little creepy looking (in a good way)?  Number two:  the Goodreads description compares it to the Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray.  I loved those books!!  And third, this author has gotten a lot of endorsements from other awesome authors.

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's post is the Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011.

My favorite books in 2011.  That means anything in this post is something I definitely recommend you go read one day.

1.  Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Awesome book that redeems the sci-fi genre in my eyes.  I recommend every one go read this book.  The second book is coming out in January; I'm excited!
2.  Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
A book that deserved all the hype it received.  I was pleasantly surprised with this awesome ghost read.  I enjoyed it a lot.  Too bad I don't own a copy of it.
3.  Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Richelle Mead = favorite author.  Vampires = awesome.  Bloodlines = even more awesomeness!!!
4.  Cassandra Clare's books published in 2011
Cassandra Clare's books are awesome!!  I definitely recommend the Mortal Instruments series and Infernal Devices series to anyone who loves a good young adult paranormal read.
5.  Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost
One of the few non-young-adult books I've read this year.  And I loved it!!  If young adult isn't your cup of tea but vampires are, then read these books.
6.  Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
Another adult series to read if you like paranormal books.  This series is very refreshing and it does not go downhill at all.  I love these books!
7.  Shade series by Jeri Smith-Ready
Another ghost series...  I think I see a common theme this year.  Maybe ghosts have become the new cool thing to read about...
8.  Shatter Me by Tareheh Mafi
This was a different kind of writing style.  But it was awesome!!  Go read it...
9.  Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Awesome romance, awesome mythology, awesome story!  I loved it!!!  And maybe you will too...
10.  Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
I only started this series this year.  And the books have been great.  I've also heard that the latest books are just as great as the first ones.  And they're making a movie for the first book.  This book opened me up to the detective/mystery series (the humor is awesome).
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Monday, December 26, 2011

Fallen by Lauren Kate


Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance
Fallen Series, Book 1

Description (taken from Lauren Kate's website):
There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.


Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.


Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.


Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.




This would be the first angel book I've read unless you count Cassandra Clare's books.  And I was very disappointed.  The problem with trying to remain mysterious is you've got to be able to hook the reader in.  And this book lacked a good hook.

Honestly, I would tear the book in half and discard the first half.  It wasn't worth the effort.  However, the last 50 pages of the book were well done.  I can see why others enjoy the books.  But I don't think I'm going to continue this series (unless some one else forces me to).

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

In My Mailbox


The "In My Mailbox" post consists of which books we bought during the past week, hosted by The Story Siren.

Merry Christmas!!!  Or happy Sunday!  Take your pick!  Please note, this IMM will not include any books that I received today (this post is prepared prior to Sunday).


For review:



From the library:
  • Eve by Anna Carey
    • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
      • Initially I did not want to read this book.  But I've seen way too many people give this book praise.  So I thought I'd try it out...



Won:
  • Desires Unleashed by DN Simmons
    • Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
      • My luck has gone well for me these past couple of weeks.  And I got a signed copy!!!  I honestly only have maybe four books that are actually signed (2 of which are addressed to me).  I'm hoping I'll enjoy this book since I love almost anything supernatural.  For any one who hasn't tried their luck at the Goodreads giveaways, I recommend you check it out.  Thanks goes to DN Simmons and Goodreads for hosting the giveaway.
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Saturday, December 24, 2011

The Girl in the Steel Corset


Genre:  YA Steampunk Fiction
The Steampunk Chronicles, Book 1

Description (taken from Kady Cross' website):
She thought there was something wrong with her. She was right. Finley Jayne has known for quite some time that she isn’t ‘normal,’ but when she beats up the son of her employer and is forced to flee, she stumbles into a world where there are bigger freaks than her. They take her in, treat her like family and demand her trust. How can Finley trust them when she can’t trust herself? And why is she drawn to the powerful Griffin as well as the dangerous Jack? She has to get herself under control before she gets into trouble she can’t get out of.


Griffin King is one of the most powerful men in Britain but he couldn’t save his best friend from almost dying. He is determined to save Finley and help her become the person he knows she can be, but there’s evil afoot in London. Machines have attacked humans under the orders of a nefarious criminal called The Machinist. He has sworn to protect his country against such a threat, but he’s never faced any foe like this. However, when he discovers The Machinist’s connection to his past, Griffin vows to end the villain once and for all — but he’ll need the help of all his friends, including the beautiful Finley Jayne – the girl in the steel corset.




When I picked up this book, I was expecting to read a story about a girl, Finley.  Instead, I got a story about a whole group of characters:  Griffin, Sam, Jasper, Emily, etc.  I really enjoyed the setting in old time London.  And the machines; kind of reminiscent to Cassandra Clare's new series.  I enjoyed the love triangles and the plot.  But I wanted more.  More emotion and background from the characters.  Why was Griffin so attracted to Finley?  Why put up with Sam's issues and bullyness?  I felt the explanations the book gave weren't enough for me to relate to the characters.  I wanted more dynamic I guess.

Besides my complaints, I enjoyed the story and the characters.  I will definitely continue this series (because I'm a sucker for these kinds of books).  Anyone who likes Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series will most likely enjoy this book.

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