Friday, November 30, 2012

Review: Falling Kingdoms

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1)
Author:Morgan Rhodes
Page number:412
Publisher:Razorbill
Source:Won

Description:
In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?


Review:
I was really surprised at how much I ended up liking this book. I've never really been into high fantasy books, so it came to a surprise to me. But, I'm really glad I decided to pick up this book and start reading it.
Basically, there are three separate kingdoms: Auranos, Paelsia, and Limeros. In the book, you get to see viewpoints of people from each kingdom: Cleo is the narrator of the Auranos kingdom and is also the princess, Jonas is a villager of Paelsia and is the narrator for that kingdom, and then Lucia and Magnus are the narrators of the Limeros kindgom and also the prince and princess of the kingdom also. I espicially enjoyed getting to see through the eyes of so many very different people. I'm used to only seeing through one person's eyes, so it was a nice break from the usual stuff and it made me like the book even more.
The Characters of the story
Cleo-Well, to start off, I thought she was a bitch at first. Do NOT worry! I didn't think that way for long. It's just...I thought she was exactly what she was supposed to be: a spoiled rotten princess. But, later I found out that she really is a pretty caring person and even though she was still slightly spoiled while growing up, she never always got what she wanted or planned for.
Jonas-I thought he was a pretty amazing character. In this book, I never actually got to see him much, which saddened me alot, because he was just such an awesome character. I really understood his feelings and reactions during the book, which is probably why I loved him so much! He was just such an honest and devoted friend and brother.
Magnus-My first word thought to describe him: very strange...well then, I guess it is actually two words, since I had to add VERY too. He was very percular throughout the book and had such weird moments during the book. I just couldn't stand how he ACTUALLY found his OWN sister attractive and he LIKED her??? What is UP with that? I'm sorry if that is offensive to anybody, but where I come from, that is just NOT right! Put aside that, I guess he was an ok character, just not my favorite. There were just TOO many things that bugged me about him. He was too...uncaring( except for his own sister) and cold too everyone. That about sums it up for me.
Lucia-Overall, I thought she was a pretty great character. She was at least better than her brother. She was kind and honest. AND she actually showed emotions( again, her brother was not anything like her). I want to say more, but it would end up spoiling some pretty important things..."ARGH! I hate when that happens!"...
The Plot
Ok, I have to admit it. I absolutely hated the beginning of this book! I just thought it was too slow for me and it never caught my attention. I was about ready to give up on it, but I told myself that I if I had already gotten this far, I could do it! So, I continued reading and it FINALLY picked up the right pace(for me at least!) and I found I actually started liking it. So, I'm very proud of myself for finishing it and ACTUALLY liking it! The plot is pretty good and it should have caught my attention RIGHT away, but it didn't,which I'm sad to admit. So, I have to say the pacing kind of sucked, but that is just me! I'm sure people would be glad to argue with me!
The Ending
Umm...the ending for me was like I kind of loved it, but kind of hated it at the same time. Let me explain what I'm trying to say. I loved it because it made me interested to find out what happens next, but I ALSO hated it because it was just so...sudden. Like you just walked off of a cliff without knowing there would be one. But, like I said above, I loved it too!
SO, there is my crazy review with a whole bunch of complaints and complements( at least I hope I said a few...:/). I recommend this book to high fantasy book lovers, but I'm not sure all of you would enjoy it all that much.

3.5/5

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

"Waiting On" Wednesday(#9): Pivot Point


"Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine that features books yet to be released that we're really looking forward to. This week my book is "Pivot Point."
Pivot Point (Pivot Point, #1)
Title:Pivot Point
Author:Kasie West
Released:February 12, 2013
Publisher:HarperTeen

From Goodreads:
Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.


Thoughts:
Wow..."silence follows"...this cover is just so magnificent. Whoever made it deserves a standing ovation! I mean, I love everything about it. The speckles, the reflection, and how the title is going downwards. And even better, the description is ALSO amazing! Right away, this book became one of my most anticipated books of 2013! I wish I would have put it in my TTT this week! Ah well...

Thought? Comments? Leave it in the comments below!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticpated Books For 2013

Top Ten Tuesday-It is a meme created by aime at The Broke and the Bookish where you create a list of your top ten favorite of any given category. This week were are listing our most anticipated books for 2013. I'm SO excited that we get to do this..."jumps up and down"....because there are so many books that I'm DYING to read!
Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2)
Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, #2)
Mind Games (Mind Games, #1)
The Program (The Program, #1)
Taken (Taken, #1)
The Madman's Daughter
Transparent
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
City of a Thousand Dolls
These Broken Stars

And there you have it! All of these are VERY much anticipated for and I just can't wait for 2013 to finally be here, so I can read them.

Questions? Comments? Links? Just list them below.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Review: The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds
Author:Alexandra Bracken
Page number:496
Publisher:Disney Hyperion
Source:Bought

Description:
When Ruby wakes up on her tenth birthday, something about her has changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her--East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.


Review:
(Minor spoilers)
When I first read this description, I was drawn in by just reading the first two sentences. As I read even more, I was just about dying in ancticipation. You want to know why? I'm now a 100% sure that I have mentioned before my love for supernatural powers, and this is no exception.
Ruby's life turns into a disaster the day she turns 10. She wakes up and her mom and dad no longer know her daughter. For real, they have absolutely no memories about her. You will later realize that she accidentally used her powers on her parents, and erased all their memories of her. Her parents call the cops, but the PSF soldiers get there before they do. They take her to a rehabilitation camp, where you can imagine, is nothing as it is said to be. They don't treat them good, and care for them like they promised their parents. They run dangerous tests on them and use them like lab rats. Ruby is classified as a "Green" but is really an "Orange", which later you will realize, saved her very life. A couple years after she is there, the reds and oranges are taken from the camp, never to be seen again.
After that, she becomes even more rare and valueable to the "Children's League", which is an government organization to "save" children from the camps, but really uses the children's power for their own purposes.
I adored this book so, so much, but I gotta say what I liked most about this book was the premise. I just had fallen in love with this made-up world, where there was powers and evil villians. I know that sounds so wrong, since I should be pitying them because their life sucks, but...I don't know it just managed to get my attention and keep me reading to the very last page. The descriptions helped alot, since they were so profound and I could picture them perfectly in my head.
On to the characters: I really loved Ruby. There I said it. She was just so honest, and caring, it was so hard not to love her. From the beginning, I felt for her. She went through so much at such a young age, and that made her that much smarter and stronger. So, in a way, it helped her alot.
Liam...what to say? He was so great...smart, funny, compassionate, caring, and hopeful. I can't think of one bad thing to say about him. From the start, I KNEW I would love him, because of...just the way he was. Ok, that is my best I can do about describing my feelings for him.
The other minor characters like Chubs and Zu, were such a huge, GIGANTIC part of this story too! I have to give them some credit :D
The ENDING to this story was just so...heartbreaking and sad. I was (seriously) cying and screaming "WHY, OH WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN?" So, if you don't like sad endings...don't read this book, but the good news? It does make me want to read the second book VERY badly.
Overall, this book was incredible and awesome and I would recommend this to everybody!

4.5/5

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

"Waiting On"Wednesday(#8): 17 & Gone


"Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine that features books yet to be released that we're really looking forward to. This week my book is "17 & Gone."
17 & Gone
Title:17 & Gone
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Released:March 2013
Publisher:Dutton Juvenile
 
From Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And… is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.

With complexity and richness, Nova Ren Suma serves up a beautiful, visual, fresh interpretation of what it means to be lost.
 
Thoughts:
When I first saw this BEAUTIFUL cover, my jaw seriously dropped. I was just so amazed how mysterious and haunting it looked. The description of this book sounds great also, and I'm just so happy for it to release, so I am able to grab a copy! Definitely look out for this one!
Leave a wonderful comment below and tomorrow I will try to reply to ALL of them! Yep, that is my goal for tomorrow, so try to hound as many as you can at me to make it difficult!
ALSO Happy Early Thanksgiving!!! I probably won't be able to post on Thursday or Friday, so I'm just going to say that now!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday: Books/Authors I'm Thankful For

Top Ten Tuesday-It is a meme created by aime at The Broke and the Bookish where you create a list of your top ten favorite of any given category. This week we are listing what books OR authors we are thankful for. This week I think I am just going to focus on the authors, since I've only ever really talked about my favorite books, and not my favorite authors, which deserve the credit in the first place. So, here we go!
Laini Taylor
Laini Taylor
Julie Kagawa
Julie Kagawa
Fiona Paul
Fiona Paul
Moira Young
Moira Young
Maggie Stiefvater
Maggie Stiefvater
Kathleen Peacock
Kathleen Peacock
Sarah Brennan
Sarah Rees Brennan
Richelle Mead
Richelle Mead
Cassandra Clare
Cassandra Clare
Jus Accardo
Jus Accardo

As you could imagine, all these authors were great at what they did, which was, of course, writing and they had me begging to read more of there books, which of course ALSO indicates WHY I love them all so much(not in a creepy way!). So there you go!
Leave a link, comment, chat! Whatever you like!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Review: Venom


Venom (Secrets of the Eternal Rose, #1)
Author:Fiona Paul( who is the most awesome person ever :D)
Page number:432
Publisher:Philomel
Source:Won

Description:
Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

Review:
I really don't know where to start off at, so I will first talk about the setting.
OMG!...I know I say this word alot, but really the setting was so well descripted and I just loved the time and place of this book. I love getting transported back in time and imagining what it was like for Cassandra. I love how they dressed in gowns and piled on jewelry and everything was just so...fancy compared to nowadays. And I deeply, deeply appreciate Fiona for writing such a descripted book!
The characters in this book were also awesome! I must say I loved Falco the most because he was just so entertaining to read about. He was artistic, funny, and sweet. He was also quite a hottie..."waves hand in front of face"...
Cassandra was very...annoying at first. I know what you are thinking! What was ever wrong with Cass? Well, I will explain. When I first met her, she seemed to always be complaining about what she DIDN"T have, not ever being thankful for what she DID have. I know that is just a little detail in the plot of the story, but it ticked me off at first. But then, I started getting why Cass was sometimes like that and I...started liking her. I found out that she lost her parents and all she had left was her grumpy aunt( and I even found a place in my heart for her) and I started seeing her life in her persepctive. After that I didn't judge her harshly!
The plot of the story was probably my second( or third! It's hard to choose!) favorite part of the story. It was well paced and I continuingly had to read the book to find out what happens next. The mystery and the romance wove together to create a definite masterpiece!
Lastly, the romance. Oh, the romance. It was so sweet and a bit...unrealistic, but aren't they always? I was actually surprised to find out that it had a LOT more romance than I expected. And NO that isn't a bad thing! I also was surprised to find out that there was sort of a love triangle thing going on towards the end, but trust me!....it was all the more entertaining with it.
Overall, the book was great and I would highly recommend reading it! I was stuck between giving it a four or a five star, so I just decided to give it a SOLID four star!

4/5

 

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Awesome Trailers

So, lately there has been a whole bunch of popular trailers coming out. Here are some of the most popular ones. The Host Official Trailer City of Bones Official Trailer The second trailer for Beautiful Creatures Thoughts: OMG!!!! I'm so excited for all of these movies to become released! The trailers look so wicked and realistic! My personal favorite trailer is The Host one. Whoop, whoop!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Holiday Giveaway!

Hey, I just wanted to let everyone know that there is an awesome giveaway going on! Enter to win 13 books! Is that NOT awesome? :D
Here is the link to the giveaway: http://gillianeberry.blogspot.com/2012/11/holiday-giveaway.html

Have a cheery holiday season everyone and enjoy it while you can!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

"Waiting On"Wednesday(#7): Vengeance Bound





"Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine that features books yet to be released that we're really looking forward to. This week my book is "Vengeance Bound."
Vengeance Bound

Title:Vengeance Bound
Author:Justina Ireland
Released:April 2013
Publisher:Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

From Goodreads:
Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

Thoughts:
Well, I'm excited to read this book because it sounds freakin' amazing! Just read the description above if ya don't believe me! Mythology books are awesome! AND also the cover is drop dead gorgeous!
What do you think? Leave a comment below if you'd like.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday: Books you'd want on a deserted island

Top Ten Tuesday-It is a meme created by aime at The Broke and the Bookish where you create a list of your top ten favorite of any given category. This week we are listing what books would you take if you were on a deserted island. P.S. I'm sorry for missing last weeks Top Ten Tuesday! I was uber busy and I didn't have time! I shall do better...I promise!
1.Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1)
2.The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1)
3.Hourglass (Hourglass, #1)
4.Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)
5.Blood Red Road (Dust Lands, #1)
6.The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey, #3)
7.Dearly, Departed (Gone With the Respiration, #1)
8.Firelight (Firelight, #1)
9.Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death, #1)
10.Obsidian (Lux, #1)

This list isn't in any particular order. All of these books I love dearly and would of course sacrifice some..."cough, cough"...more important things like food and water when I'm on a deserted island.
SO, everyone who sees this and leaves a comment below gets....an imaginary cookie! The cookie is also better for you since...you know, it isn't REAL, so you are not consuming sugar and butter and other bad stuff in a cookie ;D

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Review: Unspoken

Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy, #1)
Author:Sarah Rees Brennan
Page number:370
Publisher:Random House Books for Young Readers
Source:Bought

Description:
Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

Review:
I have been captivated by this book from the beginning. It really isn't like any other books I have read. And that is why I loved this book so much.
Characters
Jared-Oh my, I almost don't know what to say about him. He had so many sides to him, but there was only one true side: he was kind, funny,caring, and passionate. From the very beginning, I kind of liked him. Maybe just because I always knew from Kami's perspective that he wasn't a "bad" boy. He had feelings and people didn't seem to realize that, all they saw was just another evil Lynburn. And that made him all the more likeable.
Kami-She was an amazing character. She was so sarcastic and witty, it was impossible not to like her. I liked how she wasn't a bystander and would immediately go into action, even if she might hurt herself in the process. She was so hilarious also. When there was a moment of despair or sadness, she always had a quip to try to cheer everyone up. She was smart(most of the time). I may have mentioned this before but, I hate when the main character is stupid and thankfully, Kami was actually quite smart. But, probably what made me like her the most is her kindness. People might disagree with me on this, but she was actually really kind to everyone. Even when she was mad at Jared, it seemed she couldn't hate him for more than a day, although that may be because she couldn't stand him being furious in her head for more than a couple of hours. But, really, she was nice to everyone.
Other important characters-Holly and Angelina were also a gigantic part in this story. They definitely deserve some attention. They were both amazing and I couldn't ask for more. They made the story more in depth and comical. They were such trustworthy friends which made them all the more great.
Plot
It was the perfect pacing is the first factor that I loved. This book did take me awhile to devour because I had so much stuff going on, but I finally decided to sit down and finish it. I'm glad I did because I enjoyed it so much. The uniqueness(?) of the book is what made me love this book the MOST. I can't think of ANY other books like this one, that's how different it is. I mean a boy talking in your head and a family of .......I can't tell you that since it would spoil much of the book :D But, it just astounds me how the author came up with this book!
The Finale...or not quite
The ending in this book made me want to throw my e-reader at the wall in frustration and sadness all at the same time. I can already tell the next book in the trilogy is going to have some...drama. But the finale of the first book did what it was meant to do: draw you into the second book to find out what happens next. And I most definitely will be looking out for the second book!

5/5

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

"Waiting On"Wednesday(#6): Requiem





"Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine that features books yet to be released that we're really looking forward to. This week my book is "Requiem."
Requiem (Delirium, #3)

Title:Requiem
Author:Lauren Oliver
Released:March 2013
Publisher:HarperTeen

From Goodreads:

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

Thoughts:

OMG! Honestly, if you aren't DYING to read this book, then I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!!!! The first two books were astounding and made me SO emotional. THAT is ONE reason why I'm excited for the book!

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Sharing the love of YA

Beth Revis is doing an AMAZING giveaway and we get to share why we LOVE YA! You can enter too! here!

First and foremost, my big sister is the one that got me into reading books. I will tell you a story now.
Note: This was in 5th grade, so this would have taken place about 4 years ago.It's Christmas time and my family is ripping through presents one after the other. I find a small rectangle shaped present with my name on it. So, I of course rip open the present eagerly. What I find, kind of shocks me. I have NEVER received a present like this. Back then, I really didn't even know these existed out of school. What I find is a copy of The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Levine. This is the start of my long journey of reading.
I have SO many reasons why I love YA, but I can only give you so many. My first reason is that I love getting lost into a world of creation. I think it is so cool how authors come up with books that are out of this world! It let's me imagine a different time or place. My second reason is that I love covers! I know that is a little weird, but I love finding new covers just because they can sometimes so creative and beautiful. My third and final reason is that I love descriptions. Descriptions actually help me come up with my own writing most of the time. It of course also allows you to better imagine the book's setting or time.
So, there is my grand reasons why I love YA!

Review:The Lost Prince

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1)
Author:Julie Kagawa
Page number:379
Publisher:Harlequin Teen
Source:Bought

Description:
Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.


Review:
Julie Kagawa's new series definitely lived up to all of its hype. I literally heard about this book everywhere I would go. Everyone was praising it and reviewing it. It made me espicially happy that Julie finally got all the attenention she deserved.
First of all, I LOVED Ethan. I usually hate when guys pretend to be tough and cruel, but Ethan had a good reason to be a jerk. I absolutely understood why he had to push everyone away: there was no reason why he should set himself up for getting hurt. I felt for Ethan alot, in other words.
Second, Julie had another great plot! It was the perfect pace. I had my nose in the book all the time, excited to find out what happens next. I really doubted I would like this new series better than the iron fey series, but I might change my mind in the near future...
Finally, the ENDING or near ending was SO HEARTBREAKING! I could not believe it. I had to read the words twice just to make sure I was not hallucinating. I will not say anymore for I might spill some secrets.
This book was really great and I am going to look out for the second book for sure. I want to find out how Julie ends up weaving all these new things into the old ones!

5/5

Thursday, November 1, 2012

NaNoWriMo

So, this is mainly just a random post.
This year I'm particpating in a little thing called NaNoWriMo.
If nobody happens to know what this is, here is a simplified version: you have 30 days of writing to type out a story of at least 50,000 words. This is also my FIRST time EVER to write a story, so please don't make fun of any errors or anything...I typed this out in ONE day, so expect at least SOME errors.

So, today I have typed out 2,934 words, but I'm only going to show you about 1,879.

Here is an excerpt:

Chapter 1

A wailing scream pierced through my thoughts and blaring music. I glanced up from my homework, suspecting it was yet another victim of my neighbor’s ruthless dog. In the past, about 10 little children have been scared to death by the pit bull.

I eased myself off the bed, knocking out my earphones in the process. I walked calmly to the window, suspecting all I would see was a 4-year-old staring at the pit bull through the chain link fence. Instead, I saw a girl about my age, tearing through the sidewalk by my house. There didn’t seem to be anything or anyone chasing her. I just glimpsed her turning around 5th avenue before I made my decision: I had to check out what was wrong with the crazy girl.

I grabbed my jacket hanging off the chair and bolted out my bedroom door. I eased myself silently through the narrow corridor, thinking that my mother was probably taking a nap. Lately, she’s been working late shifts at the hospital, so she has been taking naps on and off throughout the afternoons. It seems I haven’t had an actual conversation with her ever since the divorce. I sometimes wish everything would go back to the laid-back life that I used to have. What ever happened to the easy chatter at dinnertime or our ridiculous jokes about Dad’s newly grown mustache?

I shook my head. I couldn’t think about that right now. I had an investigation to see through. I proceeded to tiptoe down the stairs until I came to our front door. I paused then. What if I wasn’t back before Mom came into consciousness? I slammed my doubts into the back of my head. I had to do this. What if the girl was in trouble?

I yanked the door open and quietly shut it behind me. I took the steps two at a time until I came to the bottom. I raced down the sidewalk, doubting that I probably already was too slow and that I was far too behind to even have a trace of her.

I stopped at fifth avenue, where I had seen the girl turn. I shrugged my shoulders in helplessness. I couldn’t find any clue where she might have gone. But…there! I glimpsed her small body just turning the corner two blocks away. I sprinted to catch up to her, breathing harder than I thought I would. “Man,” I thought to myself, “ I really need to exercise more often.”

I stopped again, glancing up ahead. I couldn’t see any evidence of her, but I knew she couldn’t be far away. I started trotting along the sidewalk, catching my breath. I looked through store windows and alleys, but I still had no luck.

Just when I was ready to give up, I caught the girl’s bright colored hair in the corner of my eye. I instantly looked and saw that she was trapped between an alley. She had a frightened expression on her face. From what, I still had no idea. I walked between the alley confidently. The girl suddenly noticed me and her expression instantly changed to one of relief. I was just about to ask her what was wrong when I saw a shiver through the air. I looked in the direction I thought it had come from, but there was only empty air. My imagination playing tricks on me then.

I glanced back at the girl. She now seemed perfectly fine. Before I asked the question about what she was running from, she opened up her mouth.

“What are doing here?” she asked in an accusing tone. Like I was the one chasing her.

“Well, I saw you running down my sidewalk, seemingly being chased by nothing, so I decided to investigate.” Yeah, like I was going to say that! So, like any type of normal person, I changed the subject back to her.

“What are you doing here?” I asked in a lofty voice. I was pretty sure my question would catch her off guard. Instead she answered back with a whole lot of spunk.

“What am I doing here?,” she said in an angry voice. “Give me one good reason why I should tell you!”

“I…just…I,” I stuttered out. Well, seems instead I got caught off guard by her question! I shook my head, trying to chase off my thoughts.

“Ok, no need to be hostile,” I said in a gentle voice, “I just saw you in this alley and figured “Hey why couldn’t I talk to you?”” Now, that didn’t turn out to hurt my pride too badly.

“Oh,” she answered.

“So, how about we start over?” I asked, but it was just a rhetorical question so I continued on.

“My name’s Jack.” I stuck out my hand to her. She eyed it warily before gripping it tightly. “Jeez,” I thought, “She must be really mad at me for nothing.”

I dragged my hand back from her deathly grip. “Ok, then never shake stranger’s hands.” I thought vaguely. I also started rubbing my hands unconsciously.

“My name is Sapphire,” she answered back, “like the jewel.”

I studied her then. She had pale, smooth, white skin. Her eyes seemed too large for her face and they were a brilliant blue. Her nose was small and had a tiny bump on it. But, the most shocking feature was her hair. It was a vivid, bright red. She had it up in a ponytail, but I could tell that it was really, really curly. She was taller than I first suspected maybe even about my height. I was at least 5’10, so she seemed somewhere around 5’8.

While I stared at her, she seemed to be studying her surroundings, like something might all of a sudden appear. I quickly stopped staring, afraid she might catch me staring. The truth was, she was quite beautiful, but she didn’t have to know I thought that.

“So,” I said, my voice startling her, “can I ask you why you are in this alley, without you biting off my head?”

“No,” she said with a much more timid voice than before, “because I have to be somewhere and I don’t talk to strangers.” She crossed her arms and started walking toward the entrance of the alley.

I stepped in front of her. “Wait a second,” I said, “you have to at least tell me what was chasing you.” Oops…well, now she knows I’m a stalker.

Her face instantly pales. “What…what are talking about” she stutters out.

“Well, when I first saw you through my bedroom window, you had to be running from something” I said. I might as well tell the whole story.

“Wait,” she said in the accusing tone again, but this time I deserved it, “what are talking about?”

“Well, I might have heard you scream…”

“Ugh, my parents are SO going to kill me if they ever find out.”

“But why?” I said getting even more confused.

“Nothing, please just forget about it” she signs and then says hopelessly, “Can you please let me through?”

Maybe because I felt sorry for her or maybe because she felt like trouble, I won’t ever know, but I let her pass underneath my arm. Here hair brushed past my arms. I shivered unconsciously.

“Thanks,” she said. Her face said it all: she was very surprised that I let her through without a fight. I was even surprised I had, “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Yeah, right. I didn’t recognize this girl one bit. Unless she was new to this town, I was positive I wouldn’t see her anytime soon. But, if she was new, it would be buzzing around town like the next biggest thing. That is the benefit of living inside a tiny town with less than 3,000 people: everybody knows who and if you’re new than you will most likely become the gossip of the town.

I watched her walk away, past the debris lying around the alley. I felt really uneasy. What was she hiding?

Chapter 2

I make my way home, pondering over the girl. Overall, she seemed pretty normal, but I knew there was something peculiar about her. I also knew she was hiding something. And what was the thing I saw that shimmered? Or maybe I was really just imagining it?

My thoughts raced back and forth. I might as well forget about the whole thing like Sapphire said. “Whoa,” I thought to myself “when did you start calling her by name? I don’t even know her!”

I continue walking, watching as the sun sets. It was perfect weather out. It was somewhat hot out, but there was a very nice cool breeze that would occasionally blast me in the face.

 There weren’t many people outside except couples holding hands, most likely taking advantage of the nice weather. I wondered if that could have been my mom and dad way back when. They could have been the high school sweethearts: the ones that everyone adored.

I always thought that my parents were good together. My father was handsome and strong, while my mother was graceful and beautiful. They complimented each other perfectly.

I developed my father’s strong features, but also with a hint of my mother’s gracefulness. I, of course, have brown hair that everyone calls messy. I suppose it is, but it’s not like I care what everyone thinks. Besides, I’ve heard that girls adore messy hair. I’m lean even though I don’t even exercise and eat plenty of junk foods. I guess I have a high metabolism.

I finally come to my door, just when the lights along the rode start to turn on. I climb the steps and dry my feet on the WELCOME mat. I’ve always hated this mat: it always seemed so fake like an insurance company trying to make a “good” deal with you. I’ve tried convincing my mother to get rid of it, but it seems she is stuck on keeping it until she dies and I can finally get rid of it.

I pull open the door handle quietly, making sure I don’t wake Mom up in case she is still asleep. It’s a good thing we have carpet or else I would be making a creaking racket everywhere I go. I don’t hear a sound in the house, so I assume my mother is still sleeping.

I climb the wide staircase and into the narrow corridor, eager to take a nice, hot shower. I turn the shower on full blast in till there is steam everywhere. I strip my clothes off and let the hot water course off my back and down the drain.

After I have finished scrubbing myself down, I lay on my bed in just my jeans, still wide awake. Thanks to the girl, my thoughts are swirling around still. I’m eager to get some answers, but I have no idea how I will.

I sign. Well, there is always tomorrow to figure it out even if there is only a slight chance that I will even encounter the girl ever again. And if I ever even do, she doesn’t seem all too happy to just give up all her secrets to me.