Alison Can Read

Feature and Follow Friday #149

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

How To Become a Featured Blog?

We pick our featured blogs randomly each week from the blogs who participated the week before.

Please be sure to feature your e-mail address clearly on your blog. Either on the main blog, on a Contact page, or on an About Me page. If I can't find your email easily, I will choose a different blog to feature.

Our Feature - The Bookish Confections

1. When did you start blogging?

I started blogging last April 10 this year.

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

My favorite part of book blogging is connecting to people who have the same book preferences with me.

3. What type of books do you mainly blog about?

I review and feature Young Adult books or New Adult books mainly. But there's Middle Grade books and Adult (not the erotic ones) books occasionally, depending on the synopsis.

4. What is your favorite book(s)?

Whew. Tough question! The Fault In Our Stars, Before I Fall, Delirium series, Something Like Normal, Pushing the Limits, Colleen Hoover's books, Dear John, Divergent series and more!

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

I don't really know. It's only been a month and 6 days. But as of now, maybe it's the fact that I'm having this schedule as to what books to read. It keeps me organized in a way. And I'm not like that before. So I guess, thanks to book blogging. :)

Q: School is out! What is your favorite Summer Reading book?

I don't have a particular favorite book to read during the summer. But there are a few authors who write light, sweet contemporary fiction and that's what feels summery to me.

Jen Calonita and Joanna Philbin are two of my favorites. Jennifer E. Smith and Sarah Dessen as well.?

Now for the Follow Fun!

With GFC going the way of the dodo bird for many bloggers, there is no better time to start following blogs via RSS feed. If you use a reader, it would be great if you followed my RSS directly.

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

CAPTCHA:

I have an updated CAPTCHA post!

If you have CAPTCHA word verification enabled on your blog, please take it off. It makes it much more difficult for readers to comment. Please look at my CAPTCHA Eradication Post to learn how to get rid of it.

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher

Summary

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life? (courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review

The Sweet Trilogy and I got off to a rough start, because I didn't like the performance on the audio version of Sweet Evil. But I sensed the potential of the words, the plot, and the characters and promised to read the second book in print. What a difference! Sweet Peril is a great follow-up to Sweet Evil and cemented my attachment to this series.

Anna in print is a very likable character. She is still sweetness personified as she was in the first book, but she is now more layered. She now spends a lot of time "working" for her Duke father - leading vulnerable people to indulge in alcohol, drugs, partying, and chaos. She hates bringing negative energy into people's lives but knows it's necessary for the greater cause of bringing down the Dukes. Anna is a deceptively strong character. She'll go to great lengths to help other people; often putting herself at risk. She is not immune to making mistakes, but she recognizes her errors and does her best to make amends.

What about Kaidan the hottie? Also more pleasant on paper. He's not around for much of this book and when he is, he often comes off as a real jerk. It's for good reason, but still hard to see how he makes Anna suffer. I loved seeing Kai's hard, angry shell slowly chip away to reveal the kindhearted, loving guy beneath. We know from Sweet Evil that scenes between Kai and Anna can be boiling hot and that definitely shows up here. There's also a tenderness there as Kai lets down his guard.

The book covers a large amount of time - nearly an entire year - but it flows very well. The characters (mainly Anna and Kopano) go on journeys all over the world to find Nephilim allies to overthrow the Dukes. So there's a travel aspect to this action packed book too. Anna finds herself at the center of or on the fringes of the action again and again - whether it's a fight or getting up close and personal with a hot guy - there's nary a dull moment. It took me a few chapters to get into the book, but I soon found myself neglecting my afternoon plans and walking around the house with the book held up to my nose.

If Sweet Peril in print wasn't so much better than Sweet Evil in audio, I may not have liked it so much. I couldn't help noticing multiple "second book" characteristics. The male love interest is absent most of the book. There's a love triangle (sort of). The book has a place holder feel to it. These aren't necessarily bad things (these stereotypical characteristics generally work well) and certainly shouldn't keep anyone from reading the book, but I prefer second books that distinguish themselves from others of their ilk.

If you're an angel and demons fan, you should definitely read Sweet Evil and then Sweet Peril. If - like me - you're not an angel and demons fan, you should still read this. The romance is hotter than most YA paranormal series and makes the book utterly unputdownable. The mythological world is well developed and the stakes are high. You'll grow to care about Anna and swoon of Kai. I recommend picking up Sweet Evil and Sweet Peril!

Rating: 4 / 5

Here's How to Buy the Book!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Waiting on Wednesday: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Publish Date: September 17, 2013

Publisher: Scholastic Press

*I loved Raven Boys. I can't wait for the second installment. I'm hoping it's at BEA.

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Bought via Audible

Summary

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels. Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? (courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review

My friends have been raving about Sweet Evil for such a long time that I kept kicking myself for not reading it. So I finally decided to pick up the audio book and see what I'd been missing. Sweet Evil is an enticing story with both lovable and hate-able characters, a complex paranormal world, and hot romance. Unfortunately, it did not work well as an audio book. It's a tribute to the story's innate strength that I still managed to enjoy it.

If you look up "good girl" in the dictionary, you'd see a picture of Anna. She's the daughter you'd want, the friend you'd want, the student you'd want, the girlfriend you'd want. All sugar and nothing so risque as spice. This innocence begins to change when she meets Kaidan and she discovers who she really is. To Anna's credit, she has the strength of character to stay true to herself and her values even when the cloak of naivete is lifted from her.

Then there's Kaidan. I've read a lot of YA paranormal and met lots of male love interests. Kaidan is one of the better ones. He's the bad boy type so many readers crave. And not just the kind who seems dangerous but is really a softy at heart. Kaidan actually is dangerous. He does things that many would consider abhorent. He's edgy and angry. Yet it's easy to fall for him. It's clear that his inner nature is good regardless of the "work" he has to do.

I am not fond of angel books. It's a mythology that I don't find that interesting and, ironically, I often find less believable than vampire or witch books. But a well crafted paranormal world impresses me no matter what creature it features. Wendy has drawn upon traditional notions of demons and nephilim (offspring of humans and demons or angels - demons in this book) to create a layered world of demon hierarchy, professional temptors, and hellish consequences of disobedience. The book follows the standard angel framework, but inhabits a structure and character set of its own.

The romance between Kaidan and Anna starts off slow but very quickly heats up to burning hot. Wendy knows how to write a romantic scene so that even the slightest glance or touch can make the reader's stomach flip flop. For all her good girl qualms, Anna can't help herself around Kaidan. And who could blame her? I think it's the British accent.

Why did I not like the audio version? I didn't like the narrator's voice. She used a southern accent for Anna that made her sound idiotically naive. She adopted a British accent and faux deep voice for Kaidan. This made him sound disingenuous and like a player, which he isn't when he's alone with Anna. And the passionate romance scenes were uncomfortable rather than hot coming from her voice. I don't know if this is because it was the wrong narrator or if I don't like listening to paranormal romance on audio (it was my first). I do know that when I flipped through the physical book, my qualms about the characters disappeared. So I'm not judging the book on the audio version.

Sweet Evil introduces us to a world of infinite danger, sinful pleasure, but also innate goodness. Anna and Kai are two pawns in a greater world trying to survive on their own terms and hopefully together if they can beat the odds against them. I'm definitely looking forward to reading on in this series.

Rating: 4 / 5 (based on the print version not audio)

Here's How to Buy the Book!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Manga Mondays #149: Swan vol. 7 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Manga Mondays Meme

I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog almost 3 years ago. It started out as a personal feature, but I decided to turn it into a meme last year. There are quite a few people who do Manga Mondays. I don't claim by any means that I owned or created the idea of Manga Mondays - it's an obvious choice given the alliteration. I think a meme is a great way for everyone to publicize their own Manga Mondays and get a little more publicity.

The linky will be below my review.

Swan vol. 7 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

Summary

As the only exception to the Japan Ballet Association's scholarship program, underdog dancer Hijiri Masumi trains hard every day with other students who have all won the right to train under the best dance instructors. Because Masumi's technique leaves much to be desired, master instructor and genius dancer Alexei Sergeiev demands that she return to the basics to improve her technique. Masumi practices diligently, so that she will be chosen as one of three student performers in the Japan Ballet Company's special performance in Moscow. Eventually, some of the ballet students depart for various destinations around the world to further their dance careers. As Alexei leaves for Moscow, he reminds her once again to master the basics, because her journey has just begun. Hearing this heartening message, Masumi vows to work hard, and returns to the ballet studio to practice, only to find a handsome new foreign student has arrived. Will this newcomer support her in her quest to develop as a dancer, or will romantic entanglements become an obstacle? (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

*Warning: Potential spoilers. My manga reviews tend to be more of a summary than a review. I find it hard to review manga in the same way I do regular books.

The volume starts out after Aoi confessed his love for Hijiri. She didn't believe it at first - I think she thought he was just saying things to bring out the emotions in her dance. But once she figured out that he really was in love with her, there was nothing. She didn't talk to him or seem to react much herself. It was essentially like, "Wow, he really is in love with me. Huh." Meanwhile, she's still agonizing over the fact that she loves Kusakabe but he does not love her.

A lot of this volume is about Kaoru, one of Hijiri's classmates. She has the classic "dance mom." Her mother was a promising ballerina at one time and now lives vicariously through her daughters, pushing them harder than any instructor. We learn that Kaoru's mom was once a rival of Hijiri's mom, but Hijiri's mom beat her in a ballet competition. This loss embittered Kaoru's mom and is the source behind all her pushing. Lots of drama.

The volume finishes up with a competition between Kaoru and Hijiri for a role in a ballet. The two girls hit a snag when the judges decide they don't like either of their performances and don't want either to get the role. Someone intervened and convinced them to give the girls a chance. Hijiri wins the role narrowly.

While the romance part of the plot leaves something to be desired, I like that this volume introduces us to a new character and a new subplot, even if it is rather silly.

Sign up for the Manga Mondays Meme!

Feature and Follow Friday #148

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

How To Become a Featured Blog?

Our Feature - Counting In Bookcases

1. When did you start blogging?

I started blogging on January 3rd 2013. I thought I was totally prepared... Hehe.

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

My favorite part of book blogging? Well, I love receiving comments on my posts and learning about epic new reads through my blogger friends. (Also, it gives me something to do other than go over my last ballet exercise or hunt on Amazon and Goodreads for hours on end. Which, actually, I still do...)

3. What type of books do you mainly blog about?

I mainly blog about YA. I am a teen, so adult doesn't appeal to me much yet. Plus, the YA genre is so unique and vast... And can be fun, heartbreaking, pure awesomeness, clever etc.

4. What is your favorite book(s)?

Favorite Books? Well, I love all books by Jennifer L Armentrout, Robin Benway, Cassandra Clare, and Richelle Mead. And recently I just finished Crewel, The Selection, and The Elite which were all totally keepers!

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

I can't choose! Book blogging has been such loads of fun! I want to keep CIB up for a long time so all these good things keep happening! Okay, best thing that has happened? Maybe when I was so nervous about starting these posts I call Newbie Blogger Diaries, and then started to get awesomely positive response from my readers. My readers are awesome! Or when I first was contacted by an author... Or when I started finding all these cool blogs after starting Counting in Bookcases...

Q: Happy Mother's Day! Who is your favorite mom from fiction?

This is a hard one. I usually don't pay that much attention to mothers (or fathers) in books. Well, starting with my favorite Harry Potter, it's hard to beat Mrs. Weasley.

Mrs. Bennet from Pride & Prejudice is a fabulous character although she's really a pretty bad mother.

I do think that Lindsey Leavitt's books showcase strong relationships between mother and daughter, even if they're not always perfect. Her books include the Princess for Hire series, Sean Griswold's Head, and Going Vintage.

Also, who doesn't love Marilla in Anne of Green Gables?

Now for the Follow Fun!

With GFC going the way of the dodo bird for many bloggers, there is no better time to start following blogs via RSS feed. If you use a reader, it would be great if you followed my RSS directly.

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

CAPTCHA:

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Library

Summary

Is death the end . . . or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series. (courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review

The Caster Chronicles series is one of my favorite paranormal series. I have been a huge fan ever since Beautiful Creatures came out in 2009 and have eagerly anticipated this last book for years. So did it meet my expectations? Mostly yes.

I'll get to my hesitation in a minute. First the good parts. Beautiful Redemption is quite different from the rest of the series. And that's a good thing. I'd much rather read a different plot than have a single story line drag on for four books.

In Beautiful Redemption, Ethan is in the Underworld - a kind of Heavenish limbo. He is with his mother Lila Jane. I loved meeting Ethan's mom, a character who has only been referenced in the three prior books. As much as Ethan loves being with his mother again, he desperately misses Lena and wants the chance for them to truly be together. Ethan is in luck. If he can find the Caster Chronicles book, he can change the past - erase his death essentially. This sends Ethan on an epic journey to find the book.

Meanwhile, Lena is mourning Ethan's loss. Not as bad as in she mourned Uncle Macon in Beautiful Darkness thankfully. This time she has a support system - Macon, Liv, Ridley, Link, and John Breed. Like Ethan, she refuses to give up the idea that something can be changed and is the first to realize that Ethan is reaching out to her from the beyond.

As much as I like Ethan and Lena, my two favorite things about the Caster Chronicles series are the complex paranormal world and the rich side characters. Even more layers are added to the concept of the Casters in Beautiful Redemption. Caster society is this vast network of people and places, both good and bad. We've had hints that the Keepers were not all that they seemed before, but they are far more disturbing in this book. And of course, our old baddie buddies Abraham and Seraphine show up.

I both liked and disliked the side characters in this novel. As always, I loved Macon. He is probably my favorite character. Kind, distinguished, eternally heartbroken - a tragic soul. Amma is always fun to read about. She is Ethan's rock and a font of knowledge. She's different in this book though - broken without her boy. No one makes the reader laugh more than Link. I expected to get a lot more from him as a part Incubus. But there was relatively little. I didn't think the authors took enough advantage of his paranormal character. What I'm really hoping is that Link gets a spin-off series.

On the whole, Beautiful Redemption is a good ending to a wonderful series. All the ends are tied up. And while the ending didn't really surprise me, the journey there had many twists and turns. But why is my reaction to it only lackluster? I think it's because I didn't feel an emotional connection to Beautiful Redemption in the same way that I did with Beautiful Creatures or Beautiful Darkness. It's not that the authors did anything wrong, but it just didn't click. With the first two books, I can go back and re-read certain portions over and over. I have no desire to do that with Beautiful Redemption. But still, it was a good book and I look forward to reading more from both the authors.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Here's How to Buy the Book!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Waiting on Wednesday: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Publish Date: September 10, 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

*I saw this on two friends' WoWs last week. I am now obsessed with this book. It sounds absolutely perfect!

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

Or will she just go on living inside somebody else’s fiction?

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library

Summary

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. (courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review

A fortunate consequence of my reluctance to read Divergent was that Insurgent was already out by the time I picked up Divergent. I tore through Divergent in two days and was able to read Insurgent immediately. I almost wish I'd waited until Allegiant is released in October 2013.

Insurgent is just as much of a page turner as Divergent, although in a different way. It is chock full of action and heart-stopping romance. I was pleased that it does not fall into most of the second book stereotypes.

The bright lines of the factioned world we first learned about in Divergent started to blur by the end of the book. In Insurgent, gray is the predominant color. Nothing and no-one are pure good or bad. We see the insides of each of the factions in Insurgent. I love getting the details about each faction's lifestyle. None of the factions - even peace-loving Amity - are as simple as they seem.

We see the evidence of Tris's Divergent status in Insurgent. During most of Divergent, Tris predominantly acted as a Dauntless, since that was the faction she was trying to join. When she interacts with other factions, we see how she is both similar and different to almost all of the groups. We also see how she handles the trauma of the events in Divergent in both good ways and bad ways. I liked getting to know Tris better and she felt like a more three dimensional character in Insurgent.

Stereotypically, the love interest disappears in a second book. I was very happy that Tris and Tobias were physically together throughout Insurgent. You could argue, though, that Insurgent still falls into the stereotype, because circumstances caused the characters' interests to diverge. There were a lot of secrets.

Insurgent has even more action than Divergent. The plot leaps ahead a thousand miles with each new battle. It never feels like the characters are fighting merely to hold the reader's attention.The book has a complexity that few YA dystopian novels achieve. It reminded me a little of the third book in the Hunger Games series where the bad people don't seem quite as bad and the good people aren't quite as good - things change once you understand people's motivations.

Arguably, Insurgent is a better book than Divergent. There is more action, more character development, a more advanced plot. But I just wasn't feeling it. Don't get me wrong...I really liked it. But that indefinable *love* wasn't there. It's hard to put my criticism into words, although one thing I can definitely say is that the ending confused me. I recognized that it was a big cliffhanger, but I didn't quite get it. Guess I'll just have to read the next one. I suppose overall, it didn't have the magic of discovery or the wonders of new love that Divergent had. Regardless, I will be gobbling up Allegiant as soon as it is released.

Rating: 4 / 5

Here's How to Buy the Book!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Manga Mondays #148: Swan vol. 6 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Manga Mondays Meme

Swan vol. 5 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

Summary

As the only exception to the Japan Ballet Association's scholarship program, underdog dancer Hijiri Masumi trains hard every day with other students who have all won the right to train under the best dance instructors. Because Masumi's technique leaves much to be desired, master instructor and genius dancer Alexei Sergeiev demands that she return to the basics to improve her technique. Masumi practices diligently, so that she will be chosen as one of three student performers in the Japan Ballet Company's special performance in Moscow. Eventually, some of the ballet students depart for various destinations around the world to further their dance careers. As Alexei leaves for Moscow, he reminds her once again to master the basics, because her journey has just begun. Hearing this heartening message, Masumi vows to work hard, and returns to the ballet studio to practice, only to find a handsome new foreign student has arrived. Will this newcomer support her in her quest to develop as a dancer, or will romantic entanglements become an obstacle? (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

*Warning: Potential spoilers. My manga reviews tend to be more of a summary than a review. I find it hard to review manga in the same way I do regular books.

Hijiri annoys me in this volume. Irritation isn't the emotion that I should be feeling. Pity is probably more appropriate. Hijiri has such a low self-esteem. This isn't uncommon in a teenage girl but it manifested itself in so many ways in this volume that I couldn't help roll my eyes.

First Hijiri has a nervous breakdown because there's a new Russian prodigy. Once she sees Lilliana perform, she loses it - she has stress induced hearing loss. She can't imagine performing after someone so good. Then, when Hijiri gets back to Japan, she discovers that she has landed a better role in a ballet than Princess Sayoko, the injured star of Japanese ballet. She feels guilty that she has usurped her idol. Then she feels even worse because she's worried that she's going to force Princess Sayoko push herself too hard and get hurt again. My head is spinning from all of Hijiri's stress.

Then we have the arrival of a little love triangle. There are two male Japanese ballet dancers who are significant characters in the story. Hijiri apparently has a crush on the dark haired guy. I don't believe he feels anything for her beyond friendship. But the light haired guy is in love with Hijiri and she's put him into the friend zone. It's all a little confusing. I wonder where it will go in future volumes.

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Feature and Follow Friday #147

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

How To Become a Featured Blog?

Our Feature - Boarding with Books

1. When did you start blogging?

I started blogging this past December, so I'm still quite a newbie:)

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

My favorite part of book blogging is the ability to rant with people who actually GET IT, you know? I loved writing my review of Clockwork Princess, for example, and then getting an email from another blogger who was all emotional like me and we were able to freak out together!

3. What type of books do you mainly blog about?

Basically YA everything- fantasy, paranormal, historical fiction, sci-fi... and I do MG too.

4. What is your favorite book(s)?

I HATE THIS QUESTION. I guess Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, The Infernal Devices and The Hunger Games. And What Happened to Alaska. And..... alright I'll stop.

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

Well, this is a kind of small, unimportant thing but I got tweeted by a bunch of authors like Cassandra Clare, Sara Zarr, Margaret Stohl, Kami Garcia, and Scott Westerfeld (who even read and retweeted my review of Leviathan!). Living overseas, I never get the chance to meet my favorite authors so becoming a blogger and getting to talk to them on Twitter is really awesome.

Q: Give us a sneak! What are you reading? Tell us about a fun or fail scene in your current read.

I'm reading Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins. It's the second book in her Sweet Evil series. I like it so far. I read the first book on audio and the audio version did not work. The issues I had with the first book have been solved by reading it in print.

Here's a quote I like. It's not substantive to the plot necessarily, but a way to describe a character that I've never heard before: "'You are looking well, Anna' [Kopano] said. He didn't often use contractions, but the end sounds of some words were clipped off and smoothed together in a languid, slippery sort of way, like verbal cursive."

Now for the Follow Fun!

With GFC going the way of the dodo bird for many bloggers, there is no better time to start following blogs via RSS feed. If you use a reader, it would be great if you followed my RSS directly.

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

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Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: Tor Teen
Source: Library

Summary

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor. (courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review

Girl of Nightmares is the sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood. And by sequel, I mean the end. Why is it that so many lackluster series stretch out over three or four novels while some strong series choose to stop at two when the readers clamor for more? On the bright side, Girl of Nightmares is a different yet equally interesting book than its predecessor and ties up all the knots in a satisfying manner.

Cas starts off this novel in a very different place than he was at the beginning of Anna Dress in Blood. Previously, he was a lone gunman, or lone ghostbuster, if you will. Now he is firmly ensconced as a member of a trio of friends: Cas, Thomas, and Carmel. And he is despondent over the loss of Anna, the ghost with whom he fell in love.

Things become disturbing when Cas realizes that Anna is not at peace. She is being tortured by the Obeahman, a demon-like super-ghost in a hellish underworld. Cas embarks on a new journey to rescue Anna from an eternity of pain. But enemies await both above and below ground to thwart his way.

I love the dynamics between Cas, Thomas, and Carmel. Thomas is awesome in his geeky side-kick goodness. Carmel pushes Cas and Thomas to be more - to be more involved in school, to go further along the ghost-hunting journey. She's a more forthright person than Thomas. But she struggles in this book to balance the happy, normal life she used to live with the more violent, dangerous one she threw herself into. It's much more realistic than having a character newly introduced to the paranormal world happily become entirely immersed. Unlike Thomas, Carmel had no exposure to witchcraft or the ideas of ghosts. And also unlike Thomas who was a loner prior to Cas and Carmel, she had less to gain. We also meet a new character: Jestine, who is ambitious and eager to take on (or perhaps usurp?) Cas's ghost-buster role. She's funny and charming but she's also ambiguous in a way that makes you want to keep reading.

Like we saw in Anna Dressed in Blood, Girl of Nightmares has plenty of action and lots of gore. I didn't find it scary at all, but horror doesn't usually frighten me. But I know many readers consider both books very scary, so it's probably just me. Regardless, there is tons of action and many surprises. The book moves at a steadily fast pace, but not so fast that I'm flipping through the book so fast that I hardly read it. Putting the action aside, the highlight of the series for me is Cas's voice. He's sarcastic and full of dark humor.

My only (sort-of) criticism is that there is a lot of swearing in this novel. It's not so much a criticism as it is a notice. The swearing does not feel gratuitous. Cas talks in the same way that a lot of teenage boys do. But it's enough swearing that it stands out from many other books I read.

If you liked Anna Dressed in Blood, you'll definitely enjoy Girl of Nightmares. Cas is lovable in his own dark way. You'll root for him to destroy the Obeahman for good and bring Anna to peace. Plus for Cas to find his own peace, his own place in the world.

Rating: 4 / 5

Here's How to Buy the Book!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Waiting on Wednesday: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Publish Date: December 10, 2013

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

*I came upon this on Goodreads today. The plot sounds original and I'd like to read more sci fi. And what a cover!

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Publisher

Summary

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike. (courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review

Julie Kagawa has a way with paranormal creatures. She’s mastered fairies and now vampires. What should she tackle next? Witches? Zombies? I think I’d prefer witches. But we’re going to have to wait, because she still has so much left to offer in the vampire realm. The Eternity Cure is just as strong and fun as The Immortal Rules.

The Immortal Rules was largely about Allie learning to accept her new identity as a vampire and also trying to retain an element of humanity. The Eternity Cure is more plot driven (or at least I care about the plot more than in the first book). Allie is striving to rescue Kanin, her vampire father/mentor, from the hands of Sarren, the psycho vampire. Along her journey, she meets up with old friends, new allies, and new and old enemies.

Three guys are at the center of this story: Jackal, Zeke, and Kanin. However, unlike many second books, there is no love triangle. It’s one of the few instances where I am disappointed by a “love straight line”. Why? Because Jackal = Awesome and Zeke = Snore. Jackal is hilarious in a dark, demented way. He’s strong, intelligent, and approaches even the most life-threatening scenarios with a snarky comment at hand. True, he’s probably evil and lacks little things...like a conscience. But Jackal made this book worth reading. It’s too bad that neither Allie or Jackal have figured out they’d be great for each other.

Zeke is okay. Objectively, I recognize why he and Allie fit together. He’s kind, determined, honest, brave, daring - an unassuming knight in shining armor. Allie values Zeke’s genuineness and selflessness. But he’s so white bread.

Enough about Zeke. Kanin is also a prominent character in this series. He is Jackal’s opposite in many ways. The strong, silent, reassuring type. Allie and Kanin have somewhat reversed roles. She now strives to be his savior. I don’t want to say much because it gives away too much of the plot, but if Kanin was your favorite character in The Immortal Rules, you’ll be very happy with him in this book.

I continue to like Allie. She realizes that the world is a harsh place. She’s practical enough to make compromises for the sake of the greater good, such as traveling with Jackal, the vampire who heartlessly killed her friends. But she also draws a firm line violating her self-imposed boundaries - the elements that keep her from becoming a monster.

Now for the plot. It took me a chapter or two to get invested, but once I did, The Eternity Cure was a wild, rocky ride. I spent the last 20% of the book glued to the pages, ignoring all my chores because I couldn’t tear myself away. Just when it seems like all the characters’ problems are solved, another huge obstacle is placed in their path. Julie isn’t afraid of causing her characters extreme pain, both physical and emotional. As in all her books, there’s a perfect balance between character development and crazy fight scenes.

*Spoiler - Highlight text to read: Was anyone else secretly happy when Zeke “died” at the end of the book? My first thought was “finally, we’re rid of him” only to be disappointed at the last page. Even though I don’t think Jackal or Kanin are good romantic matches for Allie, I had visions of Allie “sharing blood” with one of them in the next book. Maybe it will still happen and we’ll have a true love triangle.

The Eternity Cure is a strong follow-up to The Immortal Rules. It avoids most of the boring second book pitfalls. We’re introduced to a great new character, the romance is strong (if you like Allie/Zeke), and the plot moves ahead steadily. Highly recommended!

Rating: 4 / 5

Here's How to Buy the Book!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Manga Mondays #147: Swan vol. 5 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Manga Mondays Meme

Swan vol. 5 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

Summary

As the only exception to the Japan Ballet Association's scholarship program, underdog dancer Hijiri Masumi trains hard every day with other students who have all won the right to train under the best dance instructors. Because Masumi's technique leaves much to be desired, master instructor and genius dancer Alexei Sergeiev demands that she return to the basics to improve her technique. Masumi practices diligently, so that she will be chosen as one of three student performers in the Japan Ballet Company's special performance in Moscow. Eventually, some of the ballet students depart for various destinations around the world to further their dance careers. As Alexei leaves for Moscow, he reminds her once again to master the basics, because her journey has just begun. Hearing this heartening message, Masumi vows to work hard, and returns to the ballet studio to practice, only to find a handsome new foreign student has arrived. Will this newcomer support her in her quest to develop as a dancer, or will romantic entanglements become an obstacle? (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

*Warning: Potential spoilers. My manga reviews tend to be more of a summary than a review. I find it hard to review manga in the same way I do regular books.

Drama-rama! What would a shoujo manga be without drama overload. Yet this isn't the same form of romantic melodrama that we see so often in manga. Instead, it's all about the high stakes audition for a role in Swan Lake.

This volume is primarily about Hijiri battling it out with Sydney England, a British ballerina. Their relationship falls into a theme that is played over and over again in shoujo manga. The girl has an enemy (usually female). By the end of the volume, the enemy has become a friend, won over by the main character's selflessness and capability. In this case, Sydney comes to respect Hijiri's passion for ballet as well as the fact that Hijiri put herself on the line when Sydney sneaks out after hours.

The plot of Swan Lake is a huge part of this volume. The story is told piece by piece spread out over most of the pages. Hijiri is dancing for a lead role in Swan Lake. She dances the White Swan and the Black Swan.

While the drama is so overdone that it becomes a bit silly, I do like the fact that it is mostly conveyed through the drawings. Ariyoshi is able to draw movement and emotions in such a way that the reader feels a strong connection to the characters. Plus, a plethora of exclamation points just so we know that everything is important!

I'm almost halfway through this series. I want to keep reading it to find out what happens, but the fascination is also petering out. It's becoming increasingly unrealistic with Hijiri's innate talent leading her to beat highly accomplished ballerinas despite that her technical training is lacking. But I'll keep going at least for now.

Sign up for the Manga Mondays Meme!

Feature and Follow Friday #146

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

How To Become a Featured Blog?

Our Feature - Beauty but a Funny Girl

1. When did you start blogging?

I started blogging in October 2012, so I still consider myself somewhat of a baby blogger.

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

I love finding new books. I know there are books that I have read/plan to read that I would not have found out about had it not been for blogging. I don't mean just indy books, but ones with smaller publishers that occasionally slip under the radar. At the same time, there are books where by blurb alone I would pass on, but when I see so many fellow bloggers rave about it, I know I have to give it a chance. Blogging has definitely expanded by TBR list, which is a double edged sword really.

3. What type of books do you mainly blog about?

I mainly focus on YA books that deal with fantasy/paranormal. That's definitely my favorite genre, but at the same time I read historical fiction, realistic fiction, new adult, and adult books. I've got to mix it up every now and then, but I always go back to the favorites.

4. What is your favorite book(s)?

My all time favorite book is Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. However, you can't go wrong with a Sherrilyn Kenyon book, especially if it's from her Dark-Hunter or The League series.

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

This is probably a really cheesy and cliche answer, but I've made a lot of blogging friends though doing this. Bloggers whose reviews and opinions I've come to trust when it comes to both books and blogging. Also, I've learned a lot about myself when it comes to book preferences and review writing.

Q: Is there a song that reminds you of a book? Or vice versa? What is the song & the book?

I'm going to be boring and answer truthfully - I really can't think of any songs that remind me of a book.

I guess with one unsubtle exception...lately I've gotten into Wizard Wrock. This is music inspired by Harry Potter. One group that I really love is Oliver Boyd and The Remembralls. Here's one of my favorite songs and an incredible accompanying video:

Are any of you into Wizard Wrock? Who are your favorite bands?

Now for the Follow Fun!

With GFC going the way of the dodo bird for many bloggers, there is no better time to start following blogs via RSS feed. If you use a reader, it would be great if you followed my RSS directly.

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

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The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy #2) by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Publisher

Summary

Just weeks after Sage has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Sage feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Sage is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom? (courtesy of Goodreads with name changes by me.)

Review

The Runaway King is the follow-up to The False Prince. The False Prince was my favorite book of 2012. I've already read it 3 times! The Runaway King is just as good as its predecessor, although in a different way.

Sage has ascended to the Carthyan throne. But of course his problems don't end there. To thwart a planned assassination and threat of war, Sage goes on the run. But Sage isn't running from anyone. Instead, he's running to the culprits to beat them at their own game.

I often felt like I was reading a book featuring a brand new character in The Runaway King. Sage was so different than in The False Prince. He was more doubtful, scared, and prone to do stupid things. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized Sage was exactly the same. Due to the nature of The False Prince, Sage hid most of his inner thoughts and emotions from the other characters but also from the reader. He came off as cocky and supremely capable when in reality he was probably just as nervous as he is in The Runaway King. Not to worry, Sage is incapable of being a withering daisy. He still has a smart-aleck comment for every situation. He still manages to get himself into and out of impossible difficulties.

Nearly all our favorite characters from The False Prince play a role in The Runaway King as well as a few new people. Sage is reluctant to trust anyone or accept help. This is the book where Sage realizes that he is stronger when he has the support of his friends. Mott and Imogen serve as Sage's closest friends and advisers - the ones who will tell him when he's being an idiot, but do their best help him anyway. I loved seeing how Sage's relationship with Roden evolved.

The Runaway King is just as full of action as The False Prince. In fact I think there's more. It took a few chapters to get going, but once it did, I was glued to my iPhone/Kindle. The False Prince was predictable in many ways - well, to pretty much everyone except for me...I was completely surprised. The plot in The Runaway King shifted again and again in directions that few readers would expect as Sage ingratiates himself with the pirates.

As in The False Prince, romance is deemphasized. There's a hint of a love triangle, but it's so subtle that even the most fervent love triangle hater won't be bothered. It's rather refreshing to read an adventure novel that values action above romance.

The Runaway King is a must read for anyone who loved The False Prince. And if you haven't read The False Prince yet, shut your computer down and pick it up! With both books, you'll laugh at Sage's sarcasm, gasp at the surprising plot turns, and smile as you go for an amazing ride.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Waiting on Wednesday: If I Should Die by Amy Plum

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

If I Should Die by Amy Plum

Publish Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

*I'm a huge fan of the Die For Me series. I can't wait to finish off the series!

You must pre-order If I Should Die today! Amazon has an incredible deal. If I Should Die is only $1.99 on Kindle pre-order!!!!! I couldn't believe it!

Also, Die For Me is currently only $1.99 on Kindle.

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:38:00 +0000

*I'm back from my vacation!!! I got home late last night, but was so exhausted that I didn't get a post scheduled. Or get Manga Monday up. Trying to get back to normal today. I had a great time on my cruise. I came back from 80+ degree Florida to snow in Montana. Lovely.

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Library

Summary

Sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle's mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.

And that was before she died...and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth's destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Unraveling is one of those books that is a lot of fun if you don't try to read too much into it. It is full of action and surprising twists and turns. The characters are intriguing and the romance is...well...romantic. Why am I sticking with such generic terms? Mostly because this isn't a book that breaks any new paranormal grounds. There's lots to criticize if you so choose, but you can also chomp it down with a smile like a bag of M&Ms.

Janelle is a hardened character. Because she often plays mom to her younger brother and her mentally ill mother, she is an independent, no-nonsense kind of girl. She's also nosy. Janelle comes back from the dead and simultaneously realizes that her father is working on a freaky FBI case, Janelle breaks into her father's files and tries to get to the bottom of the case herself. This is one of the instances in this book where you just have to shake your head and smile. A big honcho FBI agent has so little security on his files that it's relatively easy for his teenage daughter to get a hold of them? Really?

Now for our leading man, Ben Michaels. He is somewhat of a stereotypical paranormal trope. Loner, handsome, mysterious, is dangerous but is also super nice and in love. There's a reason this character type appears over and over again in YA novels. It works. I liked Ben. Especially as the book went on and we learned more about his background. He and Janelle made a good team.

The side characters were well written in this novel, especially Janelle's best friend Alex. He was a sweet, fun guy and I got a kick out of his crazy, pushy mom. I especially liked Struz, the junior FBI agent who is a cross between an uncle and an older brother. This isn't an adult/teen relationship I see that often in YA novels, where the adult functions as an important role model but also isn't a substitute parent.

Above all else, Unraveling is an action oriented book. So much is crammed into 450 pages. It only took me a day or two to read. Danger is coming at the characters from all sides, from supernatural forces, to natural elements, to bad guys. The paranormal twist took me completely by surprise and is something that I haven't read before. (Other reviews say that the plot is too similar to Roswell, X-Files, or other sci fi shows, but I haven't watched any of them so it was new to me). The book is written in the present tense, which makes the book read much faster and gives the characters' problems an in-your-face urgency.

Unraveling is a good book. I ripped through the pages and at the end, I was eager for more. With a little distance between finishing the book and writing the review, I can objectively see that it is a good but not great book. While I was quite surprised by the plot, many of the elements are similar to every other paranormal book you've read. But that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book while I was reading it. If you're a sci fi or a paranormal fan, I recommend picking up Unraveling.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Feature and Follow Friday #145

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

How To Become a Featured Blog?

Our Feature - Words Fueled by Love

1. When did you start blogging?

After watching my sister-n-law blog for a year I decided to give it a try myself. I started my blog October 1, 2012 and have been going strong ever since!

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

To narrow this down to one favorite thing is really hard so I'll keep it to my top 2 favorite things of book blogging. One - the opportunities having a book blog has opened up to me (e.g. book blog tours, cover reveals, giveaway hops, ARC reviews from authors and publishers, etc...). None of that would have been possible had I not had a book blog. Two - all of the fantastic people I have met through book blogging. Book blogging just wouldn't be any fun without the interaction between other book blog friends.

3. What type of books do you mainly blog about?

I mainly review young adult and new adult books in many sub-genres (paranormal, contemporary, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, etc...)

4. What is your favorite book(s)?

Another tough question to narrow down to just a few. Here are some of my current fave series: Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Cambion series by Shannon Dermott, Too Far series by Abbi Glines, Slammed series by Colleen Hoover, Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry, Beautiful series by Jamie McGuire. Now for some long time favorites: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

I guess the best thing for me personally since starting my blog, has been rekindling the avenue to express myself through writing. I don't think I'm an eloquent writer by any means and I don't write lengthy reviews typically or use big words, but I enjoy writing my thoughts down and I really enjoy hearing from other readers and bloggers about the books I review and the various posts I participate in.

Q: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

*I'm on a cruise right now so I probably won't comment much this week.

Duh! JK Rowling. For inspiration but mostly to find out more about my favorite characters.

I'd also love to hang out with John Green, because he seems super smart, cool, and witty. Stephanie Perkins too. She seems fun and cute.

Now for the Follow Fun!

With GFC going the way of the dodo bird for many bloggers, there is no better time to start following blogs via RSS feed. If you use a reader, it would be great if you followed my RSS directly.

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

CAPTCHA:

Bar Exam and Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:14:00 +0000

Hey guys. Guess what?! I passed the Bar Exam. As a reward (well not specifically as a reward but well timed), I am going on a Caribbean cruise starting today.

So I'm taking the week off from the blog except for Follow Friday. See you next week!

Feature and Follow Friday #144

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

How To Become a Featured Blog?

Our Feature - Dear Restless Reader

1. When did you start blogging?

I started a blog around July 2012 but I didn't actually start blogging until the end of October 2012.

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

Everything! No really, I love reaching out to other bloggers and talking about books. I love promoting my favorite authors, and helping spread the word about all the amazing reads that are out there. I also get to read and write which are two of my favorite things ever.

3. What type of books do you mainly blog about?

I mostly blog about YA/Adult Paranormal Romance, but recently I've been blogging more about New Adult Contemporary Romances. I blog about a lot of different genres though but mainly those two.

4. What is your favorite book(s)?

Some of my favorite books include The Night Huntress series by: Jeaniene Frost, The Georgina Kincaid series by: Richelle Mead, The Fever series by: Karen Marie Moning, In Death series by: J.D. Robb, The Significance series by: Shelly Crane, The Archers of Avalon Trilogy by: Chelsea Fine and an insane amount more!

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

ince book blogging I've discovered many great books, and have also got to really interact with authors some of which I absolutely idolize for their awesome writing talents so definitely that!

Q: We are about to see a lot of posts & tweets about reader conventions, RT, BEA, ALA and many more are starting soon. Which one would you love to attend? Where and why?

*I'm in Florida right now so I probably won't comment much this week or next week

I'm going to BEA again this year!!! I am so excited. It was one of the best experiences last year and I can't wait to see everyone again. I love seeing all my blogger friends in real life and of course getting all the books and meeting authors. Even better, it's in New York. Last year was my first time in NYC and I'm making sure that I give myself a few extra days to sightsee this year as well.

I'd love to go to RT or ALA some time too. RT seems like a fun, sorta laid-back event.

Now for the Follow Fun!

With GFC going the way of the dodo bird for many bloggers, there is no better time to start following blogs via RSS feed. If you use a reader, it would be great if you followed my RSS directly.

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

CAPTCHA:

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Publisher: Poppy
Source: Borrowed

Summary

Don't mess with a girl with a great personality!

Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).

Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.

The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Elizabeth Eulberg is one of the top writers of light, satisfying YA contemporary fiction. Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality is her fourth book and probably the best one yet (although Prom & Prejudice is my favorite).

Lexi lives in the shadow of her beauty pageant little sister. At home and at school, Lexi is the friend, the helper, the slave - never the beauty or the star. All this changes when Lexi decides to put on a little makeup and dress in something other than jeans and a t-shirt. Boys pay attention to her, she sort of gets into the popular crowd. Can Lexi be beautiful without losing her great personality?

The makeover plot is a fairly common one, but Ms. Eulberg puts a twist on it. The pageant aspect is fascinating. I loved every chapter focusing on Mac and Mom's pageant craziness and all the details about toddlers dressing up as sexy women ten times their age. You should read the book for the pageant aspect alone.

What I loved best about the book is that it's not just a romance. If you're expecting a book with a big kiss and HEA, you'll be disappointed. Instead, Revenge of the Girl focuses on Lexi's personal growth - the idea that looks can be superficial, but a sense of self and confidence is not. Between Logan, Lexi's longtime crush, and Taylor, her date, boys are an significant part of the novel, but ultimately the book focuses on other things.

Lexi's family is more important to the plot than the boys. Lexi's mother is broken. Her obsession with pageants is only a symptom of a much larger problem. Lexi's seven year old sister is a brat (or is she?). Lexi's father tries to be helpful but disappoints in the end too. The family is dysfunctional in the extreme but felt real and pitiable.

I loved Lexi's relationship with her friend Benny who is gay and wears crazy t-shirts. In some ways he is larger than life, but in other ways he is a shy, scared teen. Lexi and Benny pushed each other to be more and both grew in this novel.

A few criticisms...Mac, Lexi's seven year old sister, didn't always sound realistic. The things she said seemed to come from someone much older. Then again, I don't know any seven year olds, so maybe they do talk like that. I also thought Lexi's friend Cam existed in the shadow of Benny. This made her seem flat and somewhat irrelevant. I get the role that she was supposed to play, but her character development was inadequate.

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality is not a perfect book, but it is a very enjoyable one. Ms. Eulberg is steadily growing as a writer. Lexi is a likable, realistic main character struggling to grow up in an imperfect family. You'll cheer for her as she begins to find her way.

Rating: 4 / 5

Waiting on Wednesday: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Publish Date: April 30, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

*I finally got around to reading Sweet Evil and I'm excited for the follow-up.

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Alison Can Read) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Poppy
Source: Borrowed

Summary

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Jennifer E. Smith is becoming known for two things: (1) light, satisfying contemporary YA romances and (2) novels with really long titles. This Is What Happy Looks Like is indeed a good illustration of "happy." The world looks like a happier place after reading this book. You'll have a spring in your step.

This Is What Happy Looks Like is yet another version of a beloved plot: regular girl meets big time movie star. Movie star falls in love with said girl. It's a plot that, no matter how many times it's done, I almost always enjoy. Somehow Jennifer managed to make the story arc feel original - or if not original, fun enough that you don't care.

Ellie and Graham are both nice people. Nice is such a blasé word, but it's really the best way to describe the characters. Ellie in particular is simply nice. She doesn't have a describable personality. She's not a firecracker, she's not shy, she's not mean, she's not vivacious. She's a regular teenage girl who can be a little bit of all of these qualities. By not having an overriding personality trait, Ellie felt more real to me than many other protagonists.

Graham is also best characterized as nice, but his personality stuck out to me more. He's passionate about acting, he's funny in a gentle way, he's bookish, he's sad. Graham's sadness over his loss of freedom and his estrangement from his parents struck me more than anything else about him. I really liked Graham. He stands out from many other YA male love interests by being sweet in an unassuming, boyish manner.

The book is told in alternating points of view of Ellie and Graham, a writing technique that I increasingly like. It allows me to get to know both characters better. At the start of each chapter are emails between the characters, which is how Ellie and Graham's relationship began. Kind of like Seinfeld, these email chats are often about nothing. They are more cutesy that witty...in a good way. It was occasionally hard to follow who wrote which email or on what day it was written, because my eyes automatically skipped the To, From, and Date portions of the email.

Is This Is What Happy Looks Like as good as The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight? No. I can't really describe why. I've read other reviews that were disappointed in this book, because it approached the precipice of excellence but didn't quite make it. I was quite satisfied with the book's fun simplicity, but that was partially because I went into it with low expectations. There's just something missing that keeps this book from being really special. Regardless, it's a lovable romance and I'd recommend putting it on your shelf for a cheering up kind of day.