Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, which is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. You can read more about the creation of Stacking the Shelves by visiting the official launch page here.
This was my last week of work for the school year and oh my goodness am I excited! I am definitely looking forward to a relaxing summer, although I will have lots of prep work to take care of for my position next year, and am participating in a couple school-related trainings. Still, a couple of months with no students is an amazing thing to think about!
In book news, I was so SO excited to receive an ARC that I am just dying to read in the mail! I did request this one from the publisher, so THANK YOU to Disney-Hyperion for sending it my way! I also had an order from Fishpond come in, borrowed an ARC from a friend, and picked up a couple e-books. It was a good week! I am excited, too, because my Month of Me celebration starts in one week! I’m looking forward to a month of reading only what I want, when I want.
In this sequel to MONUMENT 14, the group of survivors, originally trapped together in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, has split in two. Most of the kids are making a desperate run on their recently repaired school bus for the Denver airport where they hope to reunite with their parents, be evacuated to safety, and save their dying friend.
But the world outside is dark and filled with dangerous chemicals that turn people into bloodthirsty monsters, and not all the kids were willing to get on the bus. Left behind in a sanctuary that has already been disturbed once, the remaining kids try to rebuild the community they lost. But when the issues are life and death, love and hate, who can you really trust?
After reading Monument 14 last year, I was looking forward to seeing how the series would continue, considering the very open ending. Thankfully, Sky on Fire picks up right where the first book left off, with two different journeys taking place via alternating viewpoints. Whereas Monument 14 was a bit of a light post-apocalyptic read, considering the confined environment that the kids are living in, Sky on Fire is much darker, more gritty and doesn’t shy away from the fallout of the explosion at the plant that’s released chemical warfare compounds into the air. While I’m not necessarily one for horror in any aspect, I did appreciate the fact that Ms. Laybourne didn’t shy away from her descriptions of the horrors the kids face. All of their experiences really helped ground the book and kept me eagerly turning the pages.
My one complaint about this book is that, despite the fact that it is compulsively readable and really grabs hold of the reader, the way the book is written comes across as stilted in many parts. I especially noticed that there seemed to be several instances where things were explained when elaboration really wasn’t necessary. I don’t know if that was simply to remind the readers that the narrators are themselves quite young, or what, but I personally found it unnecessary and a bit like the author was talking down to whomever was reading.
I also never really emotionally connected with either of the people telling the story. While the book is definitely gripping – I read it all the way through in one sitting – it didn’t impact me on an emotional level like I was hoping it would, aside from a vague desire to have everyone reunited with their loved ones. Now, this might be because the last book I read literally punched me in the gut and not through any flaw of Sky on Fire itself, so do take that with a grain of salt. Obviously, your mileage may vary!
Ultimately I think that, if you liked Monument 14, you will likewise enjoy Sky on Fire. It is definitely a solid continuation of the series, where things are ratcheted up and the danger and suspense are much more ever-present. Based on the ending, it looks like there might be a third book in the works; should Ms. Laybourne write one, I will certainly give it a read!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.
Here is my (very late) wrap-up post for Bout of Books 7.0. I did pretty well in terms of meeting my goals, so was happy with my overall results. Below is a quick rundown of what I read, the posts I wrote up, and other things accomplished.
Books Read During Read-a-Thon:
Star Cursed (Cahill Witch Chronicles #2) by Jessica Spotswood [REVIEW]
What’s Left of Me (Hybrid Chronicles #1) by Kat Zhang [REVIEW]
Undone (Unraveling #1.5) by Elizabeth Norris
Siege and Storm (Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo [REVIEW]
The only thing I didn’t get accomplished during Bout of Books 7.0 was reading the required number of pages to stay on track with my read-along of Black City by Elizabeth Richards. I also never was able to make a Twitter chat, so that will definitely be a goal during the next round. All in all, I had a lot of fun participating in Bout of Books, and am definitely going to give 8.0 a try in August!
If you participated in Bout of Books 7.0 and created a wrap-up posts (or would just like me to visit your progress post), please link me up! I will definitely stop by to see how you did. :)
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
This week I’m Waiting on Wednesday for Confessions of An Almost-Girlfriend by Louise Rozett (Harlequin Teen):
Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year—everything is going to be different. This year, she’s going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around…
…but if she’s not careful, she’s also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the “good girl” who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all…the almost-girlfriend.
When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself.
I LOVED Confessions of An Angry Girl! It was so realistic and well done, and I really felt for Rose as she went through all the trials and tribulations of her freshman year. She is just an amazingly real character, one you can’t help but root for and hope she figures everything out. I can’t wait to see more of her and Jamie, even if they can’t get themselves straightened out.
Release Date: June 18, 2013
What are you waiting on this week? Please link me!
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of the bloggers there at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join!
Today’s topic is the Top Ten Favorite Book Covers Of Books I’ve Read. I certainly didn’t have trouble coming up with covers to share this week. Instead, my problem was narrowing it down to ten! Of course, there have been a slew of cover reveals of late, so at least we had to keep it narrowed down to books we’d read. That helped a little, but I still could have picked several more to showcase!
Here are my choices for this week:
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
I ADORE this cover and was so bummed when they changed the subsequent books!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The paperback has a nice cover, too, but it’s not as amazingly beautiful as the hardcover.
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Unfortunately, pictures don’t do this one justice. The colors are absolutely stunning!
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo Shadow & Bone had a pretty cover, but this one is absolutely gorgeous!
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
This one is really shimmery and metallic, and is another that pictures don’t do justice. So pretty!
Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black
Everything about this cover is amazing. Her dress, the ballet pose, EVERYTHING. Love!
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
The textures on this one are amazing, from the curtain behind her to her dress. Definitely the best of the series, at least for me!
Croak by Gina Damico
This one is so stunning in reality, because the entire thing is metallic. This series has some of the most unique covers! I can’t wait to have a copy of all three together on my shelves.
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
I didn’t love the book, but just LOOK at that cover!
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
This one is so simple in its execution but fits so perfectly with the story, and is just beautiful to look at, especially with the pops of red.
Do we share any covers on our lists? What did you choose this week? Please link me!
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.
Upon completing Siege and Storm, I was left with a pretty serious dilemma: how does one go about reviewing a book that made her feel all the emotions, that she loved from beginning to end, that provided constant twists and turns so that the reader hardly knows what’s up? That’s the situation I’m currently facing, as I stare at the blinking cursor in my update box. How can I accurately sum up my feelings and thoughts on this absolutely amazing book? I fear that I won’t adequately be able to express exactly what I’m feeling, or – perhaps even worse – simply descend into fangirl ravings. So let me say this to start, just in case things get out of hand: this was everything I could have asked for and desired in a sequel to a book I adored, and has cemented Leigh Bardugo as one of my absolute favorite authors. Make of that what you will!
There is such amazing character development in this sequel, to the point where I really found myself understanding character motivations and the ways their lives and the situations of the stories have entwined them together. Alina, in particular, is so much stronger in this installment, really embracing her power and abilities and wanting to make up for the occurrence at the end of the first book. There are a lot of parallels drawn between her and the Darkling, and I personally found them fascinating, particularly when he so often echoes her thoughts. These parallels are part of the reason she and Mal start to grow apart, though, not only because Mal isn’t keen on Alina’s powers, but because her being Grisha places them on different societal levels, which come with their own mix of issues in this magical world of Ravka. There is a lot of talk of people’s place in society, all of which I personally found very interesting, especially when all of these characters all have roles to play.
“There are no others like us, Alina,” he whispered. “And there never will be.” – 13%
The Darkling continues to be as alluring as ever, but with an added edge of darkness and danger that makes him very scary to behold. And yet, Alina continues to be drawn to him, and the phrase “like calls to like” comes up quite often. I still cannot help but want more Darkling, even when he’s doing truly horrific things. It’s for this reason that I was glad that – while Sturmhond is more physically present in this book than the Darkling – the Darkling is still very much a fixture in Alina’s thoughts, even when he’s not there in the flesh. And when he IS there? Oh, good Lord. How he manages to be sexy and evil at the same time shall forever be a mystery to me.
“So you don’t trust me to resist [Sturmhond's] charms?”
“I don’t even trust myself. … I’m pretty sure the rocks and trees are getting ready to swear fealty to him.” – 41%
But the showstopper of this book is definitely the dashing, egotistical privateer named Sturmhond, who has a habit of stealing every single scene he’s a part of. While he isn’t as magnetic as the Darkling, he had a way of making me smile and laugh every single time he opened his mouth. Some of my favorite lines came out of his mouth, and I really just liked watching his interactions with Alina. For someone who’s actually quite untrustworthy, he sure has a way of putting folks at ease, which – of course – is the true mark of a con man. His conversations with Alina were the kind that made you think, even when you wanted to also smack him, and really made Alina do a lot of personal contemplation and introspection. Without him, I don’t know that we would have gotten as much development from her, which would have been a real shame, because her growth was one of the strongest parts of this book.
“…But when all this is over, Alina, I wonder if you’ll still want me.” – 37%
One thing I was not expecting was how emotionally heart-wrenching much of this book is. The difficulties between Alina and Mal actually hurt you to read in some places, particularly since it’s so obvious just how much they love each other. Even with the abundance of potential love interests, it’s very clear who Alina would choose if things like power and status weren’t an issue and Mal weren’t suffering so badly with his current place in life. I think it’s worse than most books because there is no easy fix here, which makes their struggles even harder to witness. Their relationship makes me very nervous and I fear for what Ms. Bardugo has in store for those of us who just want them to fix the cracks and make it work.
Siege and Storm is definitely a case of a second book that outshines its predecessor. Fear not, fellow readers: there is no middle-book syndrome here. The action is ratcheted up, the stakes are higher, the danger and intrigue never-ending. Alina has some very serious obstacles that she’s going to have to overcome, and I, for one, shall be eagerly anticipating the final installment of this amazing trilogy. I don’t know how the series can get even better, but if this book is any indication, Ruin and Rising is going to absolutely blow our minds!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews, which is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. You can read more about the creation of Stacking the Shelves by visiting the official launch page here.
This week I’ve been participating in Bout of Books 7.0, and while I’ve been chipping away at my to-read list with the read-a-thon, I’ve still managed to pick up quite a few books. I also had an extremely busy week at work, which has left me so tired in the evenings that for the past two nights I’ve come home and fallen asleep. There are 3.5 days of work left until I get summer break (teacher perk!), and I cannot wait to have consecutive days where I don’t have to get up at 6am!
Once We Were (Hybrid Chronicles #2) by Kat Zhang (Edelweiss)
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Macmillan, Diversion and HarperTeen for the e-galleys! Galley ban? What galley ban? Seriously, I failed SO HARD this week at that. But, to be fair, I actually was approved for Tides AGES ago and never downloaded it until this week, and Tumble & Fall is one of those titles I cannot WAIT to read, so I had to download it when I learned it was up on NG. I know, poor defense, but it sounds good, right?
What’s Left of Me (Hybrid Chronicles #1)
by Kat Zhang HarperTeen, 2012 [Goodreads] [Amazon]
I should not exist. But I do.
Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.
What’s Left of Me is one of those books that I felt everyone but me had already read. Not only had they read it, but they’d raved about it so much it made me nervous to actually pick it up. And while I don’t think I ultimately liked it as much as most folks have, once I got past a rather slow start, the book had nice flow, a unique plot, and intriguing characters that I did end up ultimately enjoying.
This book is told from a unique perspective, because for much of the book, Eva – the recessive soul who was meant to die away, but didn’t – isn’t in any kind of actual control of the body she shares with dominant soul, Addie. That set-up made for unique storytelling that was very much focused on Eva’s feelings and Addie’s actions. One thing I wish was explained in more detail is how the world came to be this way. Is this our world that’s been changed in some way? Or is this a made-up world in which the way we live and are never existed in the first place? I didn’t feel that this information was explicitly stated, and made for a lot of questions on my part, and one of the reasons I wasn’t completely sold on the story at the start. There is a lot of talk about the scary dangerous hybrids (which Eva and Addie are, although they live in secret) and the effects they’ve had on the rest of the world, and there’s talk about the Americas (which are North, Central and South America all rolled into one giant super-country), but no actual explanations of how it all came to be. I want explanations! Call it the part of me that loves history, but I just feel like it would have really grounded the story and made it more relatable. But then again, that could just be me.
Around the 20% mark, though, the book picks up in action, because Addie and Eva are shipped off to a rather frightening clinic due to a suspicion that they are indeed hybrid. The rest of the book is spent with them trying to figure out what’s going on at the clinic, and trying to find a way to escape. There’s also some romantic developments between Eva and Ryan, made all the more intriguing because Addie isn’t at all interested in either Ryan OR his other soul, so she’s definitely fighting Eva at every step, even if it’s not intentionally. There’s also the obvious give and take necessary as Eva becomes stronger, which adds tension to the girls’ relationship and makes sharing a body even trickier. The sequel to What’s Left of Me seems to focus even more on the girls’ issues, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the author has taken that concept and expanded on it.
All in all, while I wasn’t completely in love with What’s Left of Me like most people seem to be, I did find the book compelling and unique in equal measures. Eva is a wonderful narrator, and I liked watching her growth and strength. She and Addie are definitely two totally different girls, so the fact that they have to share a body – and only one can be in control at a time – makes for interesting developments that you definitely don’t see every day. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing how their journey progresses.
With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate’s friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.
Cate doesn’t want to be a weapon, and she doesn’t want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood’s schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she’ll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.
In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess’s quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous going in to Star Cursed. I didn’t love Born Wicked, and was worried that my feelings for the sequel would be similar. I found the first book to be overly slow in places, and it took a very long time for anything significant to happen. There were a lot of social calls, tea drinking, and conversations about witchery in Born Wicked, but very little actual magic. Considering that I read books about witches for the magic, I found it all to be slightly disappointing, even if I did love the romance. Thankfully, Star Cursed improved on every single thing that disappointed me, and I came away from this book with much more positive feelings.
Cate demonstrates a lot of growth in this second installment, becoming more comfortable with her magic and her potential place in the prophecy that’s sent her to New London and forced her to leave everything she knows behind. I loved that we got to see her using actual spells and standing up for herself. While we don’t get a lot of background into how exactly she does magic, there is a definite paranormal aspect permeating much of this book, which was a nice change from the first, which had a more classic historical flair. I also liked that Cate’s journey encompassed more of the world, allowing us to see a new town and the very frightening Harwood Asylum. All of this helped ground the novel in this alternative history of the late 1800s that the author has created, and really brought the book to life.
I continue to be so incredibly frustrated with Cate’s sister, Maura. While she wasn’t my favorite in the first book, I was able to sympathize with her. That’s not so much the case here, where she seems to just be willfully difficult. I’m not positive I understand her reasoning, and that makes her all the more infuriating. Not only is she catty and manipulative, but she’s also easily manipulated by those she wants approval from. I think I know where her story arc is going to take her, although I hope that she’ll figure things out and work to fix her mistakes. Considering the prophecy, though – which we finally get to hear the full text of in this book – I’m not sure if that will be possible.
Tess continues to be my favorite of the Cahills, which is interesting, considering this is very much Cate’s story. Even though she’s only twelve, she is so strong and stubborn, and I can’t wait to see more of her. I was glad we didn’t have to go too terribly long in this book without both her and Maura, as they tend to bring the best (and worst) out in Cate, which further heightens the danger and intrigue. Tess and Maura’s arrival at the convent also helps push Cate’s character growth and really moves the story along at a nice clip.
Star Cursed is an improvement on pretty much everything in the first book. There is more action, higher stakes thanks to the Brotherhood’s actions, and more danger, which allows for an extremely suspenseful atmosphere. Cate is a stronger, more enjoyable character this go around, and I really liked seeing her come into her own. It was also nice to finally know exactly what this prophecy says, and to see where it might lead. With an ending that grabs you by the heartstrings and pulls, Star Cursed is a wonderful second installment of the Cahill Witch Chronicles. I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
This week I’m Waiting on Wednesday for Rogue (Croak #3) by Gina Damico (Graphia):
NOTE: Summary contains spoilers for the first two books in this series.
Lex is a teenage Grim Reaper with the power to Damn souls, and it’s getting out of control. She’s a fugitive, on the run from the maniacal new mayor of Croak and the townspeople who want to see her pay the price for her misdeeds. Uncle Mort rounds up the Junior Grims to flee Croak once again, but this time they’re joined by Grotton, the most powerful Grim of all time. Their new mission is clear: Fix his mistakes, or the Afterlife will cease to exist, along with all the souls in it.
The gang heads for Necropolis, the labyrinth-like capital city of the Grimsphere. There, they discover that the Grimsphere needs a reboot. To do that, the portals to the Afterlife must be destroyed…but even that may not be enough to fix the damage. Things go from bad to worse, and when at last the fate of the Afterlife and all the souls of the Damned hang in the balance, it falls to Lex and her friends to make one final, impossible choice.
Ahh, I can’t wait for this one! I love this series with a fiery passion. They’re such an amazing mix of action, darkness and humor, and it’s handled in such a fabulous way. The second book really kept the reader on the edge of their seat, and I have a feeling this last installment is going to be more of the same. Lex is so sarcastic, but she’s really done a lot of growing up and is really having to deal with a lot of fallout thanks to her abilities, and I just can’t wait to see how everything is going to come together. I’m sure it’s going to be one hell of a ride!
Release Date: September 10, 2013
What are you waiting on this week? Please link me!
Library Media Specialist. Sports fanatic. Crime drama addict. Bibliophile. Amateur book reviewer. All-around nerd. I love meeting new people and talking about one of my first loves: Books! View my full profile here.
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My Rating System
★ - Not worth reading.
★★ - Didn't particularly care for this.
★★★ - Enjoyable overall.
★★★★ - Really liked this one!
★★★★★ - This book is amazing!
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