Pretty Deadly Reviews

Blog Tour Stop: Lacrimosa by Christine Fonseca

2012-03-21T10:00:00.004-04:00

Lacrimosa

COMPASS PRESS

ISBN: 0984786368 (ISBN 13: 9780984786367)

As if casting out demons isn’t hard enough, five-hundred-year-old Nesy has to masquerade as a teenage girl to do it. Nesy is the best of the warrior angels called Sentinals. She never makes mistakes, never hesitates, never gets emotionally involved. Until she meets Aydan.

He is evil incarnate; a fallen angel that feeds off the souls of others. Everything Nesy is supposed to hate. But she can’t, because he’s also the love of her former life as a human girl—a life that ended too soon, tying her to emotions she was never supposed to feel.
Now Nesy must choose between doing her duty—damning Aydan to the fiery depths of hell—or saving him, and condemning herself.

“LACRIMOSA reaches out, grabs readers by the heart, and takes them on an emotional journey from the first page to the last. The last novel you’ll need to read to understand true sacrifice.”

~Elana Johnson, Author of POSSESSION

Additional titles in this series include Dies Irae (A Requiem Novella), Libera Me (October 2012), and Requiem (March 2013).

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About the Author

School psychologist by day, critically acclaimed YA and nonfiction author by night, Christine Fonseca believes that writing is a great way to explore humanity. Her debut YA Gothic series, The Requiem Series, including DIES IRAE and LACRIMOSA, examines the role of redemption, sacrifice and love. Her nonfiction titles include 101 SUCCESS SECRETS FOR GIFTED KIDS and EMOTIONAL INTENSITY IN GIFTED STUDENTS.

When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can be sipping too many skinny vanilla lattes at her favorite coffee house or playing around on Facebook and Twitter. Catch her daily thoughts about writing and life on her blog.

For more information about Christine Fonseca or the series, visit her website – http://christinefonseca.com or her blog http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com.

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Book Trailer

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My Review

Lacrimosa opens with our main character Nesy in a club, trying to acquaint herself with the hormones, emotions, and sensations of being a teenage girl -- again. You see, Nesy is actually a 500 year old angel warrior disguised as a human to carry out one of her many assignments: hunt down the UnHoly, Aydan, and vanquish him to the Abyss. Simple enough, right? Well, not so much.

We're immediately dropped into the story. No beating around the bush. Within a few opening pages we discover that Aydan has a certain kind of pull on Nesy that she just can't fight. Not even with her centuries of Sentinal training. From here on the action is non stop.

I really liked Nesy, but I wish I got to know her a little better. I feel like the story, and especially her character, would have been a little more believable if it had opened with a scene where she kicks some demon butt. But instead, we're just constantly reminded that she's kick-ass. I'd much rather be shown than told. For me it didn't seem like Nesy was as intimidating as she was supposed to be. But that's okay! I really loved her vulnerability, and the way she couldn't control her emotions.

Aydan was by far my favorite, though. Throughout the story you can really sense his internal struggle. He's fighting against his nature. His growth and transformation from beginning to end are palpable, and while at the beginning I wasn't a fan, by the end I was really rooting for Aydan. The whole story centered around his impending death, and it really scared me!

I love the way human emotion is shown in Lacrimosa. Emotions and feelings are treated like physical things. Things that have a mind of they're own, but can be herded and controlled -- sometimes. Shifting into a human form causes and angel to experience things that us mere mortals take for granted. Rising heart beats, flushed cheeks, daydreams. I thought this was a really interesting and original way of looking at the human condition, something I had never thought of before.

I had a minor problem with the writing. The story and the overall arc of the characters was wonderful, but sometimes the writing was too dramatic. Every other page we would read something like this:

Rescue Lori

-condemn Nesy

Kill Azza

-condemn Nesy

Kill myself

-condemn Nesy

If that style had only been used once, to really showcase the inner turmoil the character in focus was going through, it would have been perfectly fine. But I swear it happened every three pages or so, and once it happened two times on the same page. Also, there were paragraph breaks for dramatic emphasis, and ellipses for the same reason. These devices, especially when they're used every singe paragraph on every single page, really take me out of the story. I understand some people like it, but I think it really takes away from the drama that it could represent, and instead made everything a little less intense.

The ending of Lacrimosa was awesome. I really didn't expect it coming. The last battle scene in particular was epic! This is where Nesy really shines. The very end, while sad (I got a little misty, I'll admit) also offered some hope. There wasn't one of those crazy cliffhangers where you feel like you got ripped off. Instead the ending of the book was open and leads beautifully into the next chapter of the series. I seriously can not wait for October when Libera Me comes out!

Guest Post: Author Christine Fonseca

2012-03-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

I'd like to take the time to thank author Christine Fonseca for coming and writing up this post for me. I know we've all been there: book boyfriends. I've got a few. Namely, Four from Divergent, Cass from Anna Dressed in Blood, and Peeta from The Hunger Games (Team Peeta forever!) Christine, author of Dies Irae and Lacrimosa, is here to share her character crushes with you.

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I’ve Got A Crush On You

I have a confession to make...I am subject to character crushes.

Yep, that’s right. I have shamelessly fallen for some of the characters in the books that I read. Like Jag in Elana Johnson’s POSSESSION, or Seth in Melissa Marr’s WICKED LOVELY, or Jace in Cassandra Clare’s CITY OF BONES. And yes, my very own Aydan from LACRIMOSA.

What is it about some of the characters in books that makes the readers swoon? Is just about a character's "hotness" factor? Or could it be something much much more?

For me, it’s definitely more than looks (though trust me, I would never shrug off a HAWT character). It’s about authenticity. And complexity. I love complicated, emotional characters. Ones that are well developed, believable, and oh so tortured!

But enough about me, it’s time to hear from you. What characters do you crush on? What makes them your crush? I can’t wait to hear what you guys have to say.

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About the author:

For more information about Christine Fonseca or the series, visit her website – http://christinefonseca.com or her blog http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com.

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Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

2012-03-19T15:06:00.000-04:00

First of all, I'd like to thank Kathy from I am a Reader, Not a Writer for hosting yet another awesome giveaway hop. This time around, we're clearing out some shelf space, and giving away our own books. I think this is an awesome idea, because I have plenty of books that I loved, but won't ever read again, and I never know what to do with them.

So I've got two awesome giveaway for you guys!

The first giveaway is for one copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Also included is a brand new, unopened copy of the two-disc special UnAnniversary edition. It arrived in my mailbox unsolicited one day, and I've got no idea where it came from. Since I've all ready got a copy, I thought I'd share it with you!

The second giveaway is for a box of books! Included is the entire House of Night series, except for the new one, Destined. There's also a copy of Nyx in the House of Night by PC Cast, and Vampire Kisses: The Beginning by Ellen Schreiber.

Rules

You must be 13 or older.

This giveway is US only (sorry. My last one was international)

No requirements!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now go ahead and check out the rest of the giveaways!

In My Mailbox

2012-03-18T01:35:00.000-04:00

Bought

The Girl Who Was On Fire by everyone

Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

RAK

Cat gifted me a Nook copy of Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R Hubbard *faints*

I loved her book The Secret Year and I know this one will not disappoint!

Thanks again, Cat!

Won

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Cinder Marissa Meyer

For Review (Around the World Tours)

Masque of Red Death Bethany Griffin

(I am dying over this one. It's so magical. I can't wait to finish and review it!)

I also bought myself a hard cover copy of The Hunger Games.

I've been lending out my paperback and now it's all torn up and ugly --

I swear all the people I know who I lend books to

have no respect for others' property. All my books get destroyed. No more lending!

Coming Up This Week

A review of Hanging by a Thread by Sophie Littlefield

A review of Masque of Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Discussion: Being the only one who doesn't like a book

Spring reading list

Review: Monument 14

2012-03-17T16:25:00.000-04:00

Title: Monument 14
Author: Emmy Laybourne
Pub Date: June, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Description: Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you hurdle down the stairs and make a run for the corner.
Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.
But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.
Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart

Thoughts: I really enjoyed MONUMENT 14. I haven't read that many books where the actual apocalyptic event is occurring during the book. Mostly it's just post-apocalyptic. This time line was very interesting and refreshing.

MONUMENT 14 didn't exactly focus on the catastrophic events, but instead it had more of a Lord of the Flies feel to it. The story focused mostly on the kids and their survival in the big super store. What the book did shed light on -- the hail storm, the tsunami, the earth quake, and the chemical leak -- well, that was pretty scary. Imagine a mega-tsunami leveling New York City. Or biochemical warfare that entirely changes a person, into an animal. The best part of it all was being able to 'watch' the CNN broadcasts during the whole thing. I thought that part was amazing and I'm so happy it was included.

Inside the super store (think Walmart) 14 teenagers and elementary aged kids have to learn to fend for themselves. The transformations were remarkable. I loved watching Dean, our MC, learn to appreciate the little kids as individuals, and also change his perceptions of the so-called popular kids. The big kids, that is, the teens, really stepped up to the plate to make the store more comfortable to the little kids, introducing order and schedules.

I really liked Dean. He was funny, in a self-deprecating kind of way. He didn't really take himself too, too seriously. I loved his crush on Astrid, and how he sort of flailed around like a headless chicken every time she talked to him. I liked Josie, too. She was really affected by the hail storm, and the bus crash that landed them in the super store, but once she overcame her initial shock, she really grew as a character. She pushed herself to become a leader to the little kids and to the big kids.

The end came a little quickly for me, but I'm really hoping there's a sequel. We were left with a ginormous loose end, and a lot of hope.

Please note that there is some sexual content in this book -- nothing too graphic -- so I wouldn't recommend giving this to your elementary aged child, even if that age group is represented in the book.

I would recommend it to older audiences though, especially those who loved Lord of the Flies and other dystopia, and post-apocalyptic fiction. MONUMENT 14 takes a look at the genre with fresh eyes, and gives us a glimpse into a world that could lead to the rebellion and oppressive societies we've all been reading about. It's a wonderful story of survival and friendship, with a main character who is easy to relate to.

Feature and Follow Friday

2012-03-15T22:40:00.001-04:00

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

This week's question:

What's the best book you've read this month? The worst?

Well I could easily say the best book I read this month is the reread of Mockingjay, but I'll try a little harder. I just read Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block. I just love her. She's my favorite author besides JK Rowling. I've adored every one of FLB's books. I can't stress enough how everyone should read her at least once.

I just did a post on books I didn't finish for one reason or another. They include The Hunt, The Stone Girl and The Other Life. You can check it out here.

This week:
I did a spotlight on books I DNF'd
I introduced a new feature I'm adding to the blog: From the Vault
I talked about my favorite Contemporary Reads
Posted a review of Psyche in a Dress
I bought my wedding dress! And books and stuff, too!

Spotlight: Books I Couldn't Finish

2012-03-15T12:40:00.000-04:00

Lately I feel like I've been running into books I simply can't get into. The majority of the time, I give my books 50-100 pages to grip me -- especially review books. But no matter what I do, there are just some books I don't like.

I feel bad not reviewing books I either request or get sent to me. So I decided to spotlight these books on my blog, and give you an idea about what they're like.

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

Why I DNF: The Hunt had the makings of an awesome book. A kid's struggle with his humanity, hiding in plain view, hunting after fellow humans. But the weirdness got to me. There was a lot of salivating and drooling all over each other, and then there was the strange 'make out' scene where the couple rubbed their elbows in the others' armpits. I had to abandon it because there was just nothing I could relate to in the main character or in the vampire species.

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world

Sherry has lived with her family in a sealed bunker since things went wrong up above. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find a world of devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage, mutant killers.

When Sherry's dad is snatched, she joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers.

But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?

Why I DNF: I was actually about halfway through this book before I put it down. There were a few things that bothered me, like the use of numbers that sort of felt gimmicky. But really, I just couldn't believe it. A mother who would let her fifteen year old daughter out of a bunker and into the unknown to hunt down food? I don't think so. And after reading the Hunger Games for the second time, I'm over the weakling mom. Ultimately though, I put it down because I couldn't connect with the main character. (I don't even remember her name!) Her father got taken by the zombie things and she barely was upset about it! I couldn't feel any sadness or connectedness, and instead she was just swooning over a boy. Blech.

The Stone Girl by Alyssa Sheinmel

She feels like a creature out of a fairy tale; a girl who discovers that her bones are really made out of stone, that her skin is really as thin as glass, that her hair is brittle as straw, that her tears have dried up so that she cries only salt. Maybe that's why it doesn't hurt when she presses hard enough to begin bleeding: it doesn't hurt, because she's not real anymore.

Sethie Weiss is hungry, a mean, angry kind of hunger that feels like a piece of glass in her belly. She’s managed to get down to 111 pounds and knows that with a little more hard work—a few more meals skipped, a few more snacks vomited away—she can force the number on the scale even lower. She will work on her body the same way she worked to get her perfect grades, to finish her college applications early, to get her first kiss from Shaw, the boy she loves, the boy who isn’t quite her boyfriend.

Sethie will not allow herself one slip, not one bad day, not one break in concentration. Her body is there for her to work on when everything and everyone else—her best friend, her schoolwork, and Shaw—are gone.

From critically acclaimed writer Alyssa B. Sheinmel comes an unflinching and unparalleled portrayal of one girl’s withdrawal, until she is sinking like a stone into her own illness, her own loneliness—her own self.

Why I DNF: Mainly this book was just boring. I wasn't a fan of the style it was written in, and by the time I was like 70 pages in, I realized nothing had actually happened. I thought it would be a book about a girl with an eating disorder, but the ED wasn't explored (at least not yet.) We barely touched on her habits -- she drank a gallon of water, and ate like an apple or something -- but we didn't learn about why. And by the synopsis I though this book would be magical, like Francesca Lia Block or Laurie Halse Anderson, but I was just left disappointed.

So there you have it. A few books I wanted to highlight, because while I didn't like them, I know there is an audience for them.

New Feature on the Blog

2012-03-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

I've been thinking a lot lately about reading slumps, and the feelings of being overwhelmed by my to-be-read pile. There are just so many great books out there! I literally own more books that I haven't read than books that I have read.

I try to stay current and only review new releases and ARCs of upcoming titles. I want to feature popular books on my blog so I can attract people's attention! Unfortunately that leaves behind some great titles that I've missed -- either I haven't been in the mood for them, haven't had time for them, or only recently acquired them. I feel like if I feature older books on here, no one will care because you've all all ready read them!

The main point of this blog is to share what I love the most: reading and books. And I used to only read for pleasure. Now it's turning into reviewing and deadlines, etc. And that's fine! But every once in a while I'd like to pick up a book because I only want to read it. Not because it's an ARC, or because it's popular, or because that's what everyone else is talking about.

So I've found a solution to my problems. I want to read because I like it! Because the story sounds awesome and I just plain old love reading. I want to clear my TBR pile because it's getting overwhelming. I want to continue to maintain a current, up-to-date blog. This is how I'm going to do it:

My new feature From the Vault! Twice a month, on the first and third Fridays of each month, I will feature a book that's been sitting on my shelves for a while, that I picked up because I wanted to. The book may be new (an ARC that I requested that I haven't gotten to), or even older (a book I've been meaning to read for a long time now; a title I won in a 2011 giveaway.)

If you want to join me, great! I think it will be a great way to clear out some of those unread piles building up all over our spaces, and a way to go back to why we started these blogs in the first place: because we love reading.

From the Vault will start in April, with the first post on April 6th. I have no idea what book I'll be featuring, because I honestly have no idea what I'll be in the mood to read around then! But I really look forward to it and I hope you all enjoy it!

Top Ten Tuesday

2012-03-12T21:43:00.002-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies from The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is 'Top Ten X Genre Books.'

I decided to go with contemporary. For me, contemporary books are those without

a paranormal element, and are current. They usually deal with heavy topics

like sex, drugs, abuse, eating disorders, etc.

I'm not a contemporary romance kind of girl, obviously.

Wasteland by Francesca Lia Block

I considered putting Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma in this place. Forbidden deals with brother/sister incest in a delicate way. Nearly everyone loved it.

Wasteland deals with the same issue, but it's written in the heady, lush prose of Francesca Lia Block, and honestly it can't be beaten. This is one of the most beautiful, heart wrenching, sob-into-your-pillows books I've ever read.

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

This book deals with gender identity, first loves, and friendships. As well as minor family dramas. It's written in a normal narrative, interspersed with pages from homemade 'zines, poems, and other pieces of written work from all the characters. When I first read this book in 8th grade, I had never read anything like it before, and honestly, I haven't since. It's raw, it's honest, and it's fun, too.

Smack by Melvin Burgess

Smack is about a pair of teenagers who run away from home (one to escape a drunken abusive father, the other to follow her boyfriend) and end up in a downward spiral of heroine addiction. This book is harsh. It's so well written, and even though you know these kids are making a bad decision, you can't help but fall for them.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Most of us have read Thirteen Reasons Why. It's gripping and edgy and there's nothing else like it out there. I love the dual voices, and the peculiar way it's written. I think this book, about bullying and consequences, will continue to speak to generations of kids. Also, I think it'd make a great movie, but I digress.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson is a wonderful writer, and she knows how to tackle serious, relevant issues in an honest, unflinching way. Wintergirls is about a girl who suffers from anorexia and serious delusions. The portrayal of the eating disorders in this book is not cliche -- they are real, they are true. This is my favorite eating disorder novel (I've read many) and I would recommend it to anyone.

Leftovers by Laura Wiess

Oh, jeez, this is one powerful book. It is not for the feint of heart -- at all. About two girls who have been neglected and abused to various degrees, then turning it all outward onto someone else, Leftovers is not playing around. I would recommend it to people who can stomach unreliable narrators and despicable actions. It's a wonderful book, don't get me wrong, but it's harsh.

The Secret Year by Jennifer R Hubbard

This is a contemporary romance, but not what you're thinking. The characters partake in a secret affair, and not a soul knows about them. Then the girl dies in a car wreck, and the boy is left to mourn alone -- alone, except for a journal full of letters his girlfriend wrote him. Those letters, gosh. They're beautiful. Jennifer Hubbard has this amazing way of writing two distinct voices right next to each other. I just can't express enough how amazing this book is.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

I love this book! The Sky is Everywhere is about a girl who loses her sister at a young age, and the whole family is recovering. Told through the girl's voice, as well as her poetry, The Sky is Everywhere is a book both about loss, and healing, full of rich imagery and raw emotion. I cried AND I laughed through the whole things. It's one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.

Tighter by Adele Griffin

I love a good book with a twist ending and unreliable narrator. Adele Griffin expertly weaves addiction, family, friendship, and mystery together in this quick, easy retelling of The Turn of the Screw. By the time I reached the end of the book, all I wanted to do was flip back to the first page and read it with my new understanding.

Okay, so that's nine. A lot of my favorite books have the same themes and elements,

and so I wanted to give you guys a wide range to read about.

Review: Psyche In A Dress

2012-03-12T11:19:00.000-04:00

Title: Psyche in a Dress
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Source: Purchased; part of the 'Roses and Bones' bind-up
Description: (Goodreads) But this is what
I could not give up:
I could not give up myself
Psyche has known Love--scented with jasmine and tasting of fresh oranges. Yet he is fleeting and fragile, lost to her too quickly. Punished by self-doubt, Psyche yearns to be transformed, like the beautiful and brutal figures in the myths her lover once spoke of. Attempting to uncover beauty in the darkness, she is challenged, tested, and changed by the gods and demons who tempt her. Her faith must be found again, for if she is to love, she must never look back.

Thoughts: In true FLB form, PSYCHE IN A DRESS packs a raw, sexual, emotional punch via vivid, lush prose, set against the backdrop of Hollywood.

Enter Psyche, in the form of a teenage girl. She stars in her father's brutal films, being mutilated and dying, over and over again. She fancies herself her father's muse, taking over where her mother lapsed after she left the family. In the middle of the night, Psyche is visited by a man called Love, who sounds like the ocean and tastes like citrus, makes love to her, and tells her stories of the old Gods. He comes to her ever night, under one condition: she must not turn on a light. But under the advisement of her half-sisters, Psyche lights a candle, and find a beautiful god of a man in her bed. Is beauty monstrous? Psyche banishes her lover because of some serious self-esteem issues.

We follow her through the rest of her life as she tries to win him back. Through the course of her journey we meet Persephone, Orpheus, Narcissus, Eurydice, Aphrodite, Hades, and Demeter. Psyche outs herself through physically and emotionally grueling relationships, sometimes to the point of abuse (Hades, in the form of Marilyn Manson.) All of this in the name of Love (Eros.)

The story is written in delicious free verse -- which I believe is Francesca Lia Block's strength. Through sparse words, vivid, luscious, colorful imagery comes to life. The salt spray of the ocean on your lips, the heady scent of the fields of poppies, the crunching of gravel under hooves, your moth wings shredded to dust. It's beautiful.

The ending -- full of self-love, healing, and joy -- is perfect and uplifting. We watch Psyche become Persephone, Eurydice, Demeter. It's a perfect full-circle ending.

PSYCHE IN A DRESS, and 113 pages is a quick, engaging read, and like most FLB books, written beautifully and colorfully. It contains mature themes (it is FLB, though) but nothing to vivid. Definitely a recommended read.

In My Mailbox

2012-03-11T11:29:00.001-04:00

On The Nook

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

First Frost & Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

Turned at Dark by CC Hunter

Dies Irae by Christine Fonseca

For Review

Lacrimosa by Christine Fonseca (sent from the author)

Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear (netgalley)

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Wolf (netgalley)

Bought from B&N

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Zomg finally! I don't know why I've been waiting to buy this. I checked it out from the library over the summer, read it in a day, and then immediately wanted my own copy. Well here I go!

Other Non Bookish Things: OMG I BOUGHT MY WEDDING DRESS.

Coming Up this Week:

Review of Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block

A spotlight on recent books I couldn't finish

The reveal of a new feature starting in April

Currently Reading: Monument 14

Giveaway on Another Blog

2012-03-10T08:40:00.005-05:00

Sparkling Reviews is doing a huge follower appreciation event!

For the first giveaway you can enter to win an iPad! How freaking awesome is that.

Just click the button to visit her blog, or if you want to go directly to

the giveaway click here.
You can also enter to win a Disney Cruise for 4 here.
And a $500 Best Buy Gift Card, here.
An Apple product gift pack!
A MacBook Pro!
A $1,000 Coach Gift Card!
And finally, a Kitchenaid Mixer! (it's leopard print!)

Reviewing Books We DNF'd

2012-03-09T14:06:00.000-05:00

There are currently about 100 books (or more!) on my 'to-read' shelf. By this I mean physical books with gorgeous covers staring at me from my dusty shelves. Not to mention the thirty or so e-books on my Nook, and of course, the virtual Goodreads shelf. I'm quickly discovering that between the books I currently own, the books on my GR shelf, the Classics, and of course the wonderful books that come out each week, I doubt I will finish reading all the books I want to in this lifetime.

Life is too short to read a book you're not enjoying.

I try to give each and every book a fair chance, but we all know that's not 100% possible. Sometimes we try to read a dystopian book, right after finishing Mockingjay, and the newbie simply doesn't stand up next to the old favorite. Sometimes we've simply run our course on paranormal romances, and just can't stomach another one. More and more, books fade into each other, become forgettable.

When I start a new book, I like to give at least 50 pages to 'Wow' me. There are times, though, when I can all ready tell, by the first page that I'm not going to like it. Sometimes it's a simple as formatting issues, like a book I read (the name escapes me) that didn't use any quotation marks. Or with Shatter Me, and the narrative being crossed out over and over again. If by 50 pages I am not amazed, I will usually put the book down, and move on to something else.

This doesn't mean I don't feel guilty about it. Especially books I've been sent for a review.

Most recently I've had to put down The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker. This book exemplifies all the things I will usually dismiss a book for: gimmicky style (the numbers thing), dispassionate characters (Sherry didn't sound scared or sad or even angry-not once), and choppy writing (the same subject-verb relationship repeated ad nauseum.) I really wanted to write a review of this book, considering I didn't abandon it until 50% in. But morally, I'm not sure if I should.

My questions for you: What does it take for you to abandon a book? Will you review a book even if you haven't finished it?

Top Ten Tuesday

2012-03-06T08:02:00.000-05:00


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is Favorite Covers. I knew it would take forever to narrow down my favorite covers of all time, so I decided to limit myself to 2012. So here are my top (eight) cover this year -- so far.

Grave Mercy

I just love this cover! I love how she's dressed so girlish and pretty and yet she's holding a freaking crossbow!

Something Strange and Deadly

I absolutely adore her dress and her gloves. The font is beautiful, and the look on the girl's face is intriguing. I can't wait for this book, based on cover alone.

Shadow and Bone

I have a soft spot for illustrated covers. I think they take a lot more creativity and artistry. Anyone can stick a girl in a pretty dress, but it takes thoughtfulness to create and illustrated cover as pretty as this! I love the colors and the fonts and the filigree.

The Selection

Now, I know I just said something about girls in dresses, but let's not discount them. I am a girl and so I like pretty things. And The Selection's cover is very, very pretty. I love the lush fabrics and the color, too! I just want to make a bed out of that skirt, though.

Cinder

I don't think anyone can deny the awesomeness that is this cover. I love the android peeking through the skin, and of course the beautiful red that's been so popular recently. This cover is absolutely perfect for this book.

Timepiece

This cover is just so cool! I haven't read either book in this series, but I can't lie and say the covers don't speak to me. I love the shadows, and this cover has an almost Alice in Wonderland feel to it. It's just plain awesome.

Illuminate

Have you seen this thing in person? Oooooh shiny!

The red dress, the shadow of wings, and the gorgeous gold everywhere. Ah! Plus the expression on the model's face! I just love it when the model actually show some emotion.

Reached

I've always been a fan of the Matched series' covers. They're sleek and simple, yet tell you exactly what's going on. Plus the stark gray background really makes the chosen color pop.

What 2012 covers do you find beautiful?

In My Mailbox

2012-03-04T08:09:00.001-05:00


In My Mailbox is a weekly meme where we all share our loot, and it's hosted by The Story Siren.

From NetGalley

The Stone Girl by Alyssa B Sheinmel

Hanging by a Thread by Sophie Littlefield

Bought From Goodwill (for ten cents each!)

Roses and Bones by Francesca Lia Block

Jane by April Lindner

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

On The Nook

On the Fringe by Courtney Kind Walker

Everyone got Grave Mercy from NetGalley this week! I'm so insanely jealous and sad that I missed it!

What did you get in your mailbox?

Also, don't forget to enter by blog-birthday giveaway! Ends on the 7th.

Review: Of Poseidon

2012-03-03T07:34:00.001-05:00

Title: Of Poseidon
Author: Anna Banks
Pub Date: May 22nd, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Description: (Goodreads) Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.

What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.

Thoughts: OF POSEIDON is a refreshing paranormal romance wrought with tragedy, mystery, and discovery, set against a backdrop of the Jersey Shore. I was thoroughly engrossed in the mythology of OF POSEIDON's Syrena -- what we know as mermaids, but you'd better not call them that! A likable cast of characters pulls the whole book together, and I just could not get enough.

I loved Emma. I thought she was easy to relate to, and made decisions I probably would have made. She's strong in the face of tragedy and danger. And she's really, really funny.

However, I didn't exactly like Galen. He's the Syrena's ambassador to the humans, and he's smoking hot, and totally rich. But his entire race, the Syrena, and their culture are full of misogyny and I just couldn't get past it. I mean, I know it's part of his entire world, and we can't begin to understand how different cultures go about things sometimes, but he could have tried a little harder once he was on land with American humans.

The romance was cute and also humorous, what with Emma nearly knocking herself out every time they were in the same place -- whether she's ramming herself into his chest, or running into the hard steel of the cafeteria doors. I loved watching Galen teach Emma about herself, her powers, her history. He even took her to see the real Titanic! I loved how there was obviously instant attraction and instant lust, it took time for the trust and real feelings to build. Emma was not immediately sold on leaving her life, her scholarships and her family over one fish-boy.

My only problem with the whole story was the tendency towards info-dumping. I wish the author tried a different path in giving us the back story of the Syrena, or even the back story on the characters themselves. I quickly found myself confusing some of the characters and not really understanding what was going on. But once the action picked up a little and the mystery was starting to unravel, I easily forgot the confusion and was stuck in the story.

That ending was one hell of a cliffhanger. I know we're all used to that sort of thing in YA, but this was the worst! (Aside from MAYBE Delirium. They're about the same as far as screaming 'WHAT? NO! at the end of the book.) I literally kept clicking the page-turn button on my Nook, because I was convinced there was more. I want more! Considering OF POSEIDON doesn't come out until May, I think it's safe to say that I'll be waiting a pretty long time for the sequel.

I really loved OF POSEIDON. It had the right amount of romance balanced with mystery and just pure awesomeness. Also, no love-triangles or insta-love here! Emma is a strong, likable heroine, and I can't wait to see what's in store for her next.

In My Mailbox

2012-02-26T03:07:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

Here's what I got:

Bought on my Nook

Shatter by Elizabeth Mock

White Cat by Holly Black

From NetGalley

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

From GalleyGrab

Never Enough by Denise Jaden

This week on Pretty Deadly Reviews

I'll be reviewing The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

I'll be reviewing Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

And don't forget to enter my Blog Birthday Giveaway

Free Books!

2012-02-24T20:56:00.000-05:00

So I just joined Swagbucks, and admittedly, I don't really know what I'm doing.

But I do know enough to know that I've earned nearly 2,000 Swagbucks, which transferred into $15 in gift cards to Barnes and Noble. And I didn't pay a dime!

Seriously, I just clicked around on the website, looked at some 'special offers,' watched a few videos, and bam: fifteen bucks. I don't think it could have gotten easier than that.

If you want to join Swagbucks, just visit their website here. Trust me, it's the easiest, simplest thing in the world and it actually pays.

1 Year Bloggy-Versary Giveaway!

2012-02-22T21:01:00.000-05:00

My blog turned 1! Well, it happened a few days ago, and I totally missed it!

This year has been amazing. When I began my initial blogging journey, I had no idea what I was doing, and that there were so many other people out there doing the exact same things. The book blogging world is an absolutely rich, wonderful community, and I am so humbled and grateful to be a part of it. Thanks to the other marvelous bloggers out there, I've been exposed to tons of awesome books that I may never have heard about. I've had the opportunity to talk with authors, and to fan-girl about their work directly to them. I've joined awesome programs including NetGalley and Goodreads, and an awesome ARC tour site. And this year I get to go to BEA!

I've written 242 posts to date, and I've read over 100 books since I've started blogging. I am so, so grateful for the 500+ awesome followers that I've accumulated on GFC, and the 200+ I've gained on Twitter. When I carved out my own little corner of the bloggy world, I never would have guessed that so many people would want to read what I have to say. Every time I see that number go up, and every time I receive a comment, my heart flutters. I wouldn't be here without you guys!

To show my appreciation to all the people who've touched me in some way, whether it's reading and commenting on my blog, doling out some much-needed advice, or just being a truly inspiration blogger yourself, I've decided to host a giveaway!

One winner will get to chose one book from the following options:

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Tighter by Adele Griffin

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

The Dust of 100 Dogs by AS King

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Looking for Alaska by John Green

(links will take you to the Goodreads page)

Some ground rules:

Must be over 13

Contest is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you

You do not have to be a follower, but extra entries are awarded if you are!

Please be honest :)

Contest ends March 7th
If I miraculously reach 700 followers by March 7th, I'll add a second winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WWW Wednesdays

2012-02-22T08:10:00.000-05:00

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

Well, right now I am rereading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Partly because the movie's coming out soon, and also because I'm sick and really in the mood to read a comforting favorite.

I'm also reading Of Poseidon by Anna Banks. I'm only about 40 pages in so far, and I'm not really sure about it yet. We'll have to see.

What did you just finish reading?

I just recently read Holding on to Zoe by George Ella Lyon. That was really, really weird, and I'm still trying to figure out exactly what to say about it. Review to come, eventually.

What will you read next?

I have a ton ton ton of NetGalley books to get through, including Monument 14, Jersey Angel, Pieces of Us, Unbreak My Heart, and The Weepers. I'm excited about all of them, and they're top priority right now.

What about you? What are you reading this week?

Review: Being Friends with Boys

2012-02-21T19:26:00.001-05:00

Title: Being Friends with Boys
Author: Terra Elan McVoy
Pub Date: May, 2012
Source: S&S Galley Grab
Description: (Goodreads) Charlotte and Oliver have been friends forever. She knows that he, Abe, and Trip consider her to be one of the guys, and she likes it that way. She likes being the friend who keeps them all together. Likes offering a girl's perspective on their love lives. Likes being the behind-the-scenes wordsmith who writes all the lyrics for the boys' band. Char has a house full of stepsisters and a past full of backstabbing (female) ex-best friends, so for her, being friends with boys is refreshingly drama-free...until it isn't any more.

When a new boy enters the scene and makes Char feel like, well, a total girl...and two of her other friends have a falling out that may or may not be related to one of them deciding he possibly wants to be more than friends with Char...being friends with all these boys suddenly becomes a lot more complicated.

Thoughts: This book was adorable and fresh and a ton of fun to read. I'm not a huge fan of contemporary romance, you all know that, but for some reason, I could barely bring myself to put this down! Charlotte was cute and honest and I just loved her.

My whole life, since pre-K, my friends have always been boys. I was always the girl out on the black top riding big wheels, playing kick-ball, falling off the monkey bars, and getting dirt under my nails. As I got older, the relationships just solidified, and I found myself spending my high school years with just two girlfriends and ten boys. BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS definitely shows what it's like to, well, be friends with boys. The friendships can be just as intricate and complicated and delicate as one with a girl. Add in possible, or even pseudo romantic feelings, and everything just gets even more contrived.

BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS was realistic without making Charlotte seem like one of those girls who get stuck up just because boys like her. Instead, the friendships seemed authentic and organic and natural.   Trip, Oliver, Abe, Fabian, and Benji were noticeably different, and each boy's relationship with Char reflected their personalities. The book easily showed the history with Oliver, the complications with Trip, the easiness of Benji, and the natural click with Fabian.

My favorite parts, though, were the musical parts. I had no idea this book was about music -- making music, being in bands, singing, etc. McVoy used a voice that was easy to understand to the layperson, you don't need to be a musician to understand what's going on. I loved the introduction of Eli and Fabian to the band, and how we were shown how different the band moved forward with it. I wish the summary reflected how much emphasis was given to music -- it was a wonderful addition.

The ending was awesome. It was everything I wanted. I won't give it up, though, I don't want to spoil it. I love that there was no clear cut resolution. What did come though, was natural and felt real and wonderful and made me all gushy inside. And I am not a gushy kind of girl.

All in all this was a great read. I had lots of fun getting to know Charlotte -- who I love! -- and all the boys. I felt that BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS was so realistic, even down to the depictions of the boys' girlfriends and how they reacted around Char. McVoy's voice was fresh and fun and I would love to read some more of her work!

Review: Various Positions

2012-02-20T04:53:00.001-05:00

Title: Various Positions
Author: Martha Schabas
Pub Date: June, 2011/Feb, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Description: (Goodreads) Nuanced, fresh, and gorgeously well-written, Martha Schabas' extraordinary debut novel takes us inside the beauty and brutality of professional ballet, and the young women striving to make it in that world. Shy and introverted, and trapped between the hyper-sexualized world of her teenaged friends and her dysfunctional family, Georgia is only at ease when she's dancing. Fortunately, she's an unusually talented and promising dancer. When she is accepted into the notoriously exclusive Royal Ballet Academy--Canada's preeminent dance school--Georgia thinks she has made the perfect escape. In ballet, she finds the exhilarating control and power she lacks elsewhere in her life: physical, emotional and, increasingly, sexual.

This dynamic is nowhere more obvious than in Georgia's relationship with Artistic Director Roderick Allen. As Roderick singles her out as a star and subjects her to increasingly vicious training, Georgia obsesses about becoming his perfect student, disciplined and sexless. But a disturbing incident with a stranger on the subway, coupled with her dawning recognition of the truth of her parents' unhappy marriage, causes her to radically reassess her ideas about physical boundaries--a reassessment that threatens both Roderick's future at the academy and Georgia's ambitions as a ballerina.

Thoughts: Wow, what a roller-coaster ride. VARIOUS POSITIONS was an emotional read for me. I had that constant feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was very, very wrong, and I couldn't do anything to stop it. So much like that proverbial train wreck everyone talks about, this book held my attention through and through, and I just could not look away.

Georgia, the 14 year old ballerina protagonist seemed too mature, and yet too naive for her age. She spoke in a way that was much older than she was, and yet did not have the social skills that a 14-year-old girl should have. She misinterpreted nearly everyone around her. By the end of the book I was left wondering if maybe she lived with a spectrum disorder -- not a severe one, but just enough to affect her social interactions.

Halfway through the book Georgia starts to have sexual feelings towards her ballet instructor. This sets the wheels in motion for the catastrophe alluded to in the prologue. She deludes herself completely into believing he feels the same way towards her, and ends up making some very fatal, career-damning mistakes because of it.

Nearly every thought that crossed Georgia's mind made its way back to sex. I get that teenage girls are starting to grow into womanhood and yes, even at that age, think about sex. But when I was fourteen, I didn't ONLY think of sex. I thought about my friends, and my personal trainer, my athletic career, and sex, too. I don't think it's uncommon for sex to at least be talked about in that age range, but when it's all a girl can think about I think that there's something wrong there.

Now, all these points may seem negative, but trust me, they're not. I really did love this book. I could see that something was wrong with Georgia, sympathize with her when her parents' marriage fell apart, and even understand a crush on her teacher -- a stable male influence in her life. Coupled with the fact that her parents had the same student-teacher relationship when they met, I understood that it make perfect sense to Georgia, and she used that as more ammunition to further her delusions.

I think VARIOUS POSITIONS is an important book, or at least, is has an important message. VARIOUS POSITIONS opens the door to great conversation, about eating disorders and pressures for thinness, and also about how girls younger and younger are becoming more and more sexualized. If you can handle lewd comments from teenagers, and enjoy a good ballet book, I'd recommend reading VARIOUS POSITIONS. It was an entertaining read, with a sympathetic protagonist/antagonist.

Review: Still Waters

2012-02-11T01:43:00.000-05:00

Title: Still Waters
Author: Emma Carlson Berne
Source: Around the World ARC Tours
Description: (Goodreads) Hannah can't wait to sneak off for a romantic weekend with her boyfriend, Colin. He's leaving for college soon, and Hannah wants their trip to the lake house to be one they'll never forget. But once Hannah and Colin get there, things start to seem a bit...off. They can't find the town on any map. The house they are staying in looks as if someone's been living there, even though it's been deserted for years. And Colin doesn't seem quite himself. As he grows more unstable, Hannah worries about Colin's dark side, and her own safety.
Nothing is as perfect as it seems, and what lies beneath may haunt her forever.

Thoughts: I just finished this book and I had to rush downstairs to get my review done quickly... lest the entire book escape my memory. Nothing much happened, and it's not the type of book that leaves you thinking long after you're done reading it.

I couldn't really connect to Hannah, the girl you're supposed to really root for and whatnot. The entire time we're told how responsible and reserved and geeky she is, but we never see that. We're told that she does what she's supposed to do and never acts with any sort of spontaneity. Told. Not shown. Hannah, while unremarkable on all accounts, exhibits none of the characteristics we're constantly having beaten into us. The worst part is that she acted spontaneous to get the book rolling. That's right, Berne had her character act out of character in order to have a plot. For me, that doesn't make sense, but whatever.

STILL WATERS is only about 200 pages but for me that felt really, really long for the amount of action. Literally nothing happened until the last forty pages -- and as soon as it started it was over. The mystery was interesting and even the solution and causes were begetting. But at the end of the book I just felt nothing. I didn't outright hate it (though I did get annoyed with blown out windows on abandoned buildings being referred to as blinded eyes.)

I usually love thrillers. They're my favorites along with dystopians. And when I found out Emma Carlson Berne is the author of Choker, written under the name Elizabeth Woods, I was doubly excited to read STILL WATERS. I loved Choker -- A LOT. In the end though, STILL WATERS was neither a mind-blowing work of art, nor a let down. It was a quick short read with a romantic ingredient that's good for a rainy afternoon.

Book Blogger Confessions

2012-02-06T00:35:00.001-05:00

Book Blogger Confessions is hosted by For What It's Worth Reviews, and Tiger's All-Consuming Media

Q Deadlines for reviewing and blogging. Do you set them? How do you keep them? What do you do if you can't meet a deadline?

A For the most part, I try to set as few deadlines as I can. Reading is something I like to do for fun. I don't like to put pressure on it -- with things like deadlines, taking notes, making sure I write a review. I try to post often, but I don't like to fill my site with fluff like wish lists and things like that. So if I don't have anything to say, I say nothing.

Sometimes, though, I have to set a deadline. I participate in an ARC tour site, and so I have a week to read the book, and two weeks to review it. If I don't adhere to those guidelines, I get strikes and so forth. The worst part about this is that I'm a very moody reader, so if I'm not in the mood to read the book I signed up for, and I have to, it makes for an altogether miserable reading experience. Unless I find a book that completely blows me away.

My whole life I've been unable to keep and meet deadlines for myself. I'm truly not self disciplined -- at all. At all. But I really thrive in a seat-of-your-pants environment, so it works for me. I understand there are lots of people out there who flourish under pressure, or work well in a structured environment. It's just not for me -- never has been.

Wicked Winter Readathon -- WRAP UP

2012-02-03T04:13:00.001-05:00

So on a whim I decided to join the Wicked Winter readathon. This weekend I'm going out to see my dad and brother, to celebrate my dad's birthday, and watch the game. Suffice to say, I will be pretty busy. But I have two two-hour long drives, so with that and downtime, I'd like to read at least two books this weekend.

The Possible Titles

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Mou

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block

Life is but a Dream by Brian James

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

I'm a big mood reader, so I'm not sure what I'll be in the mood for. I just picked the ones that are from the library and due to expire soon, or ones that have been sitting in my Nook the longest. Wish me luck, and good luck to all the other participants :)

I didn't participate in any challenges. I had a super busy weekend celebrating my dad's birthday and partaking in some all around debauchery. (My dad is a terrible influence. I hang out with my friends, and we're at the library. I hang out with my dad, and I stumble home at 3am smelling like a distillery.)
I read and finished The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block.
And I put a big fat DNF stamp on Wicked Lovely. I just don't understand how it got so popular!
I hope everyone who participated met their goals. I know it would be a tough weekend to squeeze some reading into, but at least I finished one book!