In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

- ARC of Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
- Origin by Jessica Khoury
- Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent
- Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

I won the Crown of Embers ARC in a contest and LOVED it; I posted a review recently for it.  I purchased the other four books (the last three are signed!!), and the only one I've read so far out of those is Origin.  It was beautifully written and I'll be posting a review soon!  As a huge fan of JLA, I can't wait to read Half-Blood.  The Unnaturalists is steampunk; a genre I've become interested in lately, so I'm hoping it'll be good!  And Enchanted...well...it's about fairytales.  Need I say more? :)

- Forgiven by Jana Oliver
- Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
- Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
- Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
- Secret Letters by Leah Scheier

I actually borrowed Forgiven (so good!) from a friend, but the rest of the books are from the library.  I cannot wait to read Vessel; Sarah Beth Durst is one of my favorite authors.  Seraphina has dragons in it, so I'm positive I'm going to love it!  Kiss of Frost is the sequel to Touch of Frost...I haven't read either of them yet, but I'll probably get to them this week.  Secret Letters is a mystery novel that looks great as well!

So that's what I've gotten over the past week!  What books did you get?  Post your links in the comments! :)

~ The Bookworm

Baltimore Book Festival

Guess what?!  Yesterday was pretty much the best day of my life.  I met authors Jennifer L. Armentrout, Leanna Renee Hieber, Alethea Kontis, Shannon Hale, Tiffany Trent, and Jessica Day George at the Baltimore Book Festival.

It was epic.

I was so excited because it's the first book festival that I've been too.  I was so, so, so happy to be able to meet all the different authors and get my books signed.  Meeting JLA was basically the highlight of my day!  She was so sweet and she signed my books for me, and she even got a picture with me!

She is the definition of awesome.

Leanna Renee Hieber and Alethea Kontis were amazing too.  They were both so funny and I loved getting the opportunity to meet them!  I've already read Darker Still, Leanna Renee Hieber's YA novel, and I found out there's a sequel coming out in November!  Yay!  I got a signed copy of Alethea Kontis's YA book Enchanted, which I was so excited about because I've been wanting to read Enchanted ever since it came out!  Then I met Tiffany Trent, who was so kind and sweet, and I was thrilled to get a copy of her new book I've been dying to read, The Unnaturalists!  Lastly I met Shannon Hale and Jessica Day George.  I was so excited to get my books signed by them.  I've been fans of them ever since I was 12; their books were among the first YA fiction I ever read!  It was an amazing experience.

And there was tons of free swag too, which was super cool.  Here's a pic of everything I acquired yesterday.  Actually, the three books on top were ones I already owned, and I purchased the three on bottom.  All six books are now signed.  *does happy dance*

THERE WERE BOOKMARKS OF OPAL, YOU GUYS.  Day = Made. 

Anyway, I'm still freaking out over how epic the last twenty-four hours have been.  This was such a great book festival and I can't wait to attend more book signings in the future!

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Guardian

Goodreads summary:

Vigilance. The mission to safeguard Nikki Youngblood depends on the fragile alliance of two half-angel, half-human guardians, both struggling with intense feelings for the girl who has been assigned to their care. Mace, steadfast and deeply in love, wants to protect Nikki at all costs, while Raven's loyalty to Nikki finds him advocating for her independence and battling his own darker inclinations. At the same time, Nikki finds it harder and harder to choose between the two heavenly beings she may never have. Dangers intensify, and tensions between Mace and Raven flare as the purpose of their mission becomes clear. Can their defenses hold up to master manipulator Damon Vessler and the powerful secret he holds regarding Nikki's heritage? Can anyone protect Nikki from her true purpose and destiny?

My review:

*Spoiler alert!  Don't read this if you haven't read Halflings, the first book in this series*

While I didn't totally enjoy Guardian, I do think it was better than the first book in this series, Halflings.  I didn't like the insta-love and obvious bad guy in Halflings.  Guardian feels like a more developed book.  I do have to say, Guardian is definitely more character-driven than plot-driven.  For me, this was good, because I always prefer characters over anything else in a book.  But the plot did feel like it lacked something at times.

And yes, the love triangle continues in this book.  I tend to dislike love triangles unless they're well-done.  I can't decide if I like the love triangle in Guardian or not.  Sure, both boys are really sweet and I see why Nikki's in love with both of them, but she kept going back and forth between them!  I will say, though, that I'm not sure which guy she'll end up with and I can't wait to find out who it will be in the last book.

So: the characters.  I didn't admire Nikki as much in this book.  Like I said above, I understand how she's torn between Mace and Raven, but at times I wished she would just stop whining and make up her mind!  But aside from her love life issues, she had more character depth this time around.  She has to deal with the death of her parents and she desires revenge on their killer.  I liked seeing her how she handled herself and struggled to choose the right side; I sympathized for her so much!

Raven...wow.  I wasn't crazy about him in the first book, but I loved his character in Guardian!  He's a lot nicer, lol.  Seriously, we learn so much more about him and I felt really bad for him.  As for Mace he's just okay.  He's super protective of Nikki and had all these expectations for her.  Normally I love it when a guy is sweet and protective in a book, but Mace just annoyed me.

The plot: okay.  Like I said, the story is really based more on character growth than action.  Towards the last half or third, though, things start picking up.  There's more action, more secrets uncovered, and we find out something important about Nikki's past.  Definitely makes me want to read book 3 now!

Also, this is kind of off topic, but there's this scene where some people got wounded and Nikki tears off the sleeve of her shirt to use as a bandage.  I've never understood how people in books can just rip off their sleeve so easily.  I mean, isn't that difficult to do?  Unless of course the shirt is made of very thin material.  But still, it's been driving me crazy how authors constantly do that.  Doesn't seem very realistic.  Anyway...yeah.  *end rant*

Despite a few flaws, I did enjoy Guardian.  It was a great sequel and I can't wait for Avenger, which comes out in March!  So glad I don't have to wait a whole year for it.  If you liked Halflings, you'll like this sequel!

My rating:  7 out of 10

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: Meant to Be

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read!

 

My pick is Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill!

 







Goodreads summary:

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

My thoughts:

Wow.  I absolutely need to read this book.  It's been on my to-read shelf on Goodreads for a few months now, and I wish it would just hurry up and come out!  November 13 is simply too far away.

First off...the cover.  I confess: I'm the type of person who tends to judge a book by its cover, and this one is definitely worth freaking out over.  I love the bright colors!  It really sticks out from most other covers.

And the summary...ah, it sounds so good.  And they go to London!  How perfect is that?!  This just sounds like a totally cute, laugh-out-loud funny story.  I can't wait to read it!  I know I'll be buying it the day it comes out.

So what book are you waiting on this week?  Leave a link to your WOW in the comments!

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Starling

Goodreads summary:

Mason Starling is a champion fencer on the Gosforth Academy team, but she's never had to fight for her life. Not until the night a ferocious, otherworldly storm rips through Manhattan, trapping Mason and her teammates inside the school. Mason is besieged by nightmarish creatures more terrifying than the thunder and lightning as the raging tempest also brings a dangerous stranger into her life: a young man who remembers nothing but his name--the Fennrys Wolf. His arrival tears Mason's world apart, even as she feels an undeniable connection to him. Together, they seek to unravel the secrets of Fenn's identity as strange and supernatural forces gather around them. When they discover Mason's family--with its dark allegiance to ancient Norse gods--is at the heart of the mystery, Fennrys and Mason are suddenly faced with a terrifying future.

Set against the gritty, shadowed back-drop of New York City, this first novel in award-winning author Lesley Livingston's epic Starling Saga is an intoxicating blend of sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action.

My review:

When I started Starling, I wasn't sure to expect.  I've read Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston, and I thought it was good, but I wasn't interested enough to pick up the rest of the series.  So I was a little wary of reading Starling.  But at the same time, I was hoping it would be good, because I am a crazy huge fan of mythology.  I ended up really enjoying it!

But first, I admit it, I don't know much about Norse mythology except a little that I learned from the movie Thor, lol.  I'm definitely more obsessed with Greek mythology, but after reading Starling, I think that Norse mythology is completely fascinating and I wish there were more YA books out there with it! 

So, onto the characters.  I really admired Mason as a main character.  It was especially cool that she actually knew how to fight; she took fencing lessons ever since she was little.  I loved all the scenes where she was fencing.  I also liked that she was smart and logical.  She didn't run around making stupid decisions, she thought things through. 

Fennrys was wonderful too.  I loved how his character developed throughout the story.  He doesn't remember anything about his life, and the struggles that he went through were all realistic and made me feel for him.  The rest of the minor characters were a great addition.  Like Heather - I disliked her at first but she totally grew on me throughout the story!  And Rory, Mason's brother...wow.  He was an...interesting character.  Yeah.  And he was kind of creepy.

The plot, however, didn't pull me in right away.  Yes, the book does start with a big battle, and there are lots of other fight scenes throughout the book, but despite the action, I felt like the pacing was rather slow.  Might be just me, though.  Anyway, the Norse mythology stuff was amazing.  That really drew me in.  It was so interesting and I loooved learning about Odin and the prophecy and all that cool stuff!  Wonderfully done!

As for the writing style, it was okay.  Livingston tends to write super long paragraphs at times, which annoyed me.  Maybe that was why the pacing felt slow.  Sometimes there was a lot of description too, which seemed like it just dragged out the story.  Yes, it was helpful in describing the setting, but it felt like a little much.  But aside from that, her writing was sharp and well-done.  I especially loved the dialogue, it was witty and had me chuckling at certain parts!

I think Starling is a great, highly enjoyable read for anyone who loves mythology.  I loved being able to look into the world of Norse mythology and I cannot wait for the next installment in this series!

My rating:  8 out of 10

~ The Bookworm
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Liebster Blog Award

Thank you very much to the lovely Grace Ma from The Humble Watermelon for nominating me!  She has a fantastic blog and I really enjoy reading her posts.  Go check it out!

The Rules:

1. Thank and link back to the giver
2. Answer the award giver's questions
3. Nominate 5 other blogs that have fewer than 200 followers
4. Ask 5 questions for one's nominees to answer

So...here's the questions, then!

Grace Ma's Questions:

1. What do you like to eat the most?  Any kind of chocolate! :D Though I'm especially obsessed with Reese's cups.
2. When did you start to get really interested in books/reading?  Ever since I was really little, probably 5 or 6.  I've loved to read as long as I can remember.
3. Other than reading or blogging, what would you do on a rainy day?  Ooh, that's a tough question, lol.  I'm homeschooled, so I'd probably be doing schoolwork.  If not, I'd watch a movie or listen to music.  Exciting, I know. :P
4. Do you borrow books or buy books more often?  Hmm...I buy books pretty frequently, but I go to my library every week, so I think I probably borrow books more often.
5. Quick, tell me, what is the weather outside like right now?  It's late in the evening so it's dark outside and it's getting cold.  Fall is coming way too fast...

There you go!  Here's my nominees:

Downright Dystopian
Young at Heart
The YA Book Geek
Page Girl's Page
Sofia Loves Reading

Here are my questions for you guys:

1. Do you prefer physical books or e-books?
2. What's your favorite genre to read?
3. Do you prefer hardcovers or paperbacks?
4. How often do you reread books?
5. What's the most recent book that you've read and loved?

Well, I guess that's it!  Thanks again for the nomination, Grace Ma!

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Crown of Embers

Goodreads summary:

In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.

My review:

I adored The Girl of Fire and Thorns, so I was really hoping that Crown of Embers would live up to the first.  It's every bit as good as I'd hoped!  Also, just so ya'll know, there are some mild spoilers in my review, but nothing big.

Elisa is an amazing heroine.  She's faced with incredibly hard decisions as queen and constantly struggles to do what's right for her country.  She is definitely a wonderful role model - her character is unforgettable.  You can't help rooting for her.  And OH, I love Hector.  I thought I loved Humberto in the first book, but Hector is ten times better.  He respects Elisa and her position as queen, he goes out of his way to help her, he'd die for her...basically, he's completely perfect.

I loved the romance so much.  It was beautifully done.  It takes a while for Elisa and Hector to finally admit their love for each other, but I liked that it wasn't love at first sight.  And it's heartbreaking at the same time because Elisa is queen and everyone expects her to marry a prince or king.  I felt so bad for her and Hector, and I was involved in the love story in a way that I rarely feel.  Amazing!

The plot was great!  This book isn't as action-packed as the first one (at least, as far as I can remember; I read GOFAT last April.  Gotta love that acronym.  Just saying), but there's lots of political conflict and it's all really intense.  There's so much at stake and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time!

And, oh yeah, it ends with a cliffhanger and I was practically sobbing because of what happens to a certain character who, as I mentioned above, is really sweet and totally swoon-worthy... *sigh* Why, Rae Carson?  Why couldn't we have a happy ending?  There had better be a happy ending in the final book, The Bitter Kingdom.  Which sadly doesn't come out until fall 2013. -_-

So, if you enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, then this sequel is so worth reading!  I promise that once you start, you will not put it down!

My rating:  10 out of 10

~ The Bookworm