Bookcharmed

Review: Changers Book One: Drew by T Cooper and Allison Glock-Cooper

2014-03-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Changers Book One: Drew
Author: T Cooper and Allison Glock-Cooper
Genre: Young Adult
Published: February 4th, 2014
Publisher: Akashic Books
Source: Giveaway via PaperLanternLit
Find: Goodreads

The cheerleader, the nerd, the jock, the freak. What if you had to be all four?

Changers Book One: Drew opens on the eve of Ethan Miller’s freshman year of high school in a brand-new town. He’s finally sporting a haircut he doesn’t hate, has grown two inches since middle school, and can’t wait to try out for the soccer team. At last, everything is looking up in life.

Until the next morning. When Ethan awakens as a girl. Ethan is a Changer, a little-known, ancient race of humans who live out each of their four years of high school as a different person. After graduation, Changers choose which version of themselves they will be forever—and no, they cannot go back to who they were before the changes began.

Ethan must now live as Drew Bohner—a petite blonde with an unfortunate last name—and navigate the treacherous waters of freshman year while also following the rules: Never tell anyone what you are. Never disobey the Changers Council. And never, ever fall in love with another Changer. Oh, and Drew also has to battle a creepy underground syndicate called “Abiders” (as well as the sadistic school queen bee, Chloe). And she can’t even confide in her best friend Audrey, who can never know the real her, without risking both of their lives.

With a such a crazy concept, I knew it was going to be a fun ride, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hesitant at first. By the end, however, I was captivated by this moving insightful story, and Ethan/Drew really stole my heart. There were some tough and sensitive subjects, but T. Cooper and Allison Glock-Cooper handled them with tact and care, and most of my worries dissolved.

At first, I was wary of how the authors would handle a teenage boy transforming into a girl. I mentally prepared myself for over exaggerated gender stereotypes and crude humor. I was ready to cringe if Drew looked down her shirt and was utterly amazed at her boobs or if she started crying about how it was the end of the world now that she was a girl. Imagine my surprise when none of that happened. There were a few gender stereotypes mentioned, but they weren't used as a punchline for a funny joke. Instead, Drew was able to empathize and grow as a person in these situations. In fact, Changers Book One really stole my heart by the end. Drew's experiences the perfect blend of humor and sincerity, and it left me feeling so much that I didn't want the story to end.

It helps that Drew was a character I could easily root for. I have to admit, if I were in her situation, I probably wouldn't have handled it as easily as she did. Of course, she was surprised by the changed, but she easily adapted to them and open to new experiences. Even though the book as a science-fiction twist with the Changers and all, it felt like I was reading more of a contemporary book. Drew still had to navigate the high school setting and deal with friendships, relationships, crushes, overprotective parents, and the pursuit of one's own identity.

I loved how they dealt with the romance in the book. Although there was a moment of "Hm, this is weird," it didn't really bother Drew that much that she was attracted to both a guy and a girl at the same time. But overall, what I enjoyed the most the friendships formed in this book, especially Audrey and Drew's. Sometimes, the "best friend" in a book is often treated as a minor sidekick or a second banana. This was not the case with Changers Book One. Between the shared secrets, the fights, the makeups, and the actual amount of time they spent together, Audrey and Drew is one of the most realistic high school friendships I've read about. In fact, I grew so attached to them that their last day of freshman year really tugged at my heartstrings.

I have to admit the writing style was a bit off-putting at first. While the book is considered young adult, I sometimes felt that it fell more in the middle grade category, especially when slang like "geezus" and "grody" was used. (Or perhaps I'm just getting old). Then again, it's written from Drew's perspective as if it was a mental diary, so maybe the style and vocabulary will grow along with Drew. Even at the end of this first book, you can easily see how much Drew developed as a person.

Still, there were a few plot holes left at the end, and I had a lot of questions about the Changers. For example, why didn't the parents prepare Ethan more? Who exactly decided on all these cultish Changers rules? How exactly will they change the world? What happens if a friend from your past or your three other identities try to hunt you down? Will they report you missing? It's only the first book in the series, so I didn't expect them to answer every question, we'll have to see if we get more answers in subsequent books.

The entire thing is an emotional journey of self-discovery and I look forward to the rest of the series. I’m curious to see how Drew will handle her next identity, and hopefully it’ll manage to fix some of the problems and fill in the holes left over from the first book.

High School Classics I Never Had To Read

2014-03-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

So this week's Top Ten Tuesday topic was about popular authors whom I've never read, and I automatically knew I would have no trouble completing that list. It started to get me thinking, though, on how many classic books I've also never read. When I think about my high school/college curriculum, I realized I managed to get away without reading a lot of the more popular classics. I don't mean those classics that were assigned to me and I skimmed through with the help of Sparknotes - that would be an entire list altogether. I mean the list of classics that none of my teachers ever required me to read.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
1984 by George Orwell
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Every high school - hell, every teacher - is different, but it still surprises me that I was never required to read Lord of the Flies or Animal Farm. Of course, just because I'm not in high school anymore doesn't mean I can't ever read them. I'd like to read them one day. In fact, I'd probably enjoy reading them more now that I'm not forced to write essays on them. I like to read at my own leisurely pace without the need to remember and analyze every page. My reread of The Great Gatsby just before the release of the movie version, for example, was much more enjoyable than when I read it during my senior year. Perhaps I'll understand them more now that I'm older. Then again, there are some books that I'll never like no matter how many times I pick it up (see: Heart of Darkness. I actually had to read it once for high school and again in college).

On the other hand, I actually enjoyed the in-depth analysis we did in classes, because I know I'm not the type of person to really look at the themes of a book unless I was asked to. Reading Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet was a lot more fun when my teacher was there to explain most of the Shakespearean innuendos and insults that I would have missed if I read it myself.

It's also interesting to note which classics are more "popular" required readings than other. I have two younger siblings, and it's always amusing when they have to borrow my old copy of The Scarlet Letter or The Great Gatsby. But then my sister read East of Eden and Moby Dick when most of my friends in my year and I managed to avoid them. My brother who is now a high school senior is currently reading 1984, another book I didn't read.

So readers, what high school classics have you never read? If you were in high school again (egads), which ones do you wish you could read and which ones would you want to avoid?

Top Ten Tuesday (11): Top Ten Popular Authors I've Never Read

2014-03-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

I was debating on whether or not I should list the reasons why I haven't read these authors, but... let's just say I plan to read books from some of these authors some day. Other authors? Not so much. Anyway, what are some popular authors that you haven't read? Do you feel like you're missing out when you haven't read a popular series?

Waiting on Wednesday (9): Confessions by Kanae Minato

2014-02-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to highlight some upcoming releases that we're impatiently tapping our feet for. It's a great way to to keep track of some of the most anticipated releases amongst other book bloggers and a new way to discover books yourself.
This week I'm looking forward to:

Confessions
Author: Kanae Minato
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Mulholland Books
To be published: August 19th, 2014
Find: Goodreads

Her pupils killed her daughter. Now, she will have her revenge.

After an engagement that ended in tragedy, all Yuko Moriguchi had to live for was her four-year-old child, Manami. Now, after a heartbreaking accident on the grounds of the middle school where she teaches, Yuko has given up and tendered her resignation.

But first, she has one last lecture to deliver. She tells a story that will upend everything her students ever thought they knew about two of their peers, and sets in motion a maniacal plot for revenge.

Narrated in alternating voices, with twists you'll never see coming, Confessions probes the limits of punishment, despair, and tragic love, culminating in a harrowing confrontation between teacher and student that will place the occupants of an entire school in harm's way. You'll never look at a classroom the same way again.

I'm bringing back this meme on my blog just for this week, because I'm actually really really excited for this book. The Japanese 2010 film adaptation of this book is one of my favorite movies, and I'm thrilled by the news that this book is finally going to be translated into English.

Here, watch the trailer of the movie:

With several surprising twists, the story is incredibly dark, thrilling, and ridiculously violent at times. I loved every bit of it. I was enchanted by the cinematography of the movie, but I hope the book also lives up to expectations.

What upcoming books have caught your eye and tickled your fancy?

Top Ten Tuesday (10): Top Ten Favorite Covers

2014-02-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that allows readers to share their lists and opinions on a number of subjects from their top ten book covers to their top ten villains.

This week's topic for February 25th is:

Top Ten Tuesday REWIND: Top Ten Favorite Covers
For this week, we're allowed to choose a previous topic to talk about, so this week, I want to talk about some nice eye candy.

1. The Diviners by Libba Bray
I'll never understand why the publishers decided to do a cover redesign for the second book, because The Diviners original cover was just perfect.

2. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
I love the colors on this cover, and I love how fun it. It really captures the craziness of the story.

3. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Another cover that captures what the book is about. It's hauntingly beautiful, and it brings out the fairy tale-like quality out of it.

4. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
That font! Those tendrils of darkness! Those antlers! I absolutely love how everything goes together to frame this Russian-inspired tale.

5. Real World by Natsuo Kirino
This cover is surprisingly simple, but everything just worked. I loved the font placement, the lines, that face.

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The cover was what really caught my eye in the first place when I decided to read this book. It just screamed "magic!!" and "mysticism!!" to me.

7. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
This series has had several cover redesigns, but this faceless version will always be my favorite. I love the colors and the borders, and the rest in this series are just as beautiful.

8. A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Another series with several redesigns. This is my favorite cover in the trilogy just for the stars alone. It really shows how vast the universe is.

9. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
I actually don't know why I love this cover so much, I just do.

10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The picture honestly doesn't convey how lovely this book cover is in real life. I love its uniquely bright yellow color and the subtle dragon in the background.

I hope you enjoy this nice little bit of eye candy. What are some of your favorite book covers?

Review: The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen

2014-02-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Trilogy #3)
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade
To Be Published: February 25th, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: ARC via Netgalley
Find: Goodreads

One war.
Too many deadly battles.
Can a king save his kingdom, when his own survival seems unlikely?

War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.

His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne?

Rousing and affecting, Jaron's adventures have thrilled and moved readers in The False Prince and The Runaway King. Journey once again with the Ascendant King of Carthya, as New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings his story to a stunning conclusion with The Shadow Throne.

There's always worry that the final book in the series won't be able to live up to everyone's expectations, but Jennifer A. Nielsen is able to dash away any doubts with this last book, offering everything needed to satisfy fans of the series and more. The Shadow Throne is by far the best book in The Ascendance Trilogy.

I tend to do most of my reading before bed, which in hindsight is actually a really bad habit because if a book is really good, I can kiss any chance of sleep that night good bye. The Shadow Throne was no exception. With war finally arriving in Carthya's doorsteps, Jaron's pushed to the limits as he travels from one end of his kingdom to the other to fend off every attack King Vargan has in store for him. With such fast-paced action, there weren't any parts where I could just put the book down and take a breath. I just had to know what happened next.

I'm finally beginning to see Jaron really own his title as the Ascendant King. From the beginning, Jaron's always been clever, stubborn, and he always has an eye for the bigger picture. If there's something Jaron wants, he's ready to go for it through any means possible. Still, Jaron could be really annoyingly abrasive at times, especially in the previous books. His general attitude has always been, "I am always right." Although it's clear he cares for Carthya, I also didn't get the impression that Jaron really wanted to be the Carthya's king until this book. He finally steps it up, and it's amazing how much Jaron grew up in The Shadow Throne.

It was also nice to see Jaron and Roden's friendship develop more as Jaron places more of his trust in Roden while Roden builds up his own confidence. Most of Roden's growth, however, happened off-screen, and I wish Jennifer Nielsen focused a bit more on the side characters half as much as she did for Jaron. Imogen was another character who suffered from lack of development. While I liked her in The False Prince and The Runaway King for her strength and unwavering resolve, she didn't appear much in this last book.

The Ascendance Trilogy is considered a middle grade series, so we don't really get the same depth and details as we would in a young adult/adult high fantasy series, and there were some parts that really glossed over the atrocities of war. Things tend to fall into place quite conveniently. It might not be enough to satisfy more hardcore high fantasy readers, but it's a quick, fun read, and it's a perfect series to introduce to younger readers, especially elementary/middle school kids.

Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

2014-02-14T14:08:00.000-08:00

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Retelling
Published: February 4th 2014
Publisher: Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends
Source: Own
Find: Goodreads

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

WAIT! This review may contain minor spoilers for Cinder and Scarlet. Don't continue if you haven't read it yet and want to avoid spoilers. Unless, of course, you don't mind spoilers. In that case, continue~

Confession #1: I don't want to write this review. Instead, I just want to crawl back into my bed and read Cress and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles series again and again until the pages fall out. Is it too soon to be rereading a book when I literally just finished it?

Cress is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles, a sci-fi retelling of some of our favorite fairytales, and I am pleased to say Cress is just as spell-binding as - if not more so than - the first two books. I was afraid at first that this book would mostly be fillers, as most penultimate books are, but Marissa Meyer did not let me down at all. It really helps that the format of the book is so different from most series. Each book focuses on a different heroine and retells a different fairy tale, but there's an overarching plot that ties the entire series together. There isn't any need for fillers because there's always a new story to tell.

"Captain?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think it was destiny that brought us together?"

He squinted and, after a thoughtful moment, shook his head. "No. I'm pretty sure it was Cinder.”

I also love that each book is set in a different place. While Cinder took place in New Beijing and Scarlet was mostly set in France, Cress takes us on an even crazier journey from the Sahara Desert to a little satellite orbiting above Earth in space. With all the places the characters visit, it really gives us a sense that this battle against Queen Levana and the Lunars really does affect the entire world instead of just one country.

Rapunzel isn't my favorite fairy tale by any means, but out of our three main heroines, Crescent Moon is the one I relate to the most. I wasn't forced to live in a satellite at a young age, but I really sympathize with her social awkwardness and overactive imagination. Who hasn't fantasized about the cute little things about their crush? Cress is such an adorable dreamer, and I worried how her naivety and her huge crush for Carswell Thorne would go. Confession #2: I am not quite in love with Captain Thorne as everyone else seems to be. I mean, he seems like a fun guy to flirt with. Like others have already noticed, he also reminds me of Eugene from Tangled. Still, he's just not my type of "prince," and I was afraid that Cress would get hurt by him and become disillusioned by love. In the end, it actually worked out really well, and I ended up falling for Cress/Thorne. They're very sweet, and I can't wait to see their relationship develop more in the next book.

If you are a Scarlet/Wolf fan, you might be disappointed with this book. Compared to the other characters, they get the least amount of development in this book. They're pretty much MIA for most of the book. In a way, it's understandable since most of Scarlet and Wolf's story was already completed in Scarlet, but I know a lot of people love this couple, and if you're one of those fans, you might be yearning for more at the end.

Confession #3: I didn't mind the lack of Scarlet/Wolf because out of all the heroines, Cinder is my absolute favorite and I can't get enough of her. Even though each book has their own titular heroine, Cinder really is the main star throughout the entire series. She’s the one thread connecting all the characters together, and of all the characters, she has had most growth. The others look up to her for the big plan, and she's finally taking on that leader role in Cress. But will it be enough? Does she have what it takes to convince the Lunars onto her side and overthrow Queen Levana as everyone assumes she will? I don't think she's quite there yet, so I'm excited to see what's in store for her in Winter. Prince Kai isn't all that interesting alone, but I do love him with Cinder, and I love that Kai never truly gave up on her.

Iko, of course, is always a welcome presence in this series. Whenever Iko's in a scene, my reading experience becomes ten times more fun because she always knows how to brighten things up. I love her chipper personality, and Meyer knows how to give Iko great comedic timing.

The story is easy to follow and a bit predictable at times, but I don’t think the story suffers from it. After all, we already know how the fairy tales played out, so the fun part will be seeing how everyone gets there. I fully expect happy endings for everyone, but who knows what Winter will bring to the table. (Note to Marissa Meyer: That is NOT a challenge.)

I already had high expectations for Cress, so now my expectations for Winter is even higher. From the glimpses of Winter that we get in this book, I do worry a bit. Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress are amazing heroines each with their own strengths and personality. I've fallen in love with each and every one of them. Will Winter be able to win my heart as well? We'll have to wait and see...

(Mini) Review: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

2014-02-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Antigoddess (Goddess War #1)
Author: Kendare Blake
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Published: September 10th 2013
Publisher: Tor Teens
Source: Won via Publishers
Find: Goodreads

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

I’m a sucker for stories based on Greek mythology, so it’s unsurprising that I practically devoured Antigoddess in a short amount of time. Then again, “devoured” might not be the right word to use in the context of this book when certain Greek gods are trying to postpone their deaths by destroying and consuming other gods ala the good old-fashioned Titans way. That's right, the almighty immortal gods are dying, and they're permanently stuck in the denial/anger stage.

This is what men risk so much for; this shiver, this acute heat and desire. This is what they think eternity feels like.

WHAT WORKED FOR ME:

Established Relationships
Even though it's set in our times, the Greek gods and goddesses are still more or less the same while our favorite Greek heroes/heroines have been reincarnated. If you know your mythology, you know where each character stands in relation to each other, which is nice to see clearly.
Athena and Odysseus
Right from the beginning, I knew I would like Athena. She's brash, knows exactly what she wants and how to get it, and she goes for it. I also melted a bit during her interactions with Odysseus. He's Athena's favorite mortal, and he's also mine. I just love him in every incarnation of him in every media, whether it's in the book Song of Achilles, the movie Troy, or the original Odyssey. Antigoddess is no exception.
The Goddess War Setup
The upcoming war between the gods adds an epic mood to the story and makes it a bit more unpredictable. Even though we knew who each character were aligned with in the Trojan War, alliances have changed the second time around. There’s always room for betrayal, which makes me excited to see how this will play out in subsequent books.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME:

Somewhat Predictable Romance
The problem with already established relationships is that you can easily see who is going to end up with who and how their relationships will develop.There was one exception at the end, however, which did catch me by surprise.
Why Are They Teenagers?
One thing that bothered me is that the characters are so young. Cassandra is still in high school, and Athena and Hermes are barely old enough to drink. (I sincerely hope that if Dionysus shows up in future books, he's also over 21.) Well, it is a YA book after all, so it's not too surprising, but I personally would never repeat high school even for love.

VERDICT:
I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.

Top Ten Tuesday (9): Top Three Books That Will Make You Cry

2014-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that allows readers to share their lists and opinions on a number of subjects from their top ten book covers to their top ten villains.

This week's topic for January 28th is:

Top Ten, Er Three, Books That Will Make You Cry
I don't know if it's because I'm emotionally stunted or if it's because I subconsciously avoid the Grave of the Fireflies of the book world, but I haven't actually read that many books that managed to make me cry. There are some books that make me feel really emotional, but I can only recall three books that made me teary-eyed. And if it can make even me cry, then it's guaranteed to be good.

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This book pulled a Moulin Rouge on me. You know what's going to happen right from the beginning because the narrator tells you what happens, but it doesn't lessen the impact of the final scenes in anyway. It still got to me, and the worst part was that I was reading the ending at the library in between classes. So yeah, I cried a bit in public.

2. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
A kid faces a monster as he slowly comes to terms with his mother's battle with cancer. :(((((( I don't think I have enough frowning chins to illustrate just how much this book broke my heart.

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Admittedly, I didn't cry the first time I read this book, but I did tear up the second time I read it. However, I didn't cry for any of the deaths (and there were a lot). Instead, I got really emotional for the Room of Requirements scene where everyone gathers.

Well, here's my very short list of books that made me cry and might make you cry, too. Did these books make you cry, too, or are you heartless? (Just kidding).

Weekly Roundup: January 20 - February 2

2014-02-02T13:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! It's the year of the horse! This weekend has been very busy because of the Lunar New Year celebrations, which is probably my favorite holiday and the biggest holiday in my family. It's the one holiday in the year when the entire family gathers for a big homemade dinner, firecrackers, and best of all, red envelopes ($$$). I've been away to college for the last four years, so it's my first year back celebrating LNY with my family. It was really fun catching up with family and meeting some new cousins for the first time.

Can you believe we're already a month into 2014 already? Somehow, I managed to read seven books this month, which is a good start to the year (for me). In terms of reviews, however, I am behind, but hopefully, I can catch up on some unfinished reviews this week. Look forward to them!

Oh yeah! And if you haven't been on my blog in the last few days, I have a new blog design and rating system out. Check it out!

I'm Currently Reading

Nothing! I'm currently in between books right now and not sure what to read next. Perhaps I'm just waiting for February's batch of books to be released, but please feel free to recommend some of your favorite books. I think I'm still in a sci-fi/fantasy mood, but not really looking at dystopian books for now.

These Past Two Weeks on Bookcharmed

Elsewhere on the Blogosphere

K. @ The Midnight Garden lists her bookish pet peeves.
Whytnee @ Books Are Love notices how fast she re-reads books.
Sydney @ Utterly Bookish asks which is easier to write: positive or negative reviews?
Nikki @ The Paper Sea discusses giving authors a second chance
Genevieve @ The Reading Shelf discusses hating on canon couples.
Blair @ Quirk Books has a book-lover's guide to covertly reading during a Super Bowl party, which is perfect for today.

Links of Interest

J.K. Rowling dropped some unsettling news this week when she admitted that she regrets Ron/Hermione. As a Ron/Hermion shipper, I'm not entirely surprised that Ron & Hermione would have needed relationship counseling, and it's understandable that some authors would have regrets about their books, but it's still uncomfortable to know that all, in fact, was not well in the Harry Potter world.
Flappy Bird is probably the worst game I've ever played that makes me want to throw my phone across the room, so why can't I stop playing???

And that's all for this week. Be sure to follow us on GFC, twitter, or Bloglovin.

Blog Tour: Beyond Belief by Helen Smith (Review + Excerpt)

2014-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Beyond Belief
Author: Helen Smith
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Published: January 28th 2014
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Source: ARC via Tour Host Itching for Books
Find: Goodreads

When famed psychic Perspicacious Peg predicts a murder will occur at England’s Belief and Beyond conference, her science-minded colleagues recruit twenty-six-year-old budding sleuth Emily Castles to attend the event as a “future crimes investigator.” The suspected victim: celebrated magician Edmund Zenon, who plans to perform a daring stunt at the conference—and is offering fifty thousand pounds to any attendee who can prove that the paranormal exists.

In the seaside town of Torquay, Emily meets a colorful cast of characters: dramatic fortune-teller Madame Nova; kindly Bobby Blue Suit and his three psychic dachshunds; Sarah and Tim Taylor, devastated parents mourning their late son; and religious cult members Hilary, Trina, and the Colonel. Tensions rise as believers in science, the supernatural, and the spiritual clash with one another. But once a body count begins, Emily must excuse herself from the séances and positivity circles, and use old-fashioned detective work to find the killer.

Helen Smith is a member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, the Crime Writers Association and English PEN. She traveled the world when her daughter was small, doing all sorts of strange jobs to support them both--from cleaning motels to working as a magician's assistant--before returning to live in London where she wrote her first novel. Her work has been reviewed in The Times, the Guardian, The Independent, Time Out and the Times Literary Supplement. Her books have reached number one in the bestseller lists in the Kindle store on both sides of the Atlantic.

Beyond Belief is a fun story that felt more like a murder mystery party than just an ordinary thriller. From the very beginning, we're thrust into the heart of the mystery and find ourselves immersed in the lives of several oddball characters all drawn together to the Beyond and Belief conference at a seaside resort by the impending fate of magician Edmund Zenon.

As far as main characters go, Emily isn't the most interesting, and it was a bit bizarre that her main qualification for the job was her "connection" to her dead dog, but the rest of the side characters surely made up for it. Composed of a mismatched group of philosophers, magicians, psychics, and religious fanatics, each character has their own eccentricities and beliefs that made their interactions enjoyable to read about. I particularly liked Bobby Blue Suit, an endearing psychic, and his three dogs with a few special tricks you don't see in other dogs. I'm not sure yet if there will be more books in the Emily Castles Mystery series, but if there are, it would be really nice to see if Bobby Blue Suit were to make another appearance in the future.

The beginning was a bit heavy on exposition, but it's forgivable considering most of it was used to build up the backgrounds of many of the key players. The story really starts to pick up halfway through the book when the body count starts to rise, and by that point, I was fully engrossed in the mystery. Who is this murderer? Why are they killing certain people? Why are they so focused on Edmund Zenon? And what is the password? I found it difficult to put the book down in anticipation to the answers to all my questions. Helen Smith actually managed to answer them all with an ending I didn't expect. I wish the climax of the story could've been more exciting instead of just Emily explaining everything, but I was satisfied with the answers.

As I said before, the story reminds me of a murder mystery themed party. You have a group of random people thrown together for a short time (one weekend) at a relatively isolated place (Hotel Majestic in the small town of Torquay) who are united and forced to work together to solve a murder. As someone who has always wanted to participate in such a party, this style worked for me. I especially like the touch of humor Helen Smith added to her writing that kept this book from getting too dark, so if you're a casual reader of mystery thrillers who would prefer something lighter without the gore and violence, then this book is for you.

EXCERPT

"Look," said the lad with the knitted hat to the conductor, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry, mate." In this kind of transaction, you had to have one person who was sorry and another who was prepared to forgive. You couldn't have two people who were sorry. If the conductor was sorry, too, then Emily knew there was no hope that this girl would be allowed to continue her journey without paying full fare. "You've got to have the correct ticket to travel on the train. This is the only nonstop service to Torquay this morning and you can't use the cheap tickets on it. Come on now. Let's have a look at yours."

The boyfriend's ticket was fine. The conductor clipped it and turned back to deal with the girl.

"I'm sorry," she said. Well that was no good! You couldn't have three people who were sorry, even if none of them sounded sorry at all. "I don't have forty pounds."

"I'm sorry!" Dr. Muriel interrupted. Now it was getting out of hand.

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

About the Author

Helen Smith is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, The Crime Writers Association and English PEN. She travelled the world when her daughter was small, doing all sorts of strange jobs to support them both – from cleaning motels to working as a magician's assistant – before returning to live in London where she wrote her first novel, which was published by Gollancz (part of the Hachette Group). She writes novels, children's books, poetry, plays and screenplays, and was the recipient of an Arts Council of England Award. She likes dancing but she doesn't like driving. She likes knitting. Helen Smith's books have reached number one on Amazon's bestseller lists in the US, UK, Canada and Germany. Her first book, Alison Wonderland, was one of the top five bestselling books from Amazon Publishing when it was launched in the US in 2011. In July 2013, following the publication of Invitation to Die, Helen Smith reached the top spot as "America's most popular mystery author" on Amazon.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Top Ten Tuesday (8): Top Ten Worlds/Lives I'd Hate To Experience

2014-01-28T00:19:00.003-08:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that allows readers to share their lists and opinions on a number of subjects from their top ten book covers to their top ten villains.

This week's topic for January 28th is:

Top Ten Worlds I'd Never Want To Live In
(Alternatively, Top Ten Characters I'd Never Want To Trade Places With)

1. Panem from The Hunger Games
This world is probably going to be on a lot of Top Ten lists this week, and with good reason. Unless I'm a citizen of the Capitol, I would not want to be a part of this world. Do I even really need to explain why?

2. Post-Apocalyptic World from The Maddaddam Trilogy
It's a frightening world indeed when you're one of the last few of your species and you have to fend yourself from giant commercial pigs with implanted human stem cells in them. I honestly don't think I'd even want to try surviving in the haunting world that Snowman must navigate through, especially knowing how it ended up that way.

3. Prentisstown from The Chaos Walking Trilogy
For one, I'm female, so I wouldn't even survive in Prentisstown for a day. Two, even if I did survive, I would not want to be in a place where I'm able to "hear" the thoughts of every man in town. Imagine the headaches.

4. Cania Christy Boarding School from The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant
The book was a DNF for me, but I read enough to know what I would not want to be a student at Cania Christy, a highly competitive boarding school only for the world's wealthiest teens in which every aspect of your life is evaluated and graded as part of a competition to be valedictorian.

5. The Final Empire from The Mistborn Series
While it'd be cool to be an Allomancer, it's not enough to keep me in a world where the air quality is worse than Los Angeles' on a hot summer day because of volcanic ash. I'm also not excited for the lack of a nightlife because the constant mist could possibly kill you. Also, did I mention the world is ruled by a terrible dictator with absolute power for the past thousand years? No thank you.

6. Athena from Antigoddess
Moving on to characters I'd hate to switch places with, I'd hate to be Athena. Imagine if feathers were slowly sprouting from under your skin in the worst places, such as the roof of your mouth or in your lungs. It would not be a fun way to die.

7. The Students of Class 3-B from Battle Royale
The situation is similar to The Hunger Games. A group of young people are forced to kill each other in a annual televised event until there is only one survivor standing. While I felt that Panem in The Hunger Games was a shittier world to live in in general, I would hate to be a student of Class 3-B even more. First of all, you actually know almost every single person you are competing against because you just spent a year of school with them. Second of all, if no one kills in a certain amount of die, it's possible for everyone to die thanks to a metal collar around every participant's neck.

8. Ethan Miller/Drew Bohner from Changers
On the first day of high school, Ethan Miller wakes up as a completely new person. Literally. Like he actually wakes with the body of a blonde (attractive) girl. To put the icing on the cake, his parents only now decides to tell him he is part of a secret race that gives him the power to change into a completely random person for each year of high school. His parents keep on telling him it's so he could make the world a better place, but damn, I would hate to go through high school in his/her shoes.

9. Camille Preaker from Sharp Objects
Camille Preaker is a journalist who is reluctant to go back to her hometown to report on two murders, and her unwillingness to visit her old home and family is completely justified although I'd be spoiling the story for you if I explained why.

10. Amy from the Across The Universe Series
Amy wakes up fifty years too early on the spaceship Godspeed headed to a new planet and only because someone tried to kill her and unplugged her cyro chamber. It's not a good way to start a new life, especially when she's automatically labelled a freak by everyone on the ship and someone is still trying to kill the cryogenically frozen people, including her parents.

Review: The Waking Engine by David Edison

2014-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Waking Engine
Author: David Edison
Genre: Science Fiction
To Be Published: February 11 2014
Publisher: Tor Books
Source: ARC via Netgalley
Find: Goodreads

Welcome to the City Unspoken, where Gods and Mortals come to die.

Contrary to popular wisdom, death is not the end, nor is it a passage to some transcendent afterlife. Those who die merely awake as themselves on one of a million worlds, where they are fated to live until they die again, and wake up somewhere new. All are born only once, but die many times . . . until they come at last to the City Unspoken, where the gateway to True Death can be found.

Wayfarers and pilgrims are drawn to the City, which is home to murderous aristocrats, disguised gods and goddesses, a sadistic faerie princess, immortal prostitutes and queens, a captive angel, gangs of feral Death Boys and Charnel Girls . . . and one very confused New Yorker.

Late of Manhattan, Cooper finds himself in a City that is not what it once was. The gateway to True Death is failing, so that the City is becoming overrun by the Dying, who clot its byzantine streets and alleys . . . and a spreading madness threatens to engulf the entire metaverse.

Oh my goodness, this book was a trip and a half. I can already tell this is a book I'll be rereading in the future more than once just to get lost in the streets of The City Unspoken, and every time, I'll still discover something new. David Edison truly is a master wordsmith and it's really amazing that all the little details and nuances that make The City Unspoken so vibrant and thriving, as well as the rest of the world building for that matter, can come from just one person's mind. There were a few times that I felt the plot was slowed down by the descriptive writing, but those moments were few and far between. Overall, I found Cooper's long journey exploring the city along with Asher and Sesstri to figure out why people are no longer Dying and why Cooper is even there in the first place epic and entertaining.

Cooper leaned against the prow of the swift but unlovely barge and couldn't help wondering how many folks back home would pay more than a finger or some back meat to have the conversations he'd had over the last week, and how miserably he'd squandered each opportunity. Still, he couldn't think of anything to ask the transcendentalist poet beside him.

"Anyway, thanks for not being a dick or trying to steal my shirt."

However, I must warn that this book is not for the young or faint of heart. If you are not okay with violence, gore, sexual situations, and some offensive material, then this isn't really for you. There were a few issues I had with it, such as the overuse of the words whore and slut, but I didn't mind the most of the adult material. Although the violence seemed over the top at times, it still fit in the context of the world. I'm not surprised that the people in The City Unspoken have turned to inventing some really creatively gory hobbies to pass the time in a world where they cannot Die with a capital D.

I liked that the excessive amount of violence in the book is counterbalanced by a subtle dark humor Edison injects into the story. There were times where I thought I was going to hell for laughing. There were even a few pop culture nods and inside jokes thrown into the mix which just goes to show that as crazy and as fantastical as the The City Unspoken is, there's still a connection our own familiar world.

Each character is masterly crafted and incredibly layered with their own story to tell. You might not like every character since most of them have some glaring faults and questionable morals, but you're guaranteed to find them interesting. I found myself dangerously attracted to certain characters just like how Cooper was seduced by Marvin.

VERDICT: An epic sci-fi fantasy journey with a captivating metaverse with such immersive world building, you might have to read it twice. Adult content warning.

Moist Panties and Other Cringe-Inducing Words

2014-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, my friends and I had a fun conversation about words like moist and panties. It's always amused me that certain words are so commonly hated. While most of my friends get a bit squeamish when they hear those two words, I never really had a problem with them. I actually like the word panties except on the rare occasions when it is preceded with the word moist, because no one wants to think about wet underwear.

The conversation made me wonder, however, if there were other words that had the same effect on me as moist and panties had on others. After thinking about it for a while, I realized that yes, there were a few words that give me the shivers and that I sometimes encountered them in my reading. It doesn't happen too often, but when these cringe-inducing words do pop up, it's still one time too many. You might not want to be eating anything when reading this list.

WORDS THAT MAKE ME CRINGE
CHAGRIN, shuh-grin [noun]: A feeling of being frustrated or annoyed because of failure or disappointment.
(Bad) Example: He heaved a sigh, chagrined by her refusal.
Why I Dislike It: There are just some unpleasant sounding words out there, and chagrin is deeply irritating to my ears. Shuh-grin. Blech. I don't know why certain authors love to use this word.

OOZE, ooz [verb]: To flow out slowly; to show (a quality, emotion, etc.) very clearly or strongly.
(Bad) Example: His posture practically oozed confidence.
Why I Dislike It: When a character is said to be oozing confidence or sexiness, I have the terrible image of a pus-like liquid slowly flowing out of every orifice on a person. It's not a pretty sight. Alternatively, I think Ivan Ooze from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie.

BABE, beyb [noun, slang]: A person and especially a young woman who is sexually attractive.
(Bad) Example: "Just get in the car, babe."
Why I Dislike It: Some people love to be called by these nicknames or terms of endearment, but they're not something I enjoy personally. Unless we're talking about the sheep-pig, I'd rather avoid the word babe as much as I can.

SUCCUMB, suh-kuhm [verb]: To stop trying to resist something
(Bad) Example: She knew she had to find him before he succumbed to the darkness within him completely.
Why I Dislike It: The reason why I dislike this word is pretty much the same reason why I can't stand the word chagrin. It's just an ugly word to say. It also seems like I encounter this word at least once every time I read a "dark" book. (There's also a really childish reason why this word gets to me, but let's not go there. Heh.)

EVERY EUPHEMISM FOR PENIS/VAGINA EVER
(Bad) Example(s): "Inner goddess," "Fat pink mast," "man-meat," the list could go on forever...
Why I Dislike It: Ah yes. Some phrases can be unintentionally funny while others are just plain disturbing. I don't know if authors are actually expecting us find phrases like "velvety folds" or "rod of love" arousing, but I find myself just crossing my legs and screaming internally when I encounter them.

What about you, readers? Do these words bother you the same way they bother me? Are there any other words that make you cringe? They don't have to be common words you encounter in fiction, and your aversion doesn't have to be rational. Just answer in the comments and see if anyone hates the same words you do.

Top Ten Tuesday (7): Top Nine Things On My Reading Wishlist

2014-01-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly blog meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that allows readers to share their lists and opinions on a number of subjects from their top ten book covers to their top ten villains.

This week's topic for January 21st is:

Top Nine Things On My Reading Wishlist
(If you could make authors write about these things you would.)
1. Epic Fantasy Standalones
I am a huge fan of epic fantasy, of heroes and heroines going on impossible quests to save their loved ones, but most epic fantasy books seem to be part of a series. Most of the time, the series format works since I get to be immersed in the fantasy world even longer, but I do hate waiting years for a story to be complete.

2. Messy Unrequited Love
It always bothered me how the couples in books just conveniently fall in love with each other at the same time. I kind of want to see more drama. Where are the unrequited loves? The messiness? Why not have a main protagonist on the losing end of a love triangle? I think it'd be pretty interesting to read.

3. Platonic Love
On the flip side, I'd also like to see more friendships between girls and guys that are just that. Friendships. Unlike what some people may say, boys and girls can just be friends without one falling in love with the other. I'd love to see more boys and girls just being best friends (like Harry and Hermione) and kicking ass without one of them being relegated as a minor character.

(GIF credit to n-ibble)
4. Two Female BFFs Kicking Ass
We can also just forgo the romance altogether. Can we just have two female best friends as the main characters? This might be more common in contemporary, but I rarely see it in action, fantasy, or science fiction series. :(

5. More Fairy Tale Retellings: The Snow Queen
With the success of Disney's Frozen, it's the most opportune time for a retelling of The Snow Queen to come out. While I love the twists and cuteness of Frozen, I'd also love to see a more faithful retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, especially if it includes the little robber girl.

(Original Frozen Concept Art from It's Art Mag)

6. Better Well-Written Male Romantic Interests
I don't know about you, but I'm kind of sick of the stalker boyfriends, nice guys ™, and/or bad boys. Every time I come across one of these archetypes I have to wonder where all the decent men in their world went.

7. Around the World Travelling
At first, I thought a book where a group of friends went on a road trip would be fun, but why not think of it on a bigger scale? It'd be pretty cool if the characters went on a trip all across the globe either for a mission or just fun. Imagine the disagreements, the fights along the way. Someone gets lost in a country where they're unfamiliar with the language. The descriptions of the cities in great deal. Sigh, maybe it's just me and my wanderlust.

8. Author Crossover Anthology
This will probably never happen, but what if certain authors came together to write short stories using the characters and worlds of another for an anthology? It's always super cute to see authors on twitter fangirl/boy over each other's book, so it'd be interesting to see what ideas that they come up with.

9. More Contemporaries with Less Tragic Pasts
I have a confession to make: When I read the summary of a book and it talks about the main character coming back to his/her hometown for the first time in forever after a tragic incident (usually someone's death), my interest in that book plummets. It's not that all stories with this setup is bad, but I see it so often as the premise of dark contemporaries that I wonder if it's the default.

Aaaaand I can't come up with the tenth item on my reading wishlist, so I leave you all with just nine items. If you have a book recommendation that fits any of these, please let me know in the comments!

Weekly Roundup: January 6 - January 19

2014-01-19T17:21:00.001-08:00

I ended up skipping last week's weekly roundup again, and I have a feeling this is going to be a common occurrence so I've been thinking of making this feature as a biweekly thing. My life as an unemployed recent college grad doesn't really offer a lot to talk about on a weekly basis. Then again, can I still call it a Weekly Roundup? Should I change it to Biweekly Roundup or a completely new name? There are still a lot of things I want to tweak or fix on my blog, but I guess that's just the growing pains of a new blog trying to find its identity, right?

So I'm not planning to participate in Tynga's Review's Stacking the Shelves often (maybe I'll participate more often in the future), but I received some book mail this week that I'm so thankful for getting that I just had to share.

Thank you Tor Teens for Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake and Three (Article 5 #3) by Kristen Simmons, and thank you Paper Latern Lit for Changers Book One: Drew by T. Cooper and Allison Glock-Cooper. And yes, that is an alpaca. I'm just going to include Arpakasso in all my bookmail pictures from now on., because - well, look at it! Do I really need a reason?

I'm Currently Reading

Changers Book One: Drew
by T. Cooper & Allison Glock-Cooper

I'm pretty sure we can all agree that puberty was a total bitch to everyone, and high school can be a very stressful and emotional experience. Now imagine if you suddenly woke up on the first day of school as a completely different person and sex than the person you've been for the past twelve-thirteen years. Yeah. There are a few issues in terms of school and gender stereotypes I have with this book, but it's still a fun young adult book about self-doubt and self-discovery. I look forward to see discover what exactly can these Changers do to make the world better.

On Such A Full Sea
by Chang-rae Lee

Have you ever fallen in love with the writing of a book in the first five pages? I have. Lately, I've actually been really cautious and turned off by most dystopian books, but I really wanted to give this book a chance because I've seen a lot of hype for this book in 2014 and yay, more Asian writers! So far, I haven't been disappointed.

These Past Two Weeks on Bookcharmed

Elsewhere on the Blogosphere

Sydney @ Utterly Bookish asks when is it time to break up with a book?
Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings has a really helpful guide up on how to get approved on Edelweiss.
Mitchii @ AEROPAPERS talk about authors whose books she can't/won't read.
Leigh @ Little Book Star asks does your blog name affect your blog?
Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl makes a promise this year to only read books she loves.
Genevieve @ The Reading Shelf discusses wallflower MCs and their outgoing best friends.

Video of Interest
Although the Summer Olympics is generally more fun to watch, the Winter Olympics brings back a lot of childhood memories for me, especially figure skating. I'm rooting for Mao Asada and Kim Yuna for women's figure skating, but I am all for Meryl Davis and Charlie White for the ice dancing gold. So. Many. FEELS.

And that's all for this week. Be sure to follow us on GFC, twitter, or Bloglovin.

Waiting on Wednesday (8): The Furies by Mark Alpert

2014-01-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Furies: A Thriller
Author: Mark Alpert
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
To be published: April 22, 2014
Find: Goodreads

For centuries, the Furies have lived among us. Long ago they were called witches and massacred by the thousands. But they’re human just like us, except for a rare genetic mutation that they’ve hidden from the rest of the world for hundreds of years.

Now, a chance encounter with a beautiful woman named Ariel has led John Rogers into the middle of a secret war among the Furies. Ariel needs John’s help in the battle between a rebellious faction of the clan and their elders. The grand prize in this war is a chance to remake the human race.

Mark Alpert's The Furies weaves cutting-edge science into an ingenious thriller, showing how a simple genetic twist could have inspired tales of witchcraft and sorcery, and how the paranormal could indeed be possible.

I've been on a science fiction / fantasy kick lately, so it's no surprise that I'm looking forward to more books in that genre this year. I'm excited to see what The Furies' spin on witches and magic will be. Also, that book cover is gorgeous with its colors.

What upcoming books have caught your eye and tickled your fancy?

The Book Chewers' Linkup: Top Five Literary Sidekicks/BFFs

2014-01-13T23:25:00.000-08:00

Instead of the Top Ten Tuesdays this week, I'm going to switch things up and do The Book Chewer's ~~Weekly~~ Monthly Linkup instead because I really love this week's prompt. Friendships don't get nearly enough attention as romances do, so this is a post dedicated to all the best friends and sidekicks out there that have to put up with the main characters.

Prompt: Pick your 5 of your favourite literary sidekicks! (I know it's hard to do just five. Do your best.) They can be aliens/dogs/humanoids. Just not the main character! BFFs for the win!

1. Ron & Hermione from Harry Potter Series

“We’ll be there, Harry,” said Ron… “At your aunt and uncle’s house, and then we’ll go with you wherever you’re going.”
“No–” said Harry quickly; he had not counted on this, he had meant them to understand that he was undertaking this most dangerous journey alone.
“You said to us once before,” said Hermione quietly, “that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We’ve had time, haven’t we?”
“We’re with you whatever happens,” said Ron.

There is no way, no way, I could have a list of the best sidekicks in fiction without including Harry Potter's best (and first) friends. Sure they might have had a few fights along the years, but what set of best friends haven't fought at least once? The main point is that Ron and Hermione were always there for Harry, and they brought out the best in him.

2. Iko from The Lunar Chronicles

“Oh, my stars! Think about Prince Kai! You could dance with Prince Kai!”
This made Cinder pause and squint into Iko’s blinding light. “Why would the prince dance with me?”
Iko’s fan hummed as she sought an answer. “Because you won’t have grease on your face this time.”

Who knew androids could be so sassy? It doesn't matter if she's in the form of a little robot or a giant spaceship, Iko's personality always shines through. I love what a fangirl she is for Prince Kai, and I hope we get to see more of her in Cress and Winter.

3. Faithful from Song of the Lioness Quartet

"Will your cat let me pet him?" Kourrem, the smaller girl, asked Alanna. "His eyes are purple, too. He is very handsome. Is he your brother, who has turned into a cat by great sorcery?"
Faithful, looking smug over the praise, sauntered over to the visitors, letting them pet and admire him.

This little sarcastic black cat who is not named Salem is actually the sidekick of two Tortall series by Tamora Pierce: the Song of the Lioness series and the Beka Cooper trilogy. In both cases, he's the perfect traveling companion, offering guidance, comfort, and a little bit of tough love whenever the heroines need it.

4. Hadrian & Royce from The Riyria Revelations

“Aren’t you going to say, I told you so?” Hadrian whispered.
“What would be the point in that?”
“Oh, so you’re saying that you’re going to hang on to this and throw it at me at some future, more personally beneficial moment?”
“I don’t see the point in wasting it now, do you?”

Neither of them could actually be considered sidekicks, and both of them would rarely ever call each other friends out loud, but these two thieves have been partners in crime for at least eight years. They've established routines and know each other's habits. Hadrian taught Royce some humanity, and Royce taught Hadrian reality. I absolutely loved their adventures together.

5. Reagan from Fangirl

"Look at them," Reagan said, shaking her head fondly. "They're all grown up."
Cath turned to the cereal bar and watched two very hungover freshmen fumble with the scoops.
"I can still remember the night they came home with their first My Little Pony tattoos," Reagan said.

Sometimes, I think my experience as a freshman in college would've been a lot better if I had a roommate like Reagan. Reagan may seem brash at first, but deep down, she's just a big softie. She pushes Cath to open up without guilt or pressure, doesn't judge Cath for her weird habits, and is unbelievably understanding. Cath really needed Reagan in her life, and it was great watching their friendship develop in Fangirl.

So these are some of my favorite sidekicks in fiction. Who are yours? Make sure to do the linkup as well so I can stalk your posts, or leave your comments below! :D

Review: Hang Wire by Adam Christopher

2014-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hang Wire
Author: Adam Christopher
Genre: Urban Fantasy
To Be Published: January 28th 2014
Publisher: Angry Robot
Source: ARC via Netgalley
Find: Goodreads

When Ted Hall's birthday dinner in San Francisco's famous Chinatown ends with an explosion, the fire department blames a gas leak, but when Ted finds strange, personalised messages from the restaurant's fortune cookies scattered around his apartment, his suspicions are aroused, particularly as his somnambulant travels appear to coincide with murders by the notorious Hang Wire Killer.

Meanwhile, the circus has come to town, but the Celtic dancers are taking their pagan act a little too seriously and the manager of the Olde Worlde Funfair has started talking to his vintage machines. And while the new acrobat is wowing the crowds, his frequent absences are causing tension among the performers.

Out in the city there are other new arrivals, immortals searching for an ancient power which has been unleashed, awakening something awful buried deep beneath the San Andreas fault... a primal evil which, if not stopped, will destroy the entire world.

The city of San Francisco doesn't know it yet but they're on the verge of total annihilation, and it all starts with an exploding fortune cookie during the birthday of a Bay Area blogger named Ted. It actually almost happened several times before (see: 1906 earthquake), but now with the circus in town, a few gods from long forgotten mythology in the mix, and a serial killer known as the Hang Wire Killer running loose around the city, things are looking a lot more serious.

There's certainly a lot packed into this book with a little bit of everything for everyone, and yet I didn't really like it as much as I thought it would. I was really hooked by the beginning as it (quite literally) started off with a bang, but the plot quickly became convoluted and I slowly started to lose interest.

The use of multiple perspectives was probably the best way to thoroughly explain most of the plot, but it's not one of my favorite things as a reader, especially when it includes one-time chapters of people who aren't the main focus or aren't necessarily important. One particular chapter changed points of views several times without warning which made for an annoying and confusing read.

Even though Ted Hall is touted as the main character in the blurb, there is actually very little from Ted's point of view. That was a bit disappointing because from the little that we do glimpse of him, he was probably my favorite for his personality and sense of humor which a few in the story seemed to lack. I still liked a few of the other characters, particularly Bob the blonde surfer dude who's been teaching ballroom dancing by the beach for last few centuries and Benny, a small Korean girl with an affinity for the word "dude." On the other hand, I found myself wanting to skip Joel's chapters most of the time. As the representative antagonist of the story, Joel is certainly creepy enough, but his chapters are often repetitive and didn't really add anything new to the story after a while.

Ted decided he didn't like Zane after all. He probably didn't like football. Ted didn't like football either, but that was beside the point.

Adam Christopher relies heavily on repetition to build up the tension in the story. It worked to convey an impending sense of doom up to a certain point, but then it just reached a limit where I might just have to throw a book at someone if I ever heard certain phrases again.

Things I never want to hear about again:

Something moving / something else / something under...
The coin in his pocket being cold.
Italicized it, they, and them.

To really illustrate how repetitive the writing could be, I must give a shout out to one part in the story that mentioned that the weather was "hot enough to fry an egg" about three times in the span of three consecutive paragraphs.

Plot wise, I did enjoy the story. It kept me on my toes and kept me wondering who it and they were. I also enjoyed the dash of mythology thrown into it and the sense of the mystical that the circus theme always brings. The writing style, however, left a lot to be desired.

Sailor Moon Anime Reboot Finally Gets A Release Date!

2014-01-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm going to interrupt my normal book blogging schedule, just so I can say F-I-N-A-L-L-Y! My five-year-old self is pretty much screaming and jumping up and down and fainting dramatically right about now. For those of you who were/are a fan of Sailor Moon in the 90s, you probably heard about the Sailor Moon anime reboot that's been in development for a while. It was supposed to come out Winter 2014, but Winter's already arrived with still no news about the anime. Until now. The Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary Project official site just updated today with the news that the new anime is slated for a worldwide release July 2014! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I'm probably embarrassing myself with how excited I am about this news, but I have so much nostalgic love for this series that the only thing that could compete with it it is Harry Potter. Sailor Moon made up a large part of my early childhood while Harry Potter took up the later half.

Where do I even start with everything that I loved about this series?

I loved that Serena (Usagi) wasn't like most heroines you see today. She was clumsy, lazy, and actually a huge crybaby. She was terrible in school, chose video games over homework, and always daydreaming about her crushes. And yet you can't help but love her because at the end of the day, she'll choose love and friendship above all else.

Tuxedo Mask was my first fictional crush. Looking back, I don't know why I was so obsessed with Darien (Mamoru), but at least I wasn't the only one who liked him. Even though he was unbelievably corny, I swooned every time he swooped in to help Sailor Moon. Even though Darien and Serena bickered and teased each other every time they met (hello, meatball head), they just clicked really well together, and the last few episodes of season one that remind me so much of The Snow Queen were my absolute favorites.

The music! I don't think it's possible to be a fan of Sailor Moon without knowing the lyrics to the theme song. It'd be like being a fan of Mulan without knowing the lyrics to "I'll Make A Man Out Of You." The moment it comes on, you can't help but sing along. I also have a huge soft spot for "My Only Love" because the episode the song was in is my absolute favorite.

It partially inspired Marissa Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles. This didn't necessarily make me love Sailor Moon more, but it certainly sealed my love The Lunar Chronicles.

I'm kind of worried that I'll be disappointed by the new reboot. Maybe my love for the series is nothing but nostalgia. Maybe they'll change too much of the plot for me to enjoy it. Maybe they'll delay the release again. I'm crossing my fingers that none of that will happen.

Review: Tempus by Holly Lauren

2014-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Tempus
Author: Holly Lauren
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Published: November 25th 2013
Publisher: GMTA Publishing
Source: Review copy via LibraryThing
Find: Goodreads

Chapel Ryan isn't crazy. At least, that's what she's been trying to convince herself of for most of her life. But after being hallucination-free for three years, Chapel finds herself facedown on her English classroom’s gritty linoleum floor. When she looks up, everyone around her is suspended in animation. Mouths hang open mid-yawn, feet hover mid-cross, Ms. Freeman’s arm flexes mid-sentence diagram. It's another hallucination. Or, is it?

Chapel prepares to tear herself back to reality when something happens. Something that has never happened before in any of her hallucinations--someone moves. And not just any someone—it’s the new guy with a scar over his lip and a reputation as black as his perfectly styled hair. And all of the sudden Chapel's white-knuckle grip on her life has slipped, and with it, her assurance that what she's experiencing isn't real.

Tempus is everything you expect in a young adult paranormal story. It's a fast-paced read with a hearty dose of action, romance, and mystery to keep you on your toes for most of the ride. Overall, I enjoyed it as it was.

For the first 25% of the book, I was confused and thought I misunderstood the genre of the book. I had to double check and make sure this book wasn't solely a contemporary book because it focused so heavily on the high school romance. Chapel Ryan is a senior in high school, but she has no idea what she'll do after she graduates. She does know, however, that she just wants to be normal and aside from creepy stepfathers, cheating exes, and the attention of the new guy school, her life is as smooth as it gets. The only hitch is that she sometimes have "hallucinations" where time and everyone around her completely freezes. When she finally discovers what these "hallucinations" really are and that she's not alone in the world with supernatural abilities, the story starts to pick up and move at a faster pace.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the romance in the book. I particularly enjoyed the push-and-pull flirty conversations between Chapel and Isaiah Halstead, her mysterious new neighbor. I love that Chapel doesn't deny that she's attracted to Zay from the beginning and that she makes him work for her affection. They both are able to have fun with each other which is what most high school romance should be about rather than the angst-ridden serious business some books try to make it.

However, I really wish authors would stop trying to portray stalker behaviors as cute or romantic which Holly Lauren unfortunately does with Zay. It didn't sit well with me that Zay was the type of person who would watch Chapel's bedroom window at night when she's asleep, know her locker combination without her consent or eavesdrop on private conversations. Now, I like Chapel. I like that she's headstrong and sticks to her morals, but it really bothered me that she was so trusting and willing to dismiss some of Zay's creepy tendencies. This one quote pretty much sums up everything I found disturbing about it:

"You know my work schedule, too? On a guy any less hot, that'd be creepy."

No, Chapel, no. This behavior would be creepy on anyone, whether they are attractive or not. It pained me that Lauren went this route with Zay when he still would've been an interesting, complex character without it. On the other hand, Chapel's friendship with the outspoken Erica and the nerdy Timmy was perfectly written. Best friends since they were kids, the three of them couldn't be any more different in interests and personalities and yet they're always there for each other. The interactions Chapel had with the two of them, and to some extent her ex-best friend/boyfriend Logan, provided some of the more touching moments in the story.

Chapel followed her outside. "When did you get so freaking smart?"

"I don't know." Erica slung her Mazda in reverse. They waved at the patrol car parked at the end of the driveway. "But don't get used to it. You're the smart one and I'm the fun one. That's the way God intended it, and the way I want it to stay."

Plotwise, while some parts were predictable, there were still many twists and turns to keep things interesting, especially in the latter half when it started becoming more like X-Men. The ending absolutely floored me, but for those who want to get into this book thinking it is a standalone, I'd like to warn you now that the book does end with a major cliffhanger, hinting at a sequel. I haven't heard any news about a new book in the series, but I really do hope it happens because I'm actually looking forward to it.

As an aside, there are some glaring spelling and grammar mistakes in this book which is disappointing since it seems like it was published without a proper proofread. However, it sounds like the publisher and author already knows about the issues and the book will be re-released this year. Hopefully, it'll happen soon.

Five Ways To Deal With Books That Don't Live Up To Its Hype

2014-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

For the past few weeks, you've been hearing about this book over and over again in the blogging community with practically everyone giving it a four star rating or higher. Everyone's ranting and raving about just how great it is with a lot of CAPSLOCK and gifs and exclamation points! Every time you mention the series, everyone's practically screaming at you to "READ IT NOW!" When you finally do decide to pick it up and read that book, you end up with a barrage of strong emotions: Disappointment. Regret. Self-loathing. There's a little bit of guilt in there as well, but you have no idea why everyone loves this book.

I'm sure everyone's been in that situation before, or at least has been through something similar. It's not that all books that are hyped up are bad. There are legitimate reasons, after all, why a book would be popular, and the book blogging community practically thrives on word-of-mouth buzz. But what exactly am I supposed to say when I end up disapponted by a book that everyone loves?

It's a bit of an awkward situation, but here are five common ways I talk about books that don't live up to its hype:

1. Lie (By Omission)
This isn't something I use often, but sometimes I really don't want to hurt the feelings of the person who recommended it to me so I tell a white lie. I don't exaggerate and say it's the best book I've ever read, but mentioning that I read the book and liked a few certain parts of it wouldn't be too far from the truth. Maybe if I only talk about the parts that I did like (however few they may be), I might be able to convince myself that the book wasn't all that bad in the first place.

2. Tell It Like It Is
If I really hate a book, I just hate it. There's really nothing I can do to change that, so I might as well tell everyone how I really feel. You'd be surprised how cathartic it could be just to rant about something you feel strongly about. When I do decide to tell it like it is, however, I try to make sure I include actual constructive criticism rather than just bashing the book senselessly.

3. Use A Compliment Sandwich
What exactly is a compliment sandwich? It's exactly what it sounds like: you sandwich a criticism between two compliments to lessen the blow. For example: "I liked __________, but I really hated how __________. I still liked how you __________ though!" The compliments can either be insincere or real, it's up to you.

4. It's Not You, It's Me
This is probably the most common way I deal with books I dislike. Since everyone has different tastes, I'm not going to dismiss a book completely just because it didn't match mine. Even though it wasn't for me, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try it. Maybe there's just something wrong with my taste.

5. If You Have Nothing Nice To Say...
Don't say anything at all! If I don't mention the book at all, then no one will ask me about my thoughts on it. If no one asks me, then I won't be put in this awkward situation in the first place! Problem solved! This might sound easy, but it's actually really hard.

These are how I talk about disappointing books, but how do you react? Do you do the same things I do, or do you have a completely different approach? Let me know in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday (#7)

2014-01-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Illusive
Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: Little, Brown
To be published: July 14, 2014
Find: Goodreads

The X-Men meets Ocean's Eleven in this edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure about a band of "super" criminals.

When the MK virus swept across the planet, a vaccine was created to stop the epidemic, but it came with some unexpected side effects. A small percentage of the population developed superhero-like powers. Seventeen-year-old Ciere Giba has the handy ability to change her appearance at will. She's what's known as an illusionist...She's also a thief.

After a robbery goes awry, Ciere must team up with a group of fellow super-powered criminals on another job that most would consider too reckless. The formula for the vaccine that gave them their abilities was supposedly destroyed years ago. But what if it wasn't?

The lines between good and bad, us and them, and freedom and entrapment are blurred as Ciere and the rest of her crew become embroiled in a deadly race against he government that could cost them their lives.

Superpowers? Criminals, robberies, and heists? Count me in! I have a feeling I'll probably end up comparing some of this to Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart, but I know I'll still end up enjoying this.

What upcoming books have caught your eye and tickled your fancy?

Top Ten Tuesday (6): Top Ten Goals For 2014 (A Motivational Letter To Myself)

2014-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly blog meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that allows readers to share their lists and opinions on a number of subjects from their top ten book covers to their top ten villains.

This week's topic for January 7th is:

Top Ten (Bookish and Personal) Goals for 2014
I'm going to do this TTT a little bit differently than the rest in that it'll be in the form of a letter to myself. When it comes to motivation, there's nothing more fun than talking to yourself and throwing insults.

Dear Jackie,

Before you say anything else, let's get one thing clear: DON'T make a resolution to be more organized! It's a nice thought and you certainly could afford to learn some new organizational skills, but you make this resolution every year because it's one of the first things you can think of and it never works out. You know this, I know this, let's save the both of us the trouble and skip it altogether.

You just graduated college last year, and I know you're still unsure about how to be an actual Responsible Adult, so here are just some general goals I thought of to help you through your year. As they said in Pirates of the Caribbean, you can think of them more as guidelines than actual rules (but you're still going to feel pretty shitty if you don't meet these goals, so try your best anyway.)

1. More Discussions/Personal Posts
Shoot for the Moon: At least two discussions per month

In a generation where oversharing and saying anything on your mind without a filter are the norm, I can see why you'd be cautious to voice your opinions online, especially when there's always going to be someone against you, whether your opinion is right or wrong (Note to self: You CAN have wrong opinions. The point in discussions is to learn other people's views, not shut them down.) Jackie, you've always been timid and afraid to say what's on your mind because you feel like you'd be a bother to other people, but I think it's time to change things. In the real world, you have to be assertive to be successful, so toughen up and speak up! Discussion posts would be so great as a learning tool because on top of figuring out what you think of the topic, you can also learn what other people might think about it. One discussion post a month would be great; two discussion posts would be even better.

2. Meet New People
Shoot for the Moon: 100+ followers (GFC or Bloglovin') by the end of the year

From your past experiences,you already know any that online friends can be just as valuable as, if not sometimes more than, real life friends. You've already made some meaningful connections with friends in other fandoms, so why not in the book fandom? Just remember that as nice as it is to have a million followers, you can't get them without any effort. Reply back to comments. Have actual conversations with other people. Don't ignore them after one interaction and forget about them. Always be grateful.

3. Explore New Genres
Shoot for the Moon: Read more comtemporary, literary fiction, and nonfiction

There's nothing wrong with having a favorite genre, whether is is fantasy or contemporary or romance or young adult. Don't let anyone make you feel less of a person for it. That said, how many times have you turned down a recommendation or heard great things about a certain book only to think, "Hm, that sounds great, but it's not really my thing"? Instead of saying no, let's try to say yes more often this year. Who knows what books will surprise you this year if you just give them a shot.

4. Be Brave!
Shoot for the Moon: Try to ask one publisher for one physical ARC this year.

I know, I know! The idea of even just emailing a publisher or author is absolutely frightening, especially when you don't want to be a bother, but you know what? You never know how they'll respond unless you try. You're still new at this, so you don't even have to think about this goal until the second half of the year, but when you do, just remember that it's not the end of the world if they say no. (They probably will). Hey, at least you tried. In the meantime, you should take some time and learn how to use Edelweiss or something.

5. Make The Time To Read Books
Shoot for the Moon: Meet your goal of 75 books on Goodreads

When people tell you that they don't have the time to read books, you always tell them that you can make the time to read books. In between classes, when you're eating lunch, right before bed. There's always time to read books if you want to read books. Make sure you follow your own advice so you don't turn into a hypocrite! Last year, you managed to read to read at least 70 books, not including rereads. Do you think you can read 75 new books in 2014? You better. [Insert vague threat here]

6. Host My Own Giveaway
Shoot for the Moon: If you're really gung ho, try to do more than one giveaway

Hosting a giveaway definitely sounds fun, but it'd be really stupid of you to spend too much money on something like that when you still have to worry about paying off student loans. But wouldn't it be nice if you were able to get a stable job this year so that you'd feel comfortable to do one? Yeah. Let's leave it at that.

7. Attend At Least One Bookish Event
Shoot for the Moon: Save up for BEA 2015?

BEA 2015 would be a long shot, but it'd be really nice to visit the East Coast at least once, especially when you have a few friends there you'd like to see. You'll never be able to go if you give up right now! Never say never! On a more local level, I'm sure the Bay Area will have plenty of events for you to consider as well.

8. Don't Be A Quitter
Shoot for the Moon: Make it to your one year blogiversary

I know you have the attention span of an ant, but if you quit now, this failure will haunt you for the rest of your life. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but book blogging is a nice hobby to have, and you need a hobby. Think back on your three years of figure skating lessons back in elementary school. Don't you regret quitting that all the time? Do you want a repeat of that? I didn't think so. You don't have to take things too seriously though. Just have fun!

9. Try Not To Be Too Competitive
Shoot for the Moon: Don't monitor your follower count every day.

It's okay to admit that you're a little envious of bloggers with a thousand followers and a million physical ARCs, but don't be discouraged about that. You're just starting out after all! Besides, you've been there, done that with your Tumblr experience already. While it was fun having so many followers and notes, it was pretty stressful trying to keep up with everything, wasn't it? Didn't Tumblr become so much better after you stopped caring about collecting the highest number of followers and notes? Make sure you never forget that when it comes to your book blog.

25 to 35 percent of my day is spent laughing
— matthew gray gubler (@GUBLERNATION) December 29, 2013

10. Do What The Doctor (Reid) Tells You
Shoot for the Moon: Laugh more, every day.

This isn't book-related at all, but I saw this tweet by Criminal Mind's Matthew Gray Gubler, and it really spoke to me. If I could spend a quarter of my day just laughing, I'd be living a happy life. Favorite this tweet and keep it in the back of your mind for the rest of the year. Let's make this year count.

There will be times, of course, when you'll completely forget about these goals. After all, no one actually takes New Years Resolutions all that seriously. Chances are high that you won't be able to fulfill all of these goals. And that's okay. Don't be discouraged. As long as you try throughout the year, you'll come out a better person by the time 2015 rolls around. Good luck.

With love,
Jackie

Weekly Roundup: 12.23 - 01.05

2014-01-04T23:33:00.000-08:00

I wasn't able to post a Weekly Roundup last week, so this post will be summing up the last two weeks. I can't say much about my Christmas and New Year's Eve though. They were pretty uneventful. This week, I did manage to finish reading a few books (reviews to come later this month) and write up a few scheduled posts. Yay! It's fun when you procrastinate, but it always feels better when you are actually productive.

I'm Currently Reading

The Waking Engine
by David Edison

I'm enjoying what I read so far. The City Unspoken seems like a hauntingly beautiful place (that I would never want to visit), and Edison is a master wordsmith when it comes to imagery.

These Past Two Weeks on Bookcharmed

Elsewhere on the Blogosphere

Mitchii @ AEROPAPERS offers some helpful blog design tips.
Melissa @ Book Nerd Reviews list some of the new releases coming out in January.
Ellen @ Glamorous Book Lounge recalls the first time she ventured out of the children's section.
Cait @ Notebook Sisters talks about the 10 things she never wants to read about again.
Kelsey @ Verbosity Book Reviews discusses reading challenges and why she sucks at them.

Links of Interest

The Veronica Mars theatrical trailer is out!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH! I actually have no links of interest for you this week, so just enjoy the Veronica Mars trailer and let yourself be introduced to the beauty that is We Used To Be Friends by The Dandy Warhols and Sway by The Perishers.

And that's all for this week. Be sure to follow us on GFC, twitter, or Bloglovin.