Millie D's Words

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

2014-08-21T15:11:00.004-04:00

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Genre: YA Contemporary
Published: April 2nd, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Page Count: 201
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Goodreads

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

A book like this wouldn't normally be a book that I'd pick up by myself. I've never exactly been a fan of books that deal with realistic devastation and heartache, mostly because books like these are so relatable and can really hit home. So, to avoid the emotional breakdowns and 2 am philosophical life pondering, I try my best to stay away from these types of books--even if they are critically acclaimed. However, a few months ago, I saw the trailer for the movie adaptation of this book, and while I was convinced that it was going to unleash all the feels, I decided that it would be a good idea to read the book because the movie looked interesting. And, boy, I'm glad I did!

I have always been a music geek. I played piano when I was younger, then moved on to the clarinet, then onto the alto saxophone. And I did it all, too. Concert band, jazz band, and Friday night football pep band (my school doesn't provide a marching band). So, to see the main character live and breathe music was pretty cool. I don't see these type of characters a lot in YA, but when I do, I absolutely end up loving and understanding the character on a level not usually bestowed upon most characters I like. Mia was such a sweet character, and upon her flashbacks that really helped you get to meet the characters, I discovered that she was such a normal teenager. She wasn't self-depreciative or fit into the YA female character stereotype, which I liked. She wasn't some far-fetched teenage girl trope; she was real and unique.

From reading this book, the main message I got from it is that love prevails and that love is something worth living for. For me, that was such a great message and I don't think many people realize nowadays the power that love has. It made me so emotional reading about Mia's struggle to stay alive and how the memories of her past really strengthened her and made her question what life really was all about and the importance of friends, family, and love.

This book, in all honesty, was such a good read. It sucked me in right from the start and I was able to finish it in one night. It was such a quick read to begin with, but bam, before I knew it, the book was done. There were tears and moments where I just had to put the book down and digest the raw emotions that poured from this book. I regret not having read this book earlier because I really did enjoy it! If you haven't read this book already, I highly suggest it.

4.5 Splashes

Entangled Teen Releases!

2014-03-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

Today is release day for four amazing Entangled Teen titles and we are excited to share them all with you. There's a little something for everyone this month so read on to find out more about them.

Only Knight Assassin by Rima Jean and Donna of the Dead by Alison Kemper are on sale for just $.99 for a limited time so be sure to pick up your copy today before they go back to full price!

About the Book

Title: Searching for Beautiful

Author: Nyrae Dawn

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pub. Date: March 4, 2014

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Kobo Books

Before it happened…

Brynn had a group of best friends, a boyfriend who loved her, a growing talent for pottery. She had a life. And then…she had none.

After it happened…

Everything was lost. The boy she now knew never loved her. The friends who felt she betrayed their trust. The new life just beginning to grow inside her.

Brynn believes her future is as empty as her body until Christian, the boy next door, starts coming around. Playing his guitar and pushing her to create art once more. She meets some new friends at the local community center, plus even gets her dad to look her in the eye again…sort of. But letting someone in isn’t as easy as it seems.

Now…

Can Brynn open up her heart to truly find her life’s own beauty, when living for the after means letting go of the before?

Find Nyrae Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

About the Book

Title: Til Death

Author: Kate Evangelista

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pub. Date: March 4, 2014

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Kobo Books

Sixteen-year-old Selena Fallon is a dreamer. Not a daydreamer, but an I-see-the-future kind of dreamer. Normally, this is not a problem, as she has gotten pretty good at keeping her weird card hidden from everyone in her small town. But when Selena dreams of her own rather bloody death, things get a little too freaky—even for her.

Enter Dillan Sloan. Selena has seen the new guy in a different dream, and he is even more drool-worthy in person. Beyond the piercing blue eyes and tousled dark hair, there is something else that draws her to him. Something…electric. Too bad he acts like he hates her.

When Selena learns she’s being targeted by a force bigger and darker than anything she ever imagined, she’s had enough. Despite her death dream, Selena is not going to give up easily, especially when she discovers that Dillan isn’t what he seems…and might not actually hate her after all. Dillan might be the only person who can save her.

Find Kate Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

About the Book

Title: Knight Assassin

Author: Rima Jean

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pub. Date: March 4, 2014

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

Seventeen-year-old Zayn has special powers she cannot control—powers that others fear and covet. Powers that cause the Templar Knights to burn Zayn’s mother at the stake for witchcraft.

When a mysterious stranger tempts Zayn to become the first female member of the heretical Assassins, the chance to seek her revenge lures her in. She trains to harness her supernatural strength and agility, and then enters the King of Jerusalem's court in disguise with the assignment to assassinate Guy de Molay, her mother’s condemner.

But once there, she discovers Earic Goodwin, the childhood friend who still holds her heart, among the knights—and his ocean-blue eyes don’t miss a thing. Will vengeance be worth the life of the one love she has left?

Find Rima Online:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

About the Book

Title: Donna of the Dead

Author: Alison Kemper

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pub. Date: March 4, 2014

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBookstore

Donna Pierce might hear voices, but that doesn’t mean she’s crazy. Probably.

The voices do serve their purpose, though—whenever Donna hears them, she knows she’s in danger. So when they start yelling at the top of their proverbial lungs, it’s no surprise she and her best friend, Deke, end up narrowly escaping a zombie horde. Alone without their families, they take refuge at their high school with the super-helpful nerds, the bossy class president, and—best of all?—Liam, hottie extraordinaire and Donna’s long-time crush. When Liam is around, it’s easy to forget about the moaning zombies, her dad’s plight to reach them, and how weird Deke is suddenly acting toward her.

But as the teens’ numbers dwindle and their escape plans fall apart, Donna has to listen to the secrets those voices in her head have been hiding. It seems not all the zombies are shuffling idiots, and the half-undead aren’t really down with kids like Donna…

Find Alison Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Donna of the Dead

Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

2014-03-04T20:38:00.000-05:00

Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam
Genre: YA Dystopia
Expected Publication: March 18th
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Page Count: 400
Goodreads
Amazon

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher*

Ever since I discovered this book, I knew that I absolutely had to read it. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and the idea of the book really just drags you in. I jumped into the book as fast as I could and I didn't want to put it down at all. For 400 pages, the plot moves quickly and didn't drag at all. You just end up being sucked into this dangerous and striking futuristic world that, after reading a few duds, really brightened my mood.

Right off the bat, there is some amazing character development going on. The characters just felt so real. Regan and Patrick, Josh and Regan's mother . . . they all just came to life almost immediately. I loved Regan's determination and how she really strove to gather information before she acted out. It was kind of nice to see more of a reserved personality when it came to making decisions rather than the popular rash decision making going around.

The thing that stuck out most about this novel was the imagery. It was like taking a deep, refreshing breath once I opened up the book and soaking in all the goodness of it. The world of Elusion was so enchanting and magical. Everything about it had such a dreamlike quality that it's not hard to imagine a piece of technology like this being popular. Even out of the world of Elusion, the world building was just so vivid. I can see a world like the one depicted in Elusion being a possible future that it was almost scary to read about.

The one thing that I didn't like was the romance. I've been finding this to be a problem lately with the books I've read and I'm finding less and less of a tolerance for it. Maybe I'm just being too picky with the book, but I didn't find the romance to be convincing. Regan's relationship with her best friend Patrick and her dad and her mother just felt so authentic, but when it came to the romance, I wasn't buying it. Maybe this also had to do with the fact that I wasn't that particularly drawn towards the love interest either. Hopefully in the next book (since we're left with such a crazy cliffhanger, of course there's another book) this romance will better develop itself.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a new, original, and exciting read. It was such a roller coaster of a plot and completely unpredictable for the most part. I'm so excited to see where things go next with this series. It's such a twisted and thrilling idea that it stands out so much in my mind compared to the other books I've read so far this year.

4.5 Splashes

Waiting on Wednesday (29)

2014-02-26T04:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where bloggers get to show what makes the hands all grabby.

This week's pick:

Hungry by H.A Swain

Expected Publication: June 3rd, 2014

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Goodreads

Amazon

In the future, food is no longer necessary—until Thalia begins to feel something unfamiliar and uncomfortable. She’s hungry.
In Thalia’s world, there is no need for food—everyone takes medication (or “inocs”) to ward off hunger. It should mean there is no more famine, no more obesity, no more food-related illnesses, and no more war. At least that's what her parents, who work for the company that developed the inocs, say. But when Thalia meets a boy who is part of an underground movement to bring food back, she realizes that most people live a life much different from hers. Worse, Thalia is starting to feel hunger, and so is he—the inocs aren’t working. Together they set out to find the only thing that will quell their hunger: real food.
H. A. Swain delivers an adventure that is both epic and fast-paced. Get ready to be Hungry.

Doesn't this sound interesting? It's a different concept and I can't even imagine what it's like to live without eating food. I'm curious to see what this book is all about.

What is everyone else waiting for this Wednesday?

Death Sworn by Leah Cypess

2014-02-25T15:45:00.000-05:00

Death Sworn by Leah Cypess
Genre: YA Fantasy
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2014
Publisher: Greenwillow
Page Count: 352
Goodreads
Amazon

When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.
But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher*

I've never read any of Cypress's books before, but this one really caught my eye. Just look at that cover! It screams everything that I live for in fantasy. I was excited to read this book. Even the premise of the story sounds interesting. Except . . . after reading it, I have no idea what to think of it. There were certain things that made me enjoy the novel . . . and then there were other things that made me literally cringe.

To begin with, while I didn't feel as close to Ileni as I could, I liked her. Her flaw was that she made stupid decisions because she thinks very rashly, but that's okay. I could deal with that. You know, I've got to give her some kudos, though. She walks into this assassin mountain hovel and isn't as afraid as to be expected by others. I'm pretty sure, in her situation, without magic, a home, and stuck with a bunch of killers, I'd be a catatonic ball of hair and clothing on the floor while a pool of tears surrounds me. Also, she doesn't let other people push her around. She sticks to her ideas (however, dangerous and ill-planned) and follows them through.

While her stubbornness is a great quality for a character to have, sometimes I was left thinking 'Are you kidding me? Come onnnn.' Throughout the novel, her rash thinking and other various actions left to some mild annoyance on my side and had me not caring occasionally.

The biggest problem that I had with the novel was its romance. Alright, so I can deal with a forbidden and dangerous love fest between an assassin and a former sorceress. Sweet deal, if you ask me. However, the hot and cold feelings between the two of them was giving me mental whiplash. Sometimes, you could tell that there was some attraction, and within about .2 seconds (not even joking!) they're heatedly fighting with each other and hate one another, and I'm wondering how they could possibly end up liking one another because this didn't even look like a healthy relationship even to YA standards (and there are some pretty unhealthy relationships there). So obviously, there's this side of me that wants them to get all smoochy-smoochy and then in the next, I'm rolling my eyes.

Another thing that irked me (that mostly involves said romantic relationship) was the inconsistent characterization. I don't expect an assassin to have a really mushy and gentle side at the turn of a switch, so when he did, I was literally cringing at the book. Ileni also had some inconsistent characterization towards the end of the book that came out of nowhere and left me a little confused, but I won't divulge that here.

But in all, the plot interested me. Death Sworn has such a good idea for it and I am left wondering what will happen next. However, there were plenty of things that bothered me to no end. I was tired of the romance and the characters. At the end of the book, I just wanted some answers. Yet, I can't help thinking about this book. And this where I come full circle and once again state that I have no idea what to think of this book in the end. I can see that others have deeply enjoyed this novel and hope that others will too.

A confused and hesitant 2.5 Splashes

Panic by Lauren Oliver

2014-02-22T12:45:00.003-05:00

Panic by Lauren Oliver
Genre: YA Contemporary
Expected Publication: March 4th, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Page Count: 416
Goodreads
Amazon

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher*

I've only ever read two of Lauren Oliver's books (Delirium and Pandemonium) and I truly did enjoy her writing. If there's one thing that stands out with her books, it is her writing. Seeing that she wrote this book, I was pretty excited to start reading it, thinking that I would just as thoroughly enjoy it as I have her other books, but sadly, Panic didn't reach my expectations.

The book is told in the points of view of Heather and Dodge, two newly high school graduates that decide to join in the dangerous game of Panic for their own secretive reasons. For a while, I didn't care about either of them. I'd say it wasn't until about half way through that I found myself interested in Heather's story. For some reason, they didn't connect with me. I found Dodge to be very one-sided and I only found Heather to be interesting once a lot of her character growth had gone by. At first, I thought Heather to be very . . . immature in some aspects, and her decisions would annoy me (like joining Panic).

I was very confused by the first few chapters of the book for some reason. I don't know, maybe I read through them too fast and missed something, but it was difficult at first to keep track with what was going on. Heather was going to do the Jump for some reason and some person's thoughts were running through her head and a bit of the rules of Panic were kind of mentioned. It was all very jumbled and everywhere, in my opinion, and I think all that mess slowed down the plot at first.

Speaking of plot, another thing that really bogged it down was Lauren Oliver's writing, I think. I remember reading Delirium and just finding these passages of pure brilliance. Her writing truly is something lovely. However, she's got Panic, this high-stakes game where kids could die and there are illegal happenings, and I felt as if her beautiful writing didn't fit with the story. And especially with Dodge, I didn't feel as if it would be part of his character to go off on these long internal dialogues of the beauty or the ugliness of the world.

My last qualm with Panic was Panic itself. Yes, this sounded like such a cool idea. I read the Panic events and was very into what was happening, but a game like this just didn't seem likely to happen with a bunch of teenagers in today's kind of setting. From what I read, I don't believe it was dystopian, so I'm just going to go with a present day setting for this book. I found it very unlikely that a bunch of teenagers running this game each and every summer wouldn't have been caught and the game shut down by now. Where were the angry parents? Also, with some of these events, they were too cruel and dangerous (and illegal) for a bunch of teenagers to come up with and play.

Panic seems like such a good premise for a book. I see that other people really enjoyed this book, but I couldn't get into it as much as other people did. The events that happened in the game just seemed too unlikely and I would just get plain old bored during some parts of the book. I didn't care for the characters as much as I would have liked, either. Sadly, this book wasn't for me. In the end, this book just earned itself three stars.

3 Splashes

I Can Explain

2014-02-20T12:13:00.001-05:00

So, if you haven't noticed yet, I haven't posted in just about a month on here. Isn't that just terrible??? I've been a terrible blogger! I mean, I guess I could say I've been busy with school work and I picked up the Harry Potter books for the first time in forever (yes, I know. I am ashamed of this fact) and those are the reasons why I haven't been blogging, but I still feel bad anyway. I love blogging!

Anyway, hopefully that'll change because I want to go back to blogging whether it kills me or not. I miss talking with all you book and twitter friends! Hopefully soon my blog will be busy with posts and memes.

Love you all,
Millie

The Well's End by Seth Fishman

2014-01-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Well's End by Seth Fishman
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2014
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Page Count: 352
Goodreads
Amazon

A deadly virus and an impossible discovery unite in one enthralling can’t-miss read...

Sixteen-year-old Mia Kish has always been afraid of the dark. After all, she’s baby Mia, the one who fell down a well. That was years ago, though the darkness still haunts her. But when her classmates and teachers at ritzy Westbrook Academy start dying of old age from a bizarre and frightening virus that ages its victims years in a matter of hours, Mia becomes haunted by a lot more than the dark. Their deaths are gruesome and Mia worries she and her friends may be next. In order to survive, Mia and her small crew must break quarantine and outrun armed soldiers in hazmat suits who shoot first and ask questions later.

And there’s only one place to go—the Cave, aka Fenton Electronics. Mia knows it’s somehow connected and hopes her dad, Director of Fenton Electronics, who has always been strangely secretive about his work, has the answers she needs, and more importantly a cure to save everyone before the whole town succumbs to the mysterious virus. Unfortunately, it’s not answers Mia discovers, but something far more treacherous and impossible than even the virus itself.

A high-stakes, fast-paced adventure with imagination and heart.

*An advanced copy was provided for this review*

I think I had somehow caught wind of this novel months ago--August, maybe--and then I had this urge to just want to read it. It is only after I felt the feeling of desire did I discover that this baby wouldn't be coming out onto shelves for another seven months or so. Can you imagine my disappointment? I believe you can. So, it was quite the coincidence when I looked at my holy New York Comic Con schedule and saw that Seth Fishman, author of said coveted book, would be signing advanced copies while I was free on time. I can assure you I made sure I was there at that signing.

Starting off the review, I will say that I thought Mia was pretty cool. Her single relationship status didn't come across as pathetic (which is good because it should not ever be conveyed as something pathetic) and she was a true leader. Mind you, she wasn't always confident, and who would be considering that her entire school is on this militant quarantine and people around her are being infected left and right with this unknown and deadly virus. But I loved that she always followed her gut instinct, no matter what others thought of her. I really loved how she kicked all female teenage archetypes in the ass, because--shocker--she does have fears, she can't solve everything, and she is actually a teenager and not a mutant warrior. She also has fantastic character growth, so yay her.

Ooooh, boy, does this plot just suck you in. I don't think I've read much of this kind of stuff, neither does it usually hold my attention because sometimes they all sound the same, but this one knocked me for a doozy. Call me stupid, but for the most part, I am terrible at predicting accurately future events or outcomes of a story. So, no matter how hard I reflected and tried to figure out the mystery of this beauty, I couldn't. And I needed to keep reading. Because I needed to know. Now. I tried to hold in my surprise and play it off as 'Nah, I had a slight inkling that this would happen.' But I couldn't really convince myself this time. And the novel itself is at such a quick and action-packed pace that you can just fly through the pages.

Also, what really made me enjoy this novel was the fact that anyone can be a hero. That's fact, right? But when do you ever see that really happen equally in a story? All praise and attention is usually on the one hero/ine and that's it, maybe with a few great sidekick moments. But in The Well's End, every one of Mia's friends and peers showed both great strengths and weaknesses. Everyone had some type of attribute that would help them throughout their mystery solving and due praise and attention was given to them; not all of it was put on Mia. And this is just great because it creates dynamic characters, besides the main ones!

Alright, so positive ranty rant time is over. Would I suggest you to read this novel? Yes. It's fresh and unpredictable. I felt like I was in the Antarctic, snow-covered, mystery-riddled town along with Mia and Gang. Fishman is great at creating dynamics and symbology, so kudos to him. Also, with an ending like that, I'll be making sure I keep an eye out on this new author.

4.5 Splashes

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

2014-01-20T16:16:00.000-05:00

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Genre: YA Fairytale Spinoff
Expected Publication: January 28th, 2014
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Page Count: 352
Goodreads
Amazon

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

I've been wondering when someone would come out with a Beauty and the Beast spinoff!And then this beauty shows its cover (which is gorgeous)! I think I will automatically put any book that is a fairytale spinoff as a must read. It's just a must. And Cruel Beauty was a must.

Automatically, I liked Nyx. She was tough, but all she wanted was to be loved by her father. By anyone, actually. She was bitter and sad, somehow a very real and relatable character. And she had determination and a burning hatred for the demon lord in the castle. She's been destined since childhood to be the savior of their kingdom and kill Ignifex, so it's kind of understandable why she's so bitter and angry.

The main reason why I loved this book so much was the writing. Such beautiful sentences were crafted and I loved every bit of the writing. It was descriptive and unique, not a generic style of writing. The world that Hodge created was magical and dark, like, really dark. And I loved being able to read through her explorations of the house because it was so fascinating to read about.

So, I can already see where people will find the romance to be a little too insta for their taste. Don't worry, I felt that way too. But then, things get explained and lets just say that I ended up very much enjoying the romance. Ir was HOT! And confusing . . . and complicated. Well, it's not something that you'll expect. For me, the struggle was real, and I'm pretty sure Nyx felt the same way, so we were in this together.

I seriously can't get this book out of my mind. The novel, woven in with it's writing, was so unique and made for an unforgettable spinoff. Cruel Beauty was magical and dark, unpredictable and sexy, and I can only hope that others will enjoy this novel as much as I did. This novel was not all about the romance, but more about Nyx's character growth that made her such an interesting character to read about.

5 Splashes

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

2014-01-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where bloggers like me get to gush about what makes their hands all grabby.

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
Genre: YA Paranormal
Expected Publication: July 19th, 2014
Publisher: Razorbill
Page Count:416
Goodreads
Amazon

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Let's just say I recently finished reading The Fiery Heart and all I can think about it this book. I absolutely love this series! And even more so, I love Syndrian! Well, goodbye world, I will return once this book is devoured by me on July 19th.

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

2014-01-04T19:45:00.003-05:00

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
Genre: YA Dystopia
Expected Publication: January 28th, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Page Count: 400
Goodreads
Amazon

The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Times bestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

*A review copy was provided from the publisher for me to review*

In 2012, Under the Never Sky became one of my favorites of the year. I've said before and I'll say again that I am not the biggest fan of dystopia, but this series piqued my interested in all things dystopia. Since picking up the first book in this series, I have been a loyal fan of the series. So, obviously, with the last novel approaching publication, I am sad to see this fantastic series come to an end.

I've always loved Aria. She's a character that's experienced a lot of character growth throughout the books and her persisting strength and love is something so admirable to read about. And it's always great to see her make mistakes and have weak moments! She's real! Yay! Dimensional characters! And the same applies for all the other characters in this book.

So finally we get some answers about various mysteries that have been sneaking around throughout the series. It was nice to see them answered! Like all the other books in the series, I had a hard time getting away from it to do other things. I just wanted to sit and read it all in one sitting. While I didn't accomplish that, I certainly made sure I finished it pretty quickly. And I've never been so angry over a villain in my life. This guy was complete evil and it was crazy to read about.

I certainly have to slow clap it out for Rossi because I've been so invested in this story, its romance, every element about it since the beginning. This novel definitely didn't turn into a Mockingjay, but it didn't leave me completely happy about its outcome, either, because, let's face it; no dystopia novel is complete without its proportional amounts of heartbreak and death.

Okay, another thing I want to point out is that the romance between Perry and Aria was passionate enough for the setting. I don't think I ever understood why characters are getting it on and I'm left thinking to myself "HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY HAPPEN WITH ALL THE CRAP THAT'S GOING ON AROUND YOU??" Their relationship was real and there were plenty of ups and downs that made their relationship authentic. I LOVE YOU, PERRY AND ARIA.

If you were wondering (which you probably weren't), yes, I did get a little misty-eyed at the ending. Not that it's boo-hoo sad, but I was just upset to see it end. The Under the Never Sky trilogy will always be a favorite of mine. With epic adventure, a palpable romance, alive characters, and an awesome story, it's bound to suck readers in. I can only hope that if you haven't started this series yet, I hope you do soon.

5 Splashes

Happy New Year!

2014-01-04T17:52:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know this post is four days late, but my holiday was busy! I truly hope that everyone has come into the new year with plenty of happiness and plenty of books.

With lots of love,
Millie

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

2013-12-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Genre: YA Dystopia
Expected Publication: January 28th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 384
Goodreads
Amazon

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

I really, truly did not know what to expect once I jumped into this novel. I've never read any works by Sophie Jordan and the idea itself for this book was pretty original. Like, really? A killer gene? Sign me up for that! So, yeah. As you can probably tell, I was super excited to read this book. Plus, that cover is pretty sweet looking. And look at her hair! They make little DNA strands!

To begin with, while she had an awesome name, Davy didn't evoke much of an emotional response from me. Now thinking on the book, nothing unique stood out from her in my opinion. But, she wasn't intolerable, and I did like her. She goes from riches and spoils to mistreatment and constant fear and her adaptation to her new situation was interesting to watch.

I always get fired up over mistreatment of others and inequality, and while reading this novel, I was going crazy. It's so sad--and fascinating--to see how people react to something they don't know and ultimately see it as a danger. Those tested positive of having HTS are discriminated, segregated, stripped of their rights, publicly ridiculed, and much more. It was just crazy and scary to read about, to see human nature at its worst. I was angry! How could people do this to one another? Just completely despicable! And because of this, and an interesting plot, I tore through this book.

There's a lot of dynamic to the characters in this book and it kind of makes you wonder: Who are the real monsters? Those with a killer gene (or an excuse for why people are homicidal, in my opinion) or those who dictate who the monsters are? And a great example of one of those dynamic characters would be Sean, who in reality would scare the ever-living bejesus out of me. Like, was he good, was he bad? I don't know but he sure had a nice bod.

Uninvited was a nice surprise. I think I'll read more from this author because I certainly enjoyed this one. Also, she'll be going on the Dark Days tour and I definitely plan on being there! For fans of dystopia or tales of the oppressed, I think this will make a great read.

Avalon by Mindee Arnett

2013-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Avalon by Mindee Arnett
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Expected Publication: January 17th, 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Page Count: 432
Goodreads
Amazon

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

*A review copy was provided from the publisher*

So this book just so happened to appear when I needed it most. I absolutely love everything sci-fi. I harbor so much love for anything that involves space. And I've been thinking lately to myself "Where's a new and different sci-fi novel out there?" And then this one was like "Heeeeyyy". So, yes, this novel came at a very convenient time.

I didn't absolutely love Jeb, but he was a pretty cool guy. Even though he was technically some delinquent and thief and stuff, he was a good guy that would do anything for his family, friends, and his ship, Avalon. But still, I didn't connect with him on any level. I also didn't find him to be that much of a dynamic character, but he wasn't intolerable. He was just kind of there as the story was told and I can't help but think that the disconnection was caused by the novel being written in third person.

Another little bone to pick was the insta-romance. Okay, it wasn't more of an instant romance than it was instant random crush. I don't know about you, but I don't randomly start crushing on a person whom I barely know about. I just didn't buy it, especially in the situation that they were all in. Every time said crush feels would be mentioned, I'd just groan internally because I found it to be a wee bit on the rushed side.

But I did enjoy the book a lot! If you don't focus on the characters but stay into the plot and all the shit that's going down, this novel was pretty darn cool! Like, unexplainable things are happening and plots are getting twisty before you even know it and none of it was in the least (in my opinion) that predictable and once you got into that, the book's pages flew by. It is very original, from the repertoire of books I've read, and I was a content reader.

Avalon was the perfect mix of Firefly and total coolness and I recommend that everyone pick up this book sometime. The pace was quick and those four hundred or so pages flew by. I cannot wait to read the next installment! There's so much I want to know about this world still!

4 Splashes

Unhinged by A. G Howard

2013-12-10T17:46:00.001-05:00

Unhinged by A. G Howard
Genre: YA Fairytale Spinoff
Expected Publication: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Amulet
Page Count: 384
Goodreads
Amazon

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.

Hosting a Splintered read-along was probably one of the best decisions I've made this year. I'd been lusting for it, what with the beautiful cover, and I just couldn't wait to read it. And now, after a few months, I've been given the opportunity to be apart of Krazy Book Lady's ARC tour of Unhinged and I am a happy book blogger.

Soooo, Alyssa bothers in the aspect that she's always doubting her childhood friend Morpheus. This also could be due to the fact that I'm Team Morpheus all the way, but Al's manner in the way that she treats Morpheus has always bothered me. However, she is such a dynamic character. Being in her position, I wouldn't know what world I belonged to either. Save a bunch of crazies in this unfamiliar land or save the lives of those you know and consider normal? So, I mean, I have to give her some credit and having half the mind for doubting an inhabitant of Wonderland, but I still think she acted a little poorly.

WOAH. I have to say that this was a great sequel to Splintered. I have to admit that I had no idea where the author could have brought the next book. All I knew was that I wanted another. The plot thickens when Alyssa has to decide which world to save and be a part of. Troubles definitely get more troublesome when some certain characters *ahem* Red *ahem* just won't go away.

So I loved the growing relationships between Alyssa and her mom and Alyssa and Morpheus. We really didn't get to know Alyssa's mom very well in the first book and, in this one, readers get an inside look at the not-crazy mother. And I cannot tell you how much I was swooning over Morpheus in this book. You're perfect, moth boy!

One thing that really distinguishes A. G Howard from other authors out there in the world is her writing. Beautifully vivid and dark. Her original spin on a favorite fairytale of mine and her incredible writing made the perfect recipe for me. I always feel like I'm being transported into Alyssa's story once I open her books. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing that originality in pieces nowadays, sadly.

Unhinged was a great addition to the Splintered series and I absolutely cannot wait for the next one. I am totally flipping out over that ending! And if you've not read Splintered yet, I highly suggest you do. With gorgeously descriptive writing, a dark mood, a fast pace, a twisty plot, and Morpheus, it'll make a great read for anyone.

5 Splashes

Stacking the Shelves (6)

2013-12-01T18:22:00.000-05:00

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews where bloggers get to share what pretties they've acquired recently.

So, yeah. I definitely haven't done one of these in a while. And what with me at Comic Con in October, I procured many books. And then I also went on a requesting spree over at Edelweiss, so thanks to them, I'll be kept busy with these many beautiful titles!

For Review:

Unhinged by A. G Howard (not shown)
Wanderers by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
Death Sworn by Leigh Cypress
No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale
House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple
Panic by Lauren Oliver
Elusion by Claudia Gabel Cheryl Klam
Avalon by Mindee Arnett
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Dear Killer by Kathrine Ewell
The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer (signed)*
The Well's End by Seth Fishman (signed)*
Storm by D. J MacHale*
The Martian by Andy Weir*

Gifted:

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore
Warrior by Ellen Oh (signed and gifted by author)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner*
Captive by A. D Robertson (signed)*

Bought:

Hereafter by Kate Brian (signed)*
The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead
The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore
Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney (signed)*
Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken (signed)*
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Dr. Horrible and Other Horrible Stories by Zack Whedon*

[All links lead to Goodreads]

*procured from Comic Con

And that's all! Whew. So, what pretties has everyone else gotten? Link me up!

No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale

2013-11-29T14:01:00.001-05:00

No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale
Genre: YA Mystery
Expected Publication: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 384
Goodreads
Amazon

Small towns are nothing if not friendly. Friendship, Wisconsin (population: 688) is no different. Around here, everyone wears a smile. And no one ever locks their doors. Until, that is, high school sweetheart Ruth Fried is found murdered. Strung up like a scarecrow in the middle of a cornfield.

Unfortunately, Friendship’s police are more adept at looking for lost pets than catching killers. So Ruth’s best friend, Kippy Bushman, armed with only her tenacious Midwestern spirit and Ruth’s secret diary (which Ruth’s mother had asked her to read in order to redact any, you know, sex parts), sets out to find the murderer. But in a quiet town like Friendship—where no one is a suspect—anyone could be the killer.

*A review copy was provided from the publisher for me to review*

Never in my life have I met a character like Kippy Bushman. And never in my life have I ever related more and found humor in the awkward behavior as in this book. Kippy Bushman, if she were an animal, would definitely be my spirit animal, okay? Many books have tried and failed to accomplish the awkward trope, making the character more cute than awkward, which has always bothered me. Like, no one barely reacts to something awkward that a character does, and if that character were me, I would have been given hell over it. Kippy was absolutely awkward it was perfect. And I totally got it, too. And she was so determined, too, in everything that she did. She definitely wasn't a dull character.

I can't tell you the last time I read a murder mystery novel. It certainly has been a while. Usually, you don't see teenagers gallivanting around town as they try to pick up clues, because let's face it, teenagers aren't going to be the ones to solve murders or be taken seriously. So, obviously, it's not a realistic genre for YA. However, with a strange balance brought to you by the author, the whole clue-searching thing didn't seem all too far fetched.

I was pretty much hooked right from where Kippy accidentally puts salt instead of sugar in cookies meant for the reception after her best friend's funeral. Right from there I knew that I would absolutely enjoy this novel. And not all of Kippy's story is light, fluffy, and awkward. There's a lot of emotions and darkness. A lot of the characters are pretty messed up. Kippy's still emotionally unstable from her mother's death, Davey Bushman, Ruth's older brother, has PTSD, and being that they're not the norm is this small town, they've almost been exiled. And it's fascinating to see all the dynamic of it all.

I was definitely kept guessing throughout the novel. I became wrapped up in Kippy's emotional tale and along with the dark humor, this novel easily became one of my favorites of the year. Kathleen Hale is a debut author, and while her first book doesn't come out until January 7th, I'm hungering for other works by her.

4.5 Splashes

Warrior by Ellen Oh

2013-11-10T18:03:00.000-05:00

Warrior by Ellen Oh
Genre: YA Fantasy
Expected Publication: December 31st, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 327
Goodreads
Amazon

First an outcast, now a hero.

But her fight rages on.

Kira, the yellow-eyed demon slayer who fiercely protected her kingdom—and the crown prince—has been proclaimed the Dragon Musado of the prophecy. With the defeated the evil shaman.

But it wasn’t enough.

Hansong is in chaos. The Demon Lord’s minions have infiltrated the city, treason is brewing among the military ranks, and Kira is buried by the overwhelming loss of her parents. She’s also plagued by the annoying feelings that blossom whenever she’s around Jaewon. But she is determined that nothing will stop her from finding the second treasure needed to fulfill the Dragon King’s prophecy. Not even the army of half-breed demons hot on their trail. If only she could learn to trust others…

Her father always said one person can change the world. Will it be Kira?

*An advanced copy was provided for me to review*

I thrive for anything imaginative, new, and epically badass. And yay for me, I found all these elements in Ellen Oh's Dragon King Chronicles. Since when do you get to find a book series that focuses on Asian culture rather than more of a European/white dominant one? Or one that doesn't focus on a romance or turn primarily into one? I don't think I've read anything like these books, which is the best thing ever.

I truly love Kira. She's a very consistent character who does, while it might not seem like it since she's such an experienced fighter and mature character in general, learn valuable lessons. She's such a strong and noble character who doesn't enjoy moping around too much (which tends to be a popular trend in strong YA characters. I love emotional breakdowns, but I despise constant moping.) I also love how much Kira values her family! She'd do anything for them and her friends, which basically is almost a majority of the plot, besides the whole find-the-prophecy-treasures thing.

I can already see how people will be discontent with the lack of romance, but to me it's perfection. To begin with, I'm not big on romance, but for Kira, she's not either. She experiences love through her family and she's completely inexperienced when it comes to loving *whispers* boy-men. So when she does find a boy-man, she doesn't know what to do or how to act and she doesn't like that. Also, she doesn't need some significant other to lean on, and for her to suddenly fall in love would be uncharacteristic and, in my opinion, would ruin the plot. And with what little the author has given us, not only do I want more for later on, but I ship them harder!

Warrior is almost like the show Supernatural, what with the demons taking over and going all apocalyptic on all the humans. And Kira and her buds must braves these dangers to save the world, essentially, while many don't believe what is happening or believe in Kira, for that matter. I enjoy how the plot (not only for its somewhat Supernatural elements) is set and with it's quick pace, I flew through the pages and was finished with the book in under a day.

The Dragon King's Prophecy will possibly always be a favorite series of mine. Oh transports readers right into a Korean fantasy setting, with rich culture and interesting characters. Kira poses as a strong and independent character that doesn't come off as the cliche martyr of the story. And with Warrior's ending, I'm left wanting more. So obviously, I can't wait to see what happens next and I hope that others will enjoy this book as much as I did.

5 Splashes

Unbreathable by Hasfah Laziaf {Guest Post + Giveaway}

2013-10-25T04:00:00.000-04:00

Unbreathable by Hafsah Laziaf
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Publication: October 29th
Publisher: Self Published
Page Count: 379
Goodreads
Amazon

One hundred and fifty years ago, Earth was destroyed, and the remaining humans fled to the dusty red planet of Jutaire, where the only oxygen is manufactured, food is scarce, and death strikes often.

When Lissa's father discovers Earth still exists, she accidentally inhales the toxic air of Jutaire, and in one breath, discovers she isn't quite human.

Her father hangs for his discovery, and Lissa knows the Chancellors will come for her, for she saw the Earth that night too. With nothing to lose, she sets out to expose the truth. It isn't long before she meets Julian, a beautiful boy who can breathe the toxic air like she can - and shows her that the Jute, the original inhabitants of the planet, are more tangled in their lives than she knows.

But the Chancellors are only pawns in a greater game - one where the Jute control everything. Worse, the Jute plan to leave Jutaire for Earth, but to get there, they need her. And they'll stop at nothing until Lissa is in their clutches, even if they kill every human in the process.

The race for Earth has begun.

Unbreathable is a tale of love, redemption, and sacrifice, and one girl's struggle to find her place in a world where she doesn't belong.

About Hafsah

Hafsah Laziaf was born on the east coast on a hot summer day in 1993, raised on the west coast and is now stuck in the middle – in Texas – with more books than she can read. She’s the designer behind IceyDesigns and the blogger behind IceyBooks.

UNBREATHABLE is her debut novel

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I'm so glad to be a part of the tour! Today, I'll be sharing a guest post from the lovely Hafsah and a giveaway. I hope that you will pick up and enjoy this book as much as I did! Review will come sometime next week.

Self Publishing vs. The Traditional Publishing Route

The best decision I've ever made also happens to be the one I never wanted to make.

When I first started writing, I had this weird notion that I would easily find an agent and a publisher. Of course, I had no idea how publishing worked. I had no idea it wouldn't happen.

Fast forward three novels later, when I had just finished writing UNBREATHABLE, I had the notion again. This time, I knew I had something 'magical', as a friend likes to say. But I had accumulated hundreds of rejections for my past novels and I wasn't ready to be optimistic.

So I sent out a batch of five queries in September of 2012 and waited a few hours. Then sent another. And another.

15 queries were out for 1 week before I started getting requests. Not from any agent either - from several top agents I never dreamed of signing with.

In the end of my one-month querying period, I had gotten 15 requests. A few of them responded with rejections. A few never responded to this day. And yet another few asked for revisions.

I was ecstatic, of course. I had been writing for two years with countless rejections based on my query alone. But here were some, not one, but SOME, agents asking me to revise it? And resubmit it? That they really liked the concept and wanted this fixed and that changed?

Ecstatic.

Fast forward a few months later, January of 2013. I sent the revised manuscript in. And the rejections started trickling in. Why? They never said.

But UNBREATHABLE never left. It lingered. I loved the story so much. But I loved it even more because of the response I received from my early readers and then real, actual agents.

The rejections left me devastated. But it made me wonder WHY it happened. And the more I researched, the more I noticed how difficult and competitive the YA science fiction market had become. And how in two years, YA science fiction set in space would be a thing of the past.

At the same time, a friend had just self-published her own novel, and was encouraging me to do the same. But I was one of those people who frowned at taking that route. Who was terrified at being alone - no agent, no editor, no gigantic company backing me up.

But the more I thought about it, the more logical the idea seemed. Yet, I was terrified.

So before I could change my mind, I sat down and wrote an announcement post at 11PM and went to bed. The post went up at 6AM and I spent the whole night regretting it, worrying over it, and finally, stressing over the outcome.

But since 6AM that day, I haven't regretted my decision once.

And now for the giveaway! There will be two winners! The paperback will be US while the ebook will be international.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

2013-09-23T20:07:00.001-04:00

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Genre: YA Post-Apocolyptic
Expected Publication: September 24th, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Page Count: 320
Goodreads
Amazon

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

Oh. My. God. Where do I even begin with this book? It absolutely surpassed my expectations and blew me away. If the colourful cover doesn't draw you in, the premise for the novel better.

I'm all for strong female leads. I love them more than I can describe. They're kickass and don't over analyze petty things likes their appearance. Like Katniss, Lynn is a strong and tough character. She's killed people to protect her water source and basically her life and isn't afraid to do it again. Her character growth throughout the book is something you'd have to read for yourself it's so good, too. It's also believable. Being someone who hasn't interacted with anyone else but her mother, she's weary of others and I'm glad to see that carry throughout the book, even though she does change significantly by the end of the book.

So there isn't anything fluffy about this book, either. It's gritty and dark and sepulchral and dangerous. There is no point when Lynn is completely safe, even if she is hunkered down in her basement. This book went down a plot that I wasn't expecting, but I still loved it. I've always wanted to read a dystopian where it truly had a dark and gritty feel to it. You get it occasionally, like in The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa, but it's not very often where the mood is convincing to the story.

Also, I've always kind of had a tiff with these kind of dystopian books where the main character practically ends up finding their soul mate. I personally don't think out of the very little humans left on earth that you are going to find your lover for life on a whim when society is crumbling and there are little to none people you can trust. So I liked how there wasn't really any romance in this book--loved it, really. Don't get me wrong; I love my romance. But when something like that seems uncharacteristic of the character or unnecessary or unbelievable to the plot, I don't see a reason for it.

I whizzed through this book in less than a day. I just couldn't put it down. I think that this book definitely places as one of my favorite books of the year and I don't even like dystopians as much as other people seem to. Just not that crazy over it. I would definitely recommend this to both non-dystopian and dystopian readers alike. Circling mainly around the main character Lynn, Not a Drop to Drink is a great tale about love, sacrifice, death, loyalty, and survival.

4.5 Splashes

Girls in YA {Discussion Post}

2013-09-11T10:44:00.000-04:00

Is it just me, or is it that almost every time I open a book, the main heroine has a problem with her physical appearance? Don't get me wrong. Being a teenager myself and a girl, I do notice that type of self-consciousness in others and in myself. It's not even out fault for thinking this way, either, but maybe YA is playing that out that stigma too much?

Growing up, girls will always worry about how they look. It's been hardwired into our brains that if we don't look like that DD-cup bombshell beauty with perfectly applied makeup and skinny limbs, we're not what's considered beautiful or hot, sexy, and very attractive. It's not our fault. But I don't think that this is every girl's main priority worry growing up through adolescence. I may just be speaking for myself, but, never have I felt truly insecure about my image 24/7. And, unless my friends haven't told me, neither do they care so much, either.

What I can't stand in YA books is that readers obviously know that this leading heroine is attractive and smart and talented in some way. We know this because 1) There's a love triangle. And let's face it, if the girl's got game, she's doing something right, or 2) When have we ever watched a successful movie where the leading and super hot hero love interest is interested in someone who isn't attractive? Never. To me, there is no definition between what is considered attractive and what is not, but all media focus on a certain kind of attractive. And this also includes books.

I'm not blaming authors and I'm not bashing books. I love books and I love authors. But what I think is that we need more female characters that are more confident in their appearance. This, meaning that the main girl can be all geeky and awkward and socially inept, but know that she is pretty and smart and in command of who she is.

Do I think I'm attractive? Uhhh, yes and no. I find that I am too skinny and my hair is flat and boring. I don't think that my face or body is all that stunning, but not only is it not a major issue for me, but I also am confident in who I am in some ways. I never wear makeup. Mainly, it's because I'm lazy and don't like makeup, but I also know that I don't look that unattractive without it. I don't consider myself to be pretty, but I think I'm cute. And that's what counts. Also, within the six years of high school I've been in, two boys have admitted that they had a crush on me. While that may not be all that impressive, it proves that I'm not all that ugly. I mean, there must be something that's physically appealing about my face that others see as well, along with my personality.

Instead of sending this message out to young girls that read YA that it's okay to think you're unattractive because, someday, your handsome prince will come and sweep you away, let's do something else. To me, this just makes the main heroine look like she's fishing for compliments and is in complete denial when her potential boyfriend insists that she is beautiful. While this idea has many perks (like relating to all those other girls that don't think that she's attractive and is a great technique for making character growth), it also has its downfalls, because this, in some ways, makes that girl look weak and a damsel, when in all actuality, that character's not because she ends up saving the day in the end.

What I think should happen with girls in YA is: make those girls confident in who she is right from the very start. What YA books are teaching the younger demographic is that it is okay to not like her body or her face because eventually, some guy will see the true beauty within her. That's not good! And to think I almost fell for this, too! Women shouldn't have to wait for the man. Women can be confident and women can be in control and women of all kinds can be pretty. I think I see this trend more in dystopia of female confidence than I do in, say, contemporary or paranormal. Perhaps this is why dystopia is a growing, popular genre?

Maybe I'm speaking nonsense here, but it's what has been on my mind. What are your thoughts? Do you think this is true? Do you disagree? Tell me what you think!

Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

2013-08-29T16:25:00.001-04:00

Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: May 25th, 2012
Publisher: Starry Sky Publishing
Page Count: 328
Goodreads
Amazon

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories.

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her.

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be.

X-MEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY in Karen Amanda Hooper’s latest young adult release.

I hadn't heard much about this book, so when going into it, I wasn't expecting much. The concept sounded very interesting. I love the idea of reincarnated souls and--dare I say--soul mates. Usually, with something like that included in the synopsis, I don't think that I'd pick it up. However, there was something that made me want to give this book a try, and I'm glad I did because this books was fantastic.

I crack this book open and find myself utterly invested in the plot in a matter of minutes. Right from the start, this book had me hooked. I just wanted to know more about what was going on and why. Even when readers first meet her twin brother Mikey, you could feel the connection between them. Being a twin myself, I connected with Maryah almost immediately and loved the relationship she had with him.

Speaking of Maryah, I thought that she was a very real character. Sometimes, I feel like the main character is too accepting of being introduced into the supernatural. It's very difficult to find the right balance between denial-and-eventual-acceptance, instead of denial-and-complete-reader-annoyance. And this book had it! I didn't find Maryah to be too accepting or too annoying when she learns about who and what she is. Never once did she truly give up and I thought that she was sweet, even after everything that had happened to her.

And if you haven't figured it out yet, the premise for this book is absolutely magical. Everyone has a soul that, after it leaves the body, decides whether it wants to remember or erase their memories when they reincarnate. And there's this chance that if you choose to remember, you get these powers and you get to do all sorts of cool stuff. Honestly, if this were true, I'm POed my soul's never wanted to remember!

Anyway, I liked this book a lot. All of the characters were very dimensional and they all brought the story to life in my head. Very rarely do I come across a YA paranormal that didn't have that distinct taste of cliche and overdone plots. I do recommend this book and I hope that others will enjoy it as much as I did.

4 Splashes

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

2013-08-25T18:57:00.003-04:00

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: December 1st, 2009
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Page Count: 563
Goodreads
Amazon

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

I finally read this book! Finally! I am definitely a late comer to this series and I'm kinda bummed on what I've been missing out on all this time. Sadly, I watched the movie before I read the book so my whole idea what different than what I'd thought the book was. The movie definitely did not keep true to the book, but I thought, besides the book, it wasn't that bad of a movie.

I really loved Ethan's voice. He was such a cute kind of guy to read about. He definitely had an unrealistic male thought process, but it didn't bother me that much because the story was very interesting. I loved that he'd do anything for his girl, but it kinda freaked me out how a sophomore was in this series and I-will-die-for-you relationship. It definitely had almost a--hate to say it--Twilight feel, but it wasn't that distinct, fortunately.

What was absolutely amazing about this book was the world building. Absolutely memorizing. From the southern feel of Gatlin to the lifestyle that is Lena's everyday life. I loved all the magic that was included in it and it wasn't at all confusing to read about.

With that said, I definitely feel like I enjoyed it more when I had first read it than I do now. Sure, it's been two months since I read it, but, now thinking back on it, I can't really think of anything that significant about it that would make me want to rave about it now. The writing was consistent and had plenty of imagery and was very authentic. The story kept me reading; I finished it in four days, but maybe with all the hype there was over this series, I was expecting more. That's not to say that this book wasn't that good, but it just didn't have that final Wow Factor that would distinguish itself from a good book to an absolutely amazing book.

Besides a very serious relationship among teenagers in the first book, I really did enjoy Beautiful Creatures a lot. The plot, besides this book being over 500 pages, was a quick read and the characters were very interesting to read about. They all had personality and were dimensional.

4 Splashes

Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris {Review + Giveaway}

2013-08-24T13:59:00.000-04:00

Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris
Publication: April 23rd, 2013
Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Page Count: 479
Goodreads
Amazon

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the first book. I love sci-fi and alien kind of stuff with high action and adventure. And the concept that you only have x amount of time to save the world or the one you love makes for a great page turner. I definitely enjoyed the predecessor to Unraveling, but I don't think that it exactly lived up to it.

If anything, Janelle's learned a few lessons from the first book and it's made her more of an admirable character. She's smart and she tough. And on top of that, she'll protect the ones she loves. I mean, she's so tough she swallowed pills dry. And she also has her coffee black. There wasn't much character growth, considering she did all that in the previous book, but Janelle was still an interesting character.

So things are different in this one. Instead of saving the world, Janelle and her friends have to save Ben, who happens to get in a lot of trouble, that hooligan. And one of the friends that Janelle makes along the way is Barclay. And if there's one thing that Elizabeth Norris did wrong in this book, it was making Barclay likable, because he was perfect in every sense. Snarky, devil-may-care, courageous, smart, handsome, strong . . . And so the list goes on. But I'm supposed to hate him and hate him at the same time! I loved how he was a character that wasn't the easiest to read and was very dimensional, like all the other characters in this book.

Considering that this book was almost 500 pages long, I read it faster than any 300-paged book. And instead of staying put on a world-as-you-know-it Earth, we travel around different worlds! How awesome is that? And since there's only five days to save her bestie and Ben, this whole book is jam-packed with stressful and high-tension situations. Lots of running around and action to keep my attention, definitely.

Unbreakable was an epic book with lots of adventure and plenty of high stakes situations. I absolutely love this series for all it's danger and interverse traveling and stuff.

5 Splashes

Now here's that giveaway as promised in the title! Play fair, and all. US/CAN ONLY. Sorry, international peeps! I promise one of these days I'll do something for you, too.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A to Z Bookish Survey

2013-08-22T18:52:00.000-04:00

Hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner

I'm going to have some fun and waste time! I've never done one of these before and I think this survey is the cutest thing ever.

Author you’ve read the most books from:
Cassandra Clare places number one. In total (8): The Mortal Instruments (5) and the Infernal Devices (3).

Best sequel ever:
Crown of Embers by Rae Carson. I didn't really enjoy the first book, Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I only gave it a 3 star rating. Then, I read CoE and it totally rocked my world! Such an epic read.

Currently reading:
Timepiece by Myra McEntire and rereading City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare.

Drink of choice while reading:
Tea, because it's amazing, or Gatorade, because I have a heart condition thing and need to drink it.

E-reader or physical book?
*sings* Let's get physical, physical!

Fictional character you probably would have dated in high school:
Oh, darn. Gotta think for this one.... Umm, probably Simon Lewis from The Mortal Instruments (sorry, that's the only thing I can think of currently!) because he's super nerdy and sweet and I really love dorky and nerdy guys.

Glad you gave this book a chance:
Across the Universe by Beth Revis. Originally, I wasn't even going to bother reading it! I just wasn't into the premise for it at first.

Hidden gem book:
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti. Seriously, I love this book and I feel like no one has read or heard of it.

Important moment of your reading life:
Going to my first ever book event. And this was a little before I started blogging. I went to the Breathless Reads event with Jessica Spotswood, Andrea Cremer, Marie Lu, and Beth Revis on the panel and it was such a surreal thing for me, to see the faces of the authors who write these amazing books and realize that they're human, too. Without this event, I don't think I would have created my blog.

Just finished:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Kinds of books you won’t read:

Autobiographies, non-fiction, erotica. Basically anything that's not fictional.

Longest book you’ve read:
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini.

Major book hangover because of:

The Diviners by Libba Bray. Seriously, that book is the shit.

Number of bookcases you own:
2.

One book you have read multiple times:

Umm, I'm not really into rereading books, though I feel like I should do that more often. I did read Twilight and Breaking Dawn a whopping five times, though, when I thought they the best books out there, and then New Moon two times and Eclipse three times. And now I just started rereading The Mortal Instruments. Other than that, I don't reread books.

Preferred place to read:
Anywhere comfy and near food. That could be my bed, couch, car seat. As long as I'm equipped with a book, seat, and food, I'm good.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“It’s probably my job to tell you life isn’t fair, but I figure you already know that. So instead, I’ll tell you that hope is precious, and you’re right not to give up.”--Defiance by C.J Redwine

I totally had to search through quotes of my favorite books (I'm terrible at remembering my favorite quotes) and this one stood out to me. I remember reading this and actually feeling it. I've dealt with high anxiety and mild depression for years and there are times where things are just dumpy. So instead of thinking that things will never get better, it's a good idea to hold on to hope and not giving up.

Reading regret:
Hmmm...buying Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck. Because now that I spent the money on the book, I have to finish the series and have them all on my shelf.

Series you started and need to finish (all books are out):

I still haven't read the last book of the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver, same goes for that Halo series by Alexandra Adornetto, the Rift duology by Andrea Cremer, the Darkness Rising series by Kelley Armstrong, and I'm sure there's others. And I haven't read the last two books of the Graceling Realm series by Kristin Cashore.

I seriously need to get on top of these things.

Three of your all-time favorite books:
Can I put an entire series as one? I think I will. Number One would be The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, The Diviners by Libba Bray, and The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross.

Unapologetic fangirl for:
Tahereh Mafi. Her writing is something that I want to bathe myself in.

Very excited for this release more than all others:
THE BITTER KINGDOM!!!! It's so close, yet so far away...

Worst bookish habit:

Buying books. I admit it is both a gift and a curse to buy books. It's a gift for obvious reasons. YAY BOOKS GALORE. But it's a curse because there are times where I cannot buy every book on the shelf because I do not have that kind of money.

X marks the spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
Ascend by Amanda Hawking.

Your latest book purchase:
Hourglass and Timepiece by Myra McEntire

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer, but that was last year. I don't really stay up late that often reading books because then I can't comprehend what's on the page.