IceyBooks

REVIEW: Partials by Dan Wells

2012-02-23T00:01:00.000-06:00

Partials
Dan Wells
472 pages
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: February 28th, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: REALLY LIKED

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival

Partials isn't your typical YA read. But of course, you already knew that. I read mixed early reviews on this giant book of 472 pages. I decided the only way to find out was to read it myself.

And read I did. Through it all, my thoughts jolted up and down. I liked it now, 50 pages later, I wrinkled my nose, 40 pages later I couldn't stop reading.

Yeah, Partials is one of those books. One of those books where you have no idea what you'll think of it until you finish. For me though, I won't say I downright loved it, but I can say I really, really, really liked it.

Like I said, Partials isn't your typical dose of YA. Dan Wells puts the romance on the sidelines and the action right up in your face. I like that, I really do. But there were times when things just dragged on. Mainly where the medical part came in.

Kira is a medic, you see. A very smart one. And only days into her internship with the maternity ward of East Meadow's hospital, she's made up her mind - she's going to cure RM.

Which is easy enough, if you ignore the fact that the world's top (remaining) researchers have been trying to do just that for the past eleven years. But Kira has more than just sitting and researching in mind.

This debut isn't just about searching for the cure under rocks and up in trees. The main character, a strong sixteen year old,is very smart - researching the whole virus thing that's killing every newborn child. Dan Wells creates a world shockingly realistic - displaying a future more occurable than you would imagine. He tosses in the right amount of humor, details without getting us too drowsy (except for the medical explanations), and action to keep you flipping the pages in time to your racing heart.

So, pick up Partials or don't, you ask? Pick it up. Its good. Really, really, really good.

Add PARTIALS to Goodreads

Find Dan Wells on Twitter - Goodreads - Website

Waiting on Wednesday (75) -- What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

2012-02-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

NEVER LET ME GO meets HIS DARK MATERIALS in a beautiful, haunting YA debut, the first book in The Hybrid Trilogy.

Eva and Addie live in a world where everyone is born with two souls, but where only the dominant one is allowed to survive childhood. Fifteen years old, and closer even than twins, the girls are keeping Eva, the ‘second soul’, a secret. They know that it’s forbidden to be hybrid, but how could they ever be apart?

When a dramatic event reveals what really happens to hybrids if they are discovered, Eva and Addie face a dangerous fight for survival, neither wanting to be the one left behind…

What's Left of Me will be released on September 18th, 2012 by HarperTeen.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

#SS Harbinger Trailer

2012-02-21T00:01:00.000-06:00

If you missed my introductory post on the Standalone Spotlight feature, go here.
For those of who have already read the post - you'll know that HARBINGER is my Standalone Spotlight for the month of February! And today, I'm featuring the trailer for the unique debut!

HARBINGER on Goodreads | Find Sara on Twitter | Website | Goodreads

So, what do you think of the trailer?

5 Tips to Increase Traffic to Your Blog

2012-02-20T00:01:00.000-06:00

We all want more traffic. We're all little traffic-greedy creatures counting on every single hit like a miser counts his pennies. There are countless tips on how to increase traffic. Yet what works for one person won't work for you and vice versa. I've compiled a list that might help (though the results are unpredictable) get you those much needed views.

1. Use social networks. Since I started my blog in September of 2010, I've been tweeting every single post I've posted. You're running a blog, a media outlet to get yourself heard. Don't be static. And don't ONLY post links to your blog. Make yourself accessible. Make yourself a dynamic character on the intrawebs that people can get to know. I personally love Twitter more than any other outlet. And as I've learned from my stats, a majority of my visitors come from there as well. So use Facebook, use Twitter, use Tumblr. They're all free. So why not?

2. Connect. This is something that consumes time. A lot more time than some of us have, but it's worth it in the long run. Visit other blogs, comment on posts that you actually read (its surprising how many people comment on posts without actually reading them - and believe me, we notice). Link back to your blog at the end. You don't necessarily have to say "Visit my blog". The best way to put it would be your name and your blog's name, linking your text back to your blog. You'll be surprised how many people actually come back.

3. Reread your posts before posting them. This may sound like a no-brainer, but its surprising how many of us forget to use a no-brainer. We're human, we make mistakes. But we can reduce the number of them by spending some time. Check your spelling. One of the most common errors I come across: than instead of then. It's a small mistake, but that small typo can go a long way in judging your professionalism. And the number of people who'll revisit you tomorrow.

4. Participate in memes. When I started blogging, I had no idea what memes were. According to the dictionary, a meme is an image, video, etc. that is passed electronically from one Internet user to another. In the book blogging world, memes are hosted by a single blogger. Other bloggers participate by following the easily-laid-out rules and posting the meme on their blog. You link your post on the host-blogger's blog afterwards. Memes make it easy to connect with a bunch of bloggers. Its an easy and fun way to find new blogs, make some friends, and learn a little bit more about the blogging community along the way. Did I mention it helps boost your traffic too? Yeah.

5. Tag it up. When writing up a post, it takes only a second or two longer to add a tag (or label) to it. If you're writing a review, tag it as such. If you're posting an interview, giveaway, or whatever, label it to match. Not only does it make it easier for your visitors to search for related posts, but search engines pick up labels quicker. They're more visible to search crawlers than your post content.

There are a lot more tips to help boost traffic to your blog. A lot. For now, try these, and see if they help. At least one of them will.

Do you have any tips to share? Leave them in the comments!
And if you've got a post idea you would to see discussed, feel free to say so!

In My Mailbox (68) -- Obsidian, Smart Girls, and Wicked Storms

2012-02-19T00:01:00.000-06:00

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It features a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, or from the bookstore.

For Review:
Arise by Tara Hudson
A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young
Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers
The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford
The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman
Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel
Wake by Amanda Hocking
Torn by Amanda Hocking

Gifted by LitDrivenGirl:
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Thanks to HarperTeen, Candlewick, Bloomsbury, St. Martin's Press, and Maddie!
So... what was in your mailbox this week?

REVIEW: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

2012-02-18T00:01:00.000-06:00

Fever
Lauren DeStefano
341 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: February 21st, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LOVED
Review of Wither

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever

The sequel to Lauren DeStefano's Wither is the definition of heart-pounding. Not all sequels suffer from second-book-syndrome, and Fever is here to prove it. The opening pages waste no time in throwing you straight into the story. And through it all, you'll be sitting on the edge of your seat, anticipating the next turn. Lauren DeStefano's world is all too real, the trauma all too tangible.

What stands out the most? DeStefano's prose. The flow of the words that piece together this book can only be described as beautiful. Vaguely reminscent of Lauren Oliver, DeStefano's prose is masterful and vivid.

Once again, I was torn between Gabriel and Linden. And still, in the end, I wished it was Linden more than the other. In Fever, Gabriel fell flat - I can't think of him as anything more than the attendant he was. But I'll let that slide - I was too engrossed in the rest of the novel to care much. And then there's Rhine. With the search for her twin, her mismatched eyes, and a life that seems so pointless - Rhine is a character you can't forget. DeStefano sets the stakes higher than ever, and Rhine never fell short. For me, she goes up beside Katniss and Katsa in terms of unforgettability and being fleshed-out.

Fever begins right where Wither left off, though the intensity picks up right away. I don't want to give anything away for those who haven't read Wither or Fever, but know this: there is a carnival, tarot cards, a horrible sickness, and of course, Vaughn. For Rhine, with barely a few years until the end of her short life, the clock is ticking faster than ever.

All in all, Fever is a stunning sequel to Wither, the first in the Chemical Garden Trilogy. The ending will leave you breathless. Yes, there is a cliffhanger ending. As much as I loved the peaceful ending to Wither, I think I like the dangling end of Fever much more. I will no doubt be awaiting the final installment, expected to be released April 2013.

Add FEVER to Goodreads

Find Lauren DeStefano on Twitter - Goodreads - Website

IceyTween Reviews THE HUMMING ROOM by Ellen Potter

2012-02-17T00:01:00.000-06:00

The Humming Room

Ellen Potter
288 pages

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Release Date: February 28th, 2012

Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LIKED

Hiding is Roo Fanshaw's special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment's notice. When her parents are murdered, it's her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life.

As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn't believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.

Despite the best efforts of her uncle's assistants, Roo discovers the house's hidden room--a garden with a tragic secret.

Inspired by The Secret Garden, this tale full of unusual characters and mysterious secrets is a story that only Ellen Potter could write

When Roo Fanshaw’s parents are mysteriously murdered, Roo is sent to live with her rich Uncle she didn’t know she had. Now stuck in an island called Cough Rock, Roo’s new life is filled with mysteries and secrets, that Roo is determined to find out. Roo’s special skill of hiding makes her find new animal friends. Where is that mysterious tuneless humming coming from? Who is P. Fanshaw? Who is that wild boy in the canoe? Roo Fanshaw's life has turned into a mystery too.

The Humming Room isn’t really my type although some parts did capture my interest. The main character, Roo, is very determined and head-strong. Another good thing about Roo is that she doesn’t rush in to danger, she thinks of an escape plan in case something goes wrong. Roo was also a bit mean to other people before they even have a chance introduce themselves. But through it all, Roo also stuck up for herself, not like a person who would instantly go and hide when someone said a mean remark. However, the ending left me with some confusion about what happened to the people.

One thing that I hate about some books are that they have way too many details which makes the book drag on, word after word, but in The Humming Room the amount of details that Ellen Potter displays is just right. The other characters in the book were very quiet most of the time. The cover is really nice bringing out the main character and making the background all blurry. I’d recommend this book for people who like mystery at every turn.

This review was written by my 11 year old sister, Asma!

Add THE HUMMING ROOM
Find Ellen Potter on Goodreads | Website

Interview with Diane Zahler

2012-02-16T00:01:00.000-06:00

A few days ago on the blog, my sister, Asma, reviewed Diane Zahler's latest - PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS. She absolutely loved it. You can read her full review here.Today, I'm the stop on Diane Zahler's blog tour! Along with an interview with the author, herself!

IceyBooks: Describe Princess of the Wild Swans in 7-9 words for us.

Diane Zahler: An unspeakable curse. An impossible task. A princess tested.

IceyBooks: What inspired you to write a retelling?

Diane Zahler: Fairy tales appeal to all sorts of readers, because just about everyone has experienced the feelings of longing and fear they treat. But in their original versions, most are very short. That gives a writer a lot of latitude in developing character, setting, and plot. My previous two books, The Thirteenth Princess and A True Princess, were both fairy tale retellings. The first was based on “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” and the second retold “The Princess and Pea,” along with other Scandinavian legends. So it was natural to choose a third fairy tale to retell, and “The Wild Swans” is one that has always intrigued me.

IceyBooks: Are any of the characters in Princess of the Wild Swans based on someone you know?

Diane Zahler: The handsome womanizing brother, Cullan, might be just a little like my brother at that age. He’d probably have done even better with a cloak and tall boots.

IceyBooks: Has being a writer always been your dream?

Diane Zahler: Always. It’s the only thing I’ve ever really wanted to be, since I was about seven or eight. The jobs I’ve had (except for housecleaner, which I was terrible at) were all about children’s books – library page in the children’s room, editorial assistant at a children’s book publishing company. I feel incredibly lucky that I’m able to do exactly what I dreamed of doing.

IceyBooks: When you finally got The Call from your agent, what was the first thing that came to mind?
Diane Zahler: Actually, I didn’t have an agent when I got The Call – it came from my editor at HarperCollins. She offered me a two-book contract, and I was stunned. I just sat there saying, “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.” I still say “I can’t believe it” a lot.

IceyBooks: Can you tell us how you signed with your agent?

Diane Zahler: I got to know the wonderful Jennifer Laughran, my agent, after my first two novels were published. We saw each other at lunches and social events (we live in the same general area) and got along well, but we didn’t really talk business. I spent some time trying to find out if she’d read and liked my books. I thought I was being very subtle. When I finally got up the nerve to ask if she would represent me, she said, “I was wondering when you’d ask!” Subtlety is obviously not one of my strengths.

IceyBooks: What are your hobbies, besides reading and writing?

Diane Zahler: Baking, eating (especially chocolate), and traveling. In fact, I’m going to be living in Belgium for the next six months, and I’ll be traveling and eating the world’s best chocolate nonstop!

There you have it! Learn more about PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS and Diane Zahler using the links below. And I just have to say: ISN'T THAT COVER GORGEOUS?
PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS on Goodreads | Find Diane on Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday (74) -- Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

2012-02-15T00:01:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

In a desert land where serpents made of unbreakable glass fly through the sky and wolves made of only sand hunt within storms, Liyana is destined to be a vessel, to sacrifice herself so that her clan's goddess can inhabit her body... but her goddess never comes.

Vessel will be released on September 11th, 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry Books.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

#SS - Interview with Sara Wilson Etienne - Author of HARBINGER

2012-02-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

If you missed my introductory post on the Standalone Spotlight feature, go here.
For those of who have already read the post - you'll know that HARBINGER is my Standalone Spotlight for the month of February! And today, I've invited Sara Wilson Eitenne over to the blog!

IceyBooks: Describe HARBINGER in 7 words.

Sara Wilson Etienne: Crazy girl, cute boy, save world. Maybe.

IceyBooks: Is there any resemblance between you and your main character, Faye?

Sara Wilson Etienne: Definitely. It’s hard to create any character that doesn’t have some of you in it. Faye’s hallucinations evolved from migraines I was experiencing when I first started writing this book. Her sense of isolation echoed the isolation I was feeling as I moved away from college, to the opposite coast, and tried to find my way as a writer. Her need to draw comes, not from any artistic skill on my part, but from my complete admiration of those who can create visual art. So Faye has pieces of me, but is not really like me.

IceyBooks: What was the last YA novel you read? What did you think?

Sara Wilson Etienne: Ooooo! Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo! It doesn’t come out till June, but wowzers! It’s stunning! If you can get your hands on an ARC do so! It’s delicious and rich and pure joy to read.

IceyBooks: You just got an email you've been DYING for, what does it say?

Sara Wilson Etienne: Hmmm… that J.K. Rowling loved Harbinger and wants to meet me? Selling movie rights for Harbinger? Nah…I’m going for my editor loving the draft of my new book!

IceyBooks: If you could say anything to anyone, in the past, present, or future, what would you say?
Sara Wilson Etienne: I’m a big sci-fi buff, so I’m well aware of the whole time paradox danger. So maybe I’d just go back a few years and see if Diana Wynne Jones wanted to get coffee. She’s one of my favorite writers and I’m sad that I never got to meet her.

IceyBooks: Now that Harbinger is out in the world, what's next for you in regards to writing?
Sara Wilson Etienne: I’m revising a new book with the same editor, Stacey Barney at Putnam. She’s brilliant and I feel lucky to by working with her again The new book’s not related to Harbinger at all and though I love Faye and Holbrook, I’m having a great time playing around in a new world with new characters.

IceyBooks: Where did you find the inspiration for Harbinger?

Sara Wilson Etienne: Well, when I first thought of the idea for Harbinger, I’d just graduated from College of the Atlantic in Maine. I moved out to California, but I was still haunted by the rocky coastline and these castlelike old buildings on my college campus. Harbinger started out as a longing for a place and a time I no longer had, but it became a new world where I wanted to live.

HARBINGER on Goodreads | Find Sara on Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Stay tuned for more Standalone Spotlight fun!

Win PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS by Diane Zahler

2012-02-13T00:01:00.000-06:00

My sister absolutely ADORED Princess of the Wild Swans. Read her review here. I've even got an interview with the author scheduled for later this week. For now, how about a giveaway?

Diane Zahler's latest : PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS!
Enter for your chance to win a hardcover copy of PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox (67) -- Hemlocks, Whisperings and Codes

2012-02-12T00:00:00.000-06:00

For Review:
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson
Until I Die by Amy Plum
The Mask of Destiny by Richard Newsome
The Whispering House by Rebecca Wade

Thanks to HarlequinTeen and HarperTeen!
So... what was in your mailbox this week?

REVIEW: Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

2012-02-11T00:01:00.001-06:00

Scarlet
A. C. Gaughen
304 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Walker
Release Date: February 14th, 2012
Source: Hardcover from ALA
Rating: LOVED

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

I love Robin Hood. That being said, it'll come as no surprise that I was extremely excited for Scarlet.

Luckily for me, A. C. Gaughen's historical retelling of the age-old tale is as good as it can get. I've personally liked Will the most out of the whole lot (and Robin, of course!), so to see a whole new of side of him, or her, was amazing.

Will Scarlet is actually a girl, though not everyone knows that. Except to her bandmates and a selected few, Will Scarlet is 'nothing but a whip of a lad'. Life as a theiving outlaw is perfect. But Scarlet has her secrets, a past she would rather keep hidden. And when her past shows up in the present, in the form of the notorious Guy of Gisbourne, Scarlet may not be as brave as she wants.

Scarlet, the character herself, was dynamic. She's a character you can picture in your mind, from the way she whips out her knives with scarlet ribbons to the way her face reddens in a blush. She narrates the story, and the dialect is her own. She might have been short-tempered and grumpy at times, but overall, I loved her.

The plot line was wonderful, taking Robin and his merrymen and throwing them into a tight plot. The dreaded tax day is fast approaching, a new theif-taker is on his way, and new feelings are stirring up amongst the band of four. There were a lot of similarities between the original (how many originals are there, anyway??) and Scarlet, there were just as many unique parts to it as well.

I wish I could go back and read Scarlet again for the first time, a lot slower so it won't finish before I know it. It was good, really, really, really good. A. C. Gaughen has woven a tale between the covers of Scarlet that's perfect for lovers of historical fiction and anyone looking for an enjoyable read.

Trust me, Scarlet is a must-read. I mean, who doesn't love Robin Hood??

Add SCARLET to Goodreads

Find A.C. Gaughen on Twitter - Goodreads - Website

REVIEW: Dead to You by Lisa McMann

2012-02-10T00:01:00.001-06:00

Dead to You
Lisa McMann
243 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 7th, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LOVED

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

Haunting. Riveting. Lisa McMann's latest is as unexpected as it can get. Dead to You will linger in your mind long after the last page is turned.

Ethan De Wilde was a normal kid with a normal family. Up until he was abducted. Now, years later Ethan comes back to his family. And as they struggle to put themselves together again, dark memories resurface. Memories that might just tear them apart.

I don't know if it was the simplicity of McMann's writing or the story itself that left me stunned at the end. Stunned as in, I couldn't sleep after flipping over the last page. Stunned as in, snippets kept replaying in my mind the day after.

Dead to You is a contemporary - no ghosts or paranormal elements, as you would expect from the title.Ethan's emotions and story is tangible, you can practically feel your heart thudding in time to his, you can almost feel the pain as he does. I've never read anything like it. And contrary to my expectations before I picked it up, Dead to You blew me away.

Much can't be said about Lisa McMann's latest without giving away the plot, but I can tell you this: with Dead to You, you won't be disappointed. Sure it has its slow bits, but when you reach the end, all you will be able to muster is: WOAH.

Add DEAD TO YOU to Goodreads

Find Lisa McMann on Twitter - Goodreads - Website

HARBINGER Art Reveal #2

2012-02-09T00:01:00.000-06:00

Harbinger, by Sara Wilson Etienne, sounds awesome. Actually, it was pretty awesome. Read my full review here! The cover is mysterious, the synopsis sounds incredible.

I'm thrilled to be able to reveal a second piece of art depicting a scene from Sara's debut (which also happens to be a standalone)!

Without further ado, here's the synopsis:

Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn’t expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she’s going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she’s come home. She’s even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she’s the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can’t trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her—and the rest of the world too.

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

And here's the art reveal, created by Karyn Raz:

Click on the image to see a larger version

What do you think? The artwork certainly helps Sara's debut stand out, don't you think?

Walk the Path! Explore the whole gallery of HARBINGER-inspired artwork.
HARBINGER by Sara Wilson Etienne debuted on February 2, 2012.
Add HARBINGER to Goodreads
Follow Sara: @wilsonetienne
Visit Sara: www.sarawilsonetienne.com

Waiting on Wednesday (73) -- Ironskin by Tina Connoly

2012-02-08T00:01:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain -- the ironskin.

Now Jane returns to the war-torn country to help a fey-cursed child. Helping the unruly Dorie suppress her curse is hard enough -- she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Mr. Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio -- and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows he cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things are true? Step by step Jane must unlock the secrets of her new life -- and discover just how far she will go to become whole again

Ironskin will be released in October 2012 by Tor Books.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

REVIEW: The Fourth Stall II + Giveaway!

2012-02-07T00:01:00.001-06:00

The Fourth Stall Part II

Chris Rylander

288 pages

Publisher: Walden Pond Press

Release Date: February 7th, 2011

Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LOVED

The life of crime is good. Mac has taken down legendary high school crime boss Staples, business has been booming, and Mac and Vince are getting ready for middle school baseball tryouts. But this can't last. Mac has always tried to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. But what happens when you can't tell the difference?

This dilemma walks into the fourth stall in the form of Trixie Von Parkway--an eighth grader with a mean look and an even meaner predicament. The new science teacher is terrorizing her, and she needs Mac to get him off her back. Seems simple enough, but as Mac starts to dig deeper, he finds even more trouble brewing at his school, including a new administrator bent on destroying his business, and indications that Trixie isn't who she claims to be. In the past, the worst thing that could have happened to Mac was that he might lose a little money, maybe catch a beating. In "The Fourth Stall Part II," though, there's going to be much more on the line than that.

Mac's business has been going smoothly after his scary encounter with the legendary Staples. But business seems to be going too good, way too good to be true. Then the world comes crashing down, when an eighth grade venomous looking girl walks in to Mac’s office/ stall. It happens to be that the new science teacher is being mean to her. Sure Mac has dealt with this stuff before but everyone loves this teacher. To top it off there’s a new administrator keen on destroying Mc’s business. Then there’s the SMARTS that everyone including the teachers are uneasy about. Will Mac be able to continue his business with his partner, Vince? Or is that the end of it?

The book was wonderful and once I got to the action parts, it was action with no end, confusion (in a good way), and suspense on every page. The Fourth Stall Part II will make you laugh with all the comedy going on. I’m hoping that there will be a third book in The Fourth Stall by the way the book ended. My favorite character has changed from the first book and I now like Tyrell Alishouse, he’s awesome at being the Master of Disguise.

Here’s a part with Tyrell in it: "I was almost at the end of the huge sandbox housing the whole new playground system when a hand grabbed my ankle. I screamed and jumped high enough to dunk on a regulation basketball hoop.“Shh, Mac, It’s just me. Calm down,” the sand said. But sand can’t talk. At least not usually."

Read the book to find out what happens next!

This review was written by my 11 year old sister, Asma!

Add The Fourth Stall Part II to Goodreads
Find Chris Rylander on Goodreads | Website

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And now for the giveaway! Thanks to the wonderful people at Walden Pond Press,
I have one paperback of THE FOURTH STALL, hardcover of THE FOURTH STALL PART II, and SIGNED bookplates for one lucky winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#SS Win a SIGNED copy of Harbinger!

2012-02-06T00:01:00.001-06:00

Sara Wilson Etienne's debut: HARBINGER!
Enter for your chance to win a SIGNED hardcover copy of HARBINGER below! And yes, it is open to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay tuned for more Standalone Spotlight fun!

In My Mailbox (66)

2012-02-05T00:01:00.000-06:00

For Review:
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Sourcebooks!
So... what was in your mailbox this week?

IceyDesigns Giveaway Winner + Special Offer

2012-02-04T08:25:00.000-06:00

The giveaway for the Deluxe blog design from IceyDesigns is officially over!

And Rafflecopter has chosen our lucky winner:

Amanda B

Congratulations, Amanda!

Thank you to everyone who entered. I really appreciate every one of you!

As a consolation for those of you who didn't win, I want to offer a special.

Purchase any blog design* (except The Basics) from me and get any TWO of the following free! Offer ends 2/17/12 at 11:59 PM CST.

-Twitter background (a $30 value),

-Stylized Date Header (a $20 value),

-Custom Post Titles (a $20 value),

-Custom Signature (a $10 value),

-Business Cards (a $30 value),

-Postcards (a $30 value),

-Bookmarks (a $30 value)

*Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Click here to get started!

IceyTween Reviews: Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler

2012-02-03T05:45:00.000-06:00

Princess of the Wild Swans

Diane Zahler

224 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: January 31st, 2012

Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LOVED

Princess Meriel's brothers have been cursed. A terrible enchantment--cast by their conniving new stepmother--has transformed the handsome princes into swans. They now swim forlornly on a beautiful heart-shaped lake that lies just beyond the castle walls.

Meriel will do whatever it takes to rescue her beloved brothers. But she must act quickly. If Heart Lake freezes, her brothers will be forced to fly south or perish.

With help from her newfound friends Riona and Liam--a pretty half-witch and her clever brother--Meriel vows to finish a seemingly impossible task. If she completes it, her brothers may be saved.

But if she fails . . . all will be lost.

When twelve-year-old Princess Meriel’s father marries Lady Orianna strange things start happening in the castle. When Meriel’s five brothers are sent off to school by Lady Orianna, five new swans now swim in the heart shaped lake right outside of the walls of the castle. Princess Meriel soon finds out that the swans are no ordinary swans but her brothers! Finding out the truth about Lady Orianna, Meriel now must do an unthinkable task that no twelve-year-old could ever do. And before winter comes and her swan-brothers must fly south or die.

The first thing that caught my attention was the cover, with its rich blues and golds. Good thing the inside was just as good. I can really relate to Meriel because I’m only a year younger than her. In the first five pages, I didn’t like Diane Zahler’s writing - it seemed to drag on but after that I soon got used to it and loved the way her writing flowed. I really loved the characters and the perfect amount of description in the book. Diane Zahler has a whimsical imagination, which is evident in the names of the many characters we meet throughout the novel.

I really enjoyed the way the book ends, especially the big change that happens to Cullan. With the many twists and turns, the book kept me on the edge of my seat. Princess of the Wild Swans is fast-paced and a must-read!

This review was written by my 11 year old sister, Asma!

Add Princess of the Wild Swans to Goodreads
Find Diane Zahler on Twitter | Goodreads | Website

REVIEW: Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

2012-02-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Harbinger
Sara Wilson Etienne
320 pages
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: February 2nd, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: LIKED

Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller
When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

Harbinger was something else. And since that sentence won't suffice as a valid review, let me explain.

Harbinger can't be categorized. It takes place in a future where oil is scarce, trees are few, and people live in hatred. Sara Wilson Etienne has crafted a story more unique than you would have guessed.

The hints of paranormal are actually based on truth, as you'll read in the Author's Notes at the end of the 320 page book. The story twists and turns in confusing ways that, unlike most, won't leave you hanging. Harbinger is a standalone and a debut you might just want to pick up.

Faye is an unusual girl. Her parents can't even look her in the eye without shuddering and breaking contact. And the fact that she collects bones? Yet another reason why her parents send her off to Holbrook Academy. Stuck with a "Family" who's as broken as her, Faye struggles for a way to break free. But mysterious happenings that occur when they least expect it have them all puzzled - and utterly afraid.

Despite the fact that I enjoyed Sara Wilson Etienne's debut, there were quite a few parts where I just couldn't understand what was happening. I'm guessing that was because of the mystery factor, but it did take away some of my overall enjoyment of the novel. That shouldn't stop you from giving this one a try. Like I said earlier, Harbinger is something else.

Add Harbinger to Goodreads

Find Sara Wilson Etienne on Twitter - Goodreads - Website
HARBINGER is also my Standalone Spotlight for the month of February!
There will be a giveaway!

Standalone Reading Challenge - Month Two

2012-02-01T05:15:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to the second month of the first annual Standalone Reading Challenge!
If you're not familiar with the challenge I am co-hosting with Britta from I Like These Books, read the full introductory post here. Once you sign up, be sure to pick up one of ten buttons here.

The 2012 Standalone Reading Challenge is basically what its name stands for: during the year 2012 you must challenge yourself to read Standalone novels. 15 to be exact. And they must all be a part of the YA genre.

Our January prize pack was pretty awesome, and the lucky winner of that pack will be announced soon. Thanks to all who posted their reviews, I had a fun time reading as many as I could. Hopefully we'll see even more links on the February list. Now the part that everyone is waiting for (pause for dramatic effect), the February prize pack!

(1) Hardcover of The Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
(1) Hardcover of DJ Rising by Love Maia
(1) Hardcover of Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman
(1) Hardcover of Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse by Lucas Klauss
(1) ARC of The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone
(1) ARC of The Girls of No Return by Erin Saldin

Other Goodies:
~ The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight eye masks
~ Don't Breathe a Word sticker/bookmarks
~ Take a Bow bookmark
~ (Signed) Wonderlove bookmark

Special thanks to the donators:
Little, Brown Books
Sara Wilson Etienne
Simon and Schuster
Scholastic
Holly Cupala
Elizabeth Eulberg
Kirsten Hubbard

But wait, there's more! Throughout the year, Britta and I will be having a Standalone Spotlight, where we will feature a book a month. And of course, there will be chances to win ;)

So what are you waiting for? Read, Review, and Link up! Simply the book title is fine, but please post with the direct link to your review. And if you still haven't signed up, do so HERE.

Waiting on Wednesday (72) -- Revived by Cat Patrick

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined

Revived will be released on May 8th, 2012 by Little, Brown Books.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Hitting Shelves Today (16)

2012-01-31T00:01:00.000-06:00

Hitting Shelves Today is basically what it's name calls for - a post featuring books that hit shelves that day. It will be a sporadic post, so don't expect it every release day :)

Lenobia's Vow: A House of Night Novella by P.C. and Kristin Cast
January 31st 2012
Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
January 31st, 2012

Goodreads -- Amazon -- BN -- My Review

So, what are you excited for?

What did I miss?