Smitten over Books

A Quick Post from the Dead

2013-03-09T14:47:00.000+08:00

Hello you guys! Just typing this short post for everyone who's been asking about my whereabouts. I'm still alive, thank God! I'm currently preparing for my upcoming graduation this March 22 so I am every bit as busy as those who are taking their final examinations before the term ends.

Hopefully when all the crazy subsides, I could come back. But that's not for another 2 months, I guess, because I'll be taking my licensure examination this coming June. Maybe after that?

I hope you guys are doing okay. I can't wait to fully start reading and blogging again. My reading pile is in dire need of a reader and I wish that could be me soon. I wish to come back with a very good news and a fantastic giveaway to spark things up again.

That's all. Tata for now.

Greetings + Winner Announcement

2012-12-25T21:00:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! Merry Christmas! How's the holidays going for you? In the Philippines, Christmas is pretty crazy mainly because it's the time of the year for everyone in the family to get together and celebrate. This year, our Christmas is a little quiet and hot but the important thing is it's peaceful and we get to spend quality time with each other.

This day also marks the end of my blogoversary giveaway and I've already contacted the winner. So who's the lucky one? It's... *drumrolls*

Congratulations! I've sent an email and I'm just waiting for the confirmation. Thank you for everyone who entered. You made my 1st ever blogoversary special. Thank you, thank you so much!

Now let's get back to the festivities, shall we? Ho, ho, ho. ;)

Where Have I Been?

2012-12-10T01:56:00.001+08:00

Image from ralphtherobot.com

So here I am again. I can't believe I have neglected my blog for almost 3 weeks straight now. And I can't believe I am going to write this type of post again. I thought I am going to have time to finally blog again because our schedule is not as crazy as before. But again, I was wrong.

Just last Wednesday to Friday, we had our retreat. Then on Sunday, we had our Grad Pic. I am graduating soon! I am so excited for that end goal, I keep forgetting about the remaining days I have at college. So I decided to take a step back yet again in blogging to try to spend more time out there. It's just that I keep my head buried in books all the time, not that it's a bad thing, but I will try to tone it down this time.

I don't know when I'll be back. Maybe next week, after Christmas, next year. I just don't want to push myself into committing to a definite time I am fairly certain I couldn't follow. The thing about me is the more I try to schedule stuff in advance, the more I deviate from it and procrastinate. That's why I think I'll work as I go. :)

My blogoversary giveaway is still ongoing by the way and I'd post long overdue reviews soon but I can't comment or reply to comments as much as before.

That's it, I guess. I'll be back indefinitely. But I think the more important thing is, I'll be back. Until then, folks.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (13): Just One Day

2012-11-28T13:00:00.000+08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Book: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Publisher: Dutton Junevile

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay.

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon! - From Goodreads

Ever heard of If I Stay? Where She Went? Those two are my most favorite books ever and they're both written by no other than Gayle Forman. So it's kind of implied that I'm dying to read more of her works. I just know I'd love them as much if not more.

What are you waiting on?

Leave your link down below so I can check yours out.

P.S. Want to win a copy of this book? You SHOULD really head here. ;)

"Waiting On" Wednesday (12): Crash

2012-11-21T13:00:00.000+08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Book: Crash (Vision #1) by Lisa McMann

Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Publisher: Simon Pulse

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Timesbestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality. - From Goodreads

Ever since I read the Wake Trilogy, I promise I read anything McMann's write. Crash looks incredibly intriguing. I know McMann and I bet this book will be one heck of a thrilling ride. I simply cannot wait!

What are you waiting on?

Leave your link down below so I can check yours out.

P.S. Want to win a copy of this book? You SHOULD really head here. ;)

Review: Renegade by J.A. Souders

2012-11-19T22:52:00.003+08:00

Read from November 9, 2012 to
November 13, 2012

Book: Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles #1) by J.A. Souders

Publication Date: November 13, 2012

Publisher: Tor Teen

Number of Pages: 364

Genre/s: Young Adult, Dystopia

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie.

Her memories have been altered.

Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.

And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all. - From Goodreads

I've been hearing quite a buzz for Renegade long before I finally succumbed and requested it via Netgalley. I'm really glad I did because I would have surely regret it if I haven't.

If I would have to describe Renegade in one word it would be unconventional. It's unlike anything I've ever read before. It feels different. It reads different. I knew from the moment guns were mentioned, I was in trouble.

I'm not the kind of reader who rereads synopsis every time I start a book; I just dive right in. So my preconception of Renegade was it's a fairy tale or mythological retelling slash dystopian of some sort. While Renegade proved me wrong cause it wasn't any kind of retelling in the slightest, it was so much more. My surprise could be attributed to its cover. I mean look at that cover! It's gorgeous, yes, but it's another pretty girl in the cover. It's so unassuming and honestly it felt generic but from the very first page up to the last, I could definitely say that cover worked as an advantage to this novel.

I really liked the pacing of the novel as well. Never was there a dull or dragging moment. Plot-wise, it's almost...quirky, setting its own unique brand of storytelling cause it seeps into you and it makes you feel bewildered and unsure of what you're really reading. When events started unraveling and I got a sense of what was really happening, the memory loss, the turrets suddenly blasting people off like targets from a carnival, DNAs swiped from the system, unCoupling licenses revoked, mandatory Festival attendance; the seemingly neat and immaculate system begun to feel very chaotic. The very structure of their world while rigid and unyielding to anything short of perfect and subservient was cracked from the core.

We are all Mother’s children. It is a privilege to show her our ultimate obedience to her laws.—engraved on a pillar in the Square, Sector Two

The charm of Renegade basically comes down to Evie. She's so bad-ass, it hurts. The meek girl went from defiant, to violent; intent on getting out. It's like the perfect character growth. I like my heroine likeable even without the help of her love interest and someone who can kick people's behind. She literally stumps Gavin presence in the process. I'm like Gavin who? And the villain in this story, goodness. Souders knows how to get in people's skin, doesn't she? Mother is like the perfect villain. With just enough background to somehow give justice in her actions, well, at least in a villain point of view. She's heartless, manipulative, and cold. Most of all, she's everywhere.

Renegade manages to stand out from the rest of what I've read this year mainly because it's every bit unpredictable. It seemed like the first half of the book started in a different world then the second half felt like an action movie then the last half seemed like a horror movie slash thriller. It went from tame to gory. It defied all expectations. Just when it's becoming too easy, Souders would begin dropping bombs too keep you at the edge of your seat.

Also once you realized those little hints along the way, it'd make you just whistle with appreciation with how she handled everything stealthily and sneakily. She savored planting them and when you set one off, everything else just explodes in your face. I think aside from being an author, Souders is a bombranger cause when she chucks one, she doesn't miss.

It takes one girl, a supposedly daft and docile girl, and one banged-up Surface Dweller to get things going and once it started it won't stop. The perfect formula, I daresay.

Cupid's Verdict:

4 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley

Owl Post (4)

2012-11-18T00:00:00.000+08:00

Today's Owl Post entry will be dedicated to my awesome experience at the National Book Store Warehouse Sale. I think all my Filipino friends and readers would be able to relate to this. ;)

So last Thursday, November 15, my friend and I went to the 1st day of sale. The place was packed-full of people and even though we arrived early in the afternoon, the payment line was already long. It was hot and chaotic but the place was filled with this kind of energy that would make you really giddy and excited. People were milling around and books were everywhere. Some were kind of ''harassing'' NBS staffs who were carrying boxes filled with new books to display so they could immediately get their hands on whatever books were there inside. It's like the zombie apocalypse just substitute brains for books.

Whoever this lady in blue is, thank you for being my muse. :P

There were no push carts available anymore so we have to literally haul our books in makeshift boxes so we could carry them around. After about 3 hours of shopping and lining up in the payment counter, my friend and I were dirty and sweaty all over. And then we have to commute home with the box.

This box was so heavy! But thinking that it's filled with good stuffs made it somehow lighter.

We were exhausted but it was really worth it. Up to 80% off on books and school materials! It was like heaven for someone like me.

The outcome of the book sale conquest.

Minus the school stuffs, I spent just around P 750 ($18) on books. I took home 7 hardbacks, 1 audiobook and 1 paperback, all in good condition!

The breakdown:

~Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (Audiobook) -- from P 2015 ($49) to 200 ($4.8)

~Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin -- from P 515 ($12.5) to 50 ($1.2)

~Lucky Breaks by Susan Patron -- from P 615 ($15) to 100 ($2.4)

~Firebirds Soaring (Anthology) -- from P 785 ($19) to P 75 ($1.8)

~The Necromancer by Michael Scot -- from P 625 ($15.2) to P 75 ($1.8)

~Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr -- from P 645 ($15.7) to P 50 ($1.2)

~Passing Strange by Daniel Waters -- from P 615 ($15) to 50 ($1.2)
~Stop in the Name of Pants! by Louise Rennison -- from P 569 ($13.8) to P 50 ($1.2)
~Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? -- from P 615 ($15) to P 100 ($2.4)

Look at these new beauties! I went home very satisfied indeed! :D By the way guys, you could still make it to the sale. Today is the last day and it will be open from 10 AM to 7 PM. Seriously, you have to go. For more details click here.

So what books did you get this week?

Leave your link on your own book haul post down below!

P.S. I have a giveaway going on. Everyone is welcome to enter.

Review: Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin

2012-11-09T20:00:00.000+08:00

Read from August 8, 2012
to August 9, 2012

Book: Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin

Publication Date: August 21, 2012

Publisher: Razorbill

Number of Pages: 304

Genre/s: Middle Grade

When Lorelei's old school mysteriously burns down, a new one appears practically overnight: Splendid Academy. Rock-climbing walls on the playground and golden bowls of candy on every desk? Gourmet meals in the cafeteria, served by waiters? Optional homework and two recess periods a day? It's every kids's dream.

But Lorelei and her new friend Andrew are pretty sure it's too good to be true. Together they uncover a sinister mystery, one with their teacher, the beautiful Ms. Morrigan, at the very center.

Then Andrew disappears. Lorelei has to save him, even if that means facing a past she'd like to forget – and taking on a teacher who's a real witch.

What Lorelei and Andrew discover chills their bones – and might even pick them clean! - From Goodreads

''Use your imagination, Lorelei, and your whole life can be a fairy tale."

I've read Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy back in August. I know my review is splendidly late and my memory of the details in this book are blurry at most, but I could tell you that Sinister Sweetness is a unique, entertaining read.

Actually, what stuck to me was the sand. Oh, of course the never ending Skittles supplies and any candy imaginable was quite sumptuous and heavenly to think about but what I most remember was the part wherein Lorelei and Andrew ate the sand. Well, not exactly like that but they did eat the sand.

OK, we're not getting anywhere. In all honesty, I would've incredibly enjoyed Sinister Sweetness if I've read it when I was a kid. Growing up as a strange kid, I loved everything chilly and spooky. I craved to read about witches, ghosts, and creepy entities. So really, this book would just be right up my alley. I know that's not fair since it's an MG book and I knew what I'm getting myself into but there are some MG books around that cater to both kids and adults-who-are-still-hang-up-on-reading-kids-book (like me!) . Basically, while this book would be enjoyable for adults, too, I think kids would devour this up more.

Sinister Sweetness doesn't shy away from being dark and creepy at times. Lorelei is an adorable kid although she's branded as quite the troublemaker and she carry this guilt inside of her that makes her a bit edgy. In the end though, her true character shined through.

Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy doesn't just boast a gorgeous cover and one of the most longest and intriguing title I've ever seen but it speaks volume about forgiveness and finding your true self in the most dreadful situations. This is Loftin's debut novel and I'm definitely looking forward to her future works, MG or not.

I'm still hang up on this though: I can't believe that another type of almond in wrong mixtures and doses could produce cyanide, a deadly poison. But thanks for the heads-up, Nikki!

4 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (11): The Archived

2012-11-07T12:00:00.000+08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Book: The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Publication Date: January 22, 2013

Publisher: Hyperion

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption. - From Goodreads

YOU GUYS! This book is going to be so big next year. I'm telling you. I can feel it in my bones. This book is like a firework waiting to explode. I happen to read a sneak peek in Netgalley, thanks to Hyperion and it's so gooood. For full coverage, you should click here.

It feels like torture because we have to wait til' January to read this. *stares in space*

What are you waiting on?

Leave your link down below so I can check yours out.

P.S. Want to WIN a pre-order of this book? Chase.......this. ;)

Review: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

2012-11-06T20:04:00.000+08:00

Read from October 3 2012
to October 12, 2012

Book: The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan
Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Publisher: Hyperion

Number of Pages: 586

Genre/s: Young Adult, Mythology

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close— the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare... - From Goodreads

"Being a hero doesn't mean you're invincible. It just means that you're brave enough to stand up and do what's needed."

Rick Riordan did it again, folks. He did it again.

I don't know how he does it. I don't know how he keeps coming up with these kind of stories. He keeps on going, churning, cracking; I'm afraid he's never going to stop. My poor, poor emotions. *sniffs*

In this latest installment, seven demigods must accomplished a seemingly impossible task to save Rome from the evil awakening of Gaea and follow the mark of Athena. But it wasn't going to be easy. As always, they have to faced gazillions of monsters, trick creepy and sinister gods, and withstand deadly plots left and right.

These demigods coming from two opposing camps must work together in order to decode the prophecy and survive what it entails. Working together? Sounds peachy, right? But if there's anything peachy in The Mark of Athena, it would've only come out of Piper's cornucopia. First of all, their adventure didn't get off to the right start. The plan was to come to the Roman camp, make peace, and ask for their assistance in the upcoming confrontation with the forces of Gaea but it was a disaster. Now aside from running away from tracking eagles and angry Roman demigods, they must now discover a way to amend the old quarrel that's deeply rooted between the Romans and the Greeks as well as defeat their ultimate foe.

What I liked most about The Mark of Athena is the growing friendship between the demigods from different camps. It's good to see the group start to become more. At first their relationships were a little bit rusty; they're only allies and they only help each other to survive another challenge. But little by little, secrets were shared and trusts were gained.

It's also so endearing to see how the characters came to terms with their limitations and how they have to be extra resourceful to outwit their crazy, easily distracted enemies. It was a test of character in the most grueling of situations. These "monsterly" and "godly" circumstances weren't the only things they have to face because the real challenge was from within. They have to overcome their inner fears, doubts and vulnerabilities. In the process, they discovered more about themselves and realized where their strengths lay and what it truly meant. Seeing these seemingly indestructible demigods go through this made what they're going through more realistic and relatable.

The Mark of Athena was a bit on the romantic side, too, what with everyone pairing off. Also, the little stand-off between Percy and Jason was very cool to watch. Both are leaders and carry great responsibilities but we were made more aware of their stark differences. I've always been Team Percy basically because he's way cooler (oops! sorry to Jason shippers). Jason is a little uptight, quiet, and broody. Percy has this unwavering knack in scoffing at monsters that showed both his boldness and foolishness. The "spark of friendship" between the two of them while expected was a surprise to see.

True to his way of writing, Riordan didn't fail to disappoint. Riordan's carefree, comical writing was like a breath of fresh sea air. It was a welcome deviation from the books I'm currently into now. Without a doubt, most of the funny moments came from Percy and Leo.

In The Mark of Athena, Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Jason, Piper, Hazel and Frank will embark in their most adventurous journey yet. This is another epic installment coming from one of my most favorite author in the world. I salute you, Riordan. Now please go work on the next installment. I shall hibernate until Fall 2013.

Cupid's Verdict:

4 1/2 Cupids

1st Blogoversary Celebration + Giveaway

2012-11-05T12:01:00.000+08:00

I celebrated my 1st ever blogoversay last November 1 to November 4, 2012. Those days signifies the hours I spent on creating my blog before my 1st ever REAL post went live. I can't believe I made it this far. It's always been said that the book blogging community is like a family and I could attest to that. I met new people, incredible, fantastic people and gained new friends across the world just because we share the same love and interest. To me, that is priceless and I am forever thankful for this community who accepted and welcome newbies like us.

I have also discovered a lot of gems I wouldn't even know exist. I squealed and swoon over hot fictional guys. My book buying which wasn't really a problem before has now actually taking over my life.

I've changed, too. I mean, I will always be a book sniffer and a book ninja. The 99% increase in my spam emails isn't the only evidence of this change but my reading has exponentially evolved into something I'm still trying to adapt to. I don't only read for me now. But even though blogging is one heck of a commitment and I had my fair share of book slumps which I never even have experienced before and mini-breaks that takes weeks, something always brings me back. I think I don't have to spell that out, right? ;)

Because of all you I would've never reach this milestone. Thank you so much.

WOOOOOO. The cheesefest is oooooon! This is kind of getting toxic so let me end that there. On to the giveaway business don't ya think?

I'm particularly excited about next year book releases. You have no idea how much I'm planning on saving up just so I could snag those books. Now, I'm giving you a chance to win 1 book from 11 of my most anticipated January book release next year. It's going to be a preorder giveaway! Doesn't that sound great? YEAAAAH!

THE BIG 11

These are stand-alone novels so you guys don't have to worry about having read or rereading the previous installment/s.

Paper Valentine | Mind Games | Crash

Just One Day | Teeth

***

These are second installments. Others enjoyed the first books tremendously and they were well-written but somehow they didn't work for me. But I'm still excited to read what happens next and maybe this time I will love them.

Asunder | Everbound | Through the Ever Night

***

I love the Unearthly series so much. I just know Boundless is going to be spectacular. Whilst Boundless is the end of a series, The Archived will be the start of another one. I haven't read Legend yet but I will before Prodigy comes out. Both The Archived and Prodigy are making waves this early. *waggles eyebrows*

Boundless | The Archived | Prodigy

This is strictly a PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY meaning you can only choose from the choices above. Only ONE entry is mandatory but there are additional entries to increase your chances of winning. All books are linked up to Goodreads for your perusing. This giveaway is open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your country. Enter away and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep Rocking! :D

Taking A Break

2012-10-29T21:53:00.000+08:00

Well, not really. ;)
Photo taken from remoteoutposts.blogspot.com

This topic is actually kind of moot since I've been MIA since last week. I just want to make it more formal so that everyone can be assured that I'm still alive.

Just last Sunday, my mom went ballistic and hacked my Facebook account so she could get a hold of me since by her mommy instinct I was in trouble which is not really the case. At all. I've just been asleep in my dormitory bed dreaming about something particularly important when I was still in REM sleep. Bottom line, I woke up finding everyone looking for me like I'm some kind of abducted person.

Not that any of you care about that drama but yes, I'm really taking a break. My wide schedule was apparently not wide enough and we, graduating students, have been really busy sharping our minds these past weeks. There was no reading done but I am really going to catch up. I am going to read till I drop. Pinky swear!

I know this post has gone for far too long and I'm really eager on starting my reading marathon so I guess it's tata for now. I'll be back sometime in November to celebrate my blogoversary! I am so excited!! Can you feel it?! EEEEEP!

Also, I am praying for everyone who will be on Hurricane Sandy's path. Stay dry and safe everyone. Stack up on books, too. I promise it'll be of great help. I know. ;)

Owl Post (3)

2012-10-27T08:45:00.000+08:00

Meme created by Brodie of Eleusinian Mysteries.
Inspired by In My Mailbox by Kristi of The Story Siren.

Hi ya guys! I AM BACK! And with my return comes the long overdue Owl Post. I haven't done one since last September. *gasp*

This month's Owl Post is pretty tame compared with the previous one since I've been on a self-implemented Book Buying Ban mostly because I'm broke although I bend it just a teeny bit. ;) But I could say my owl was still quite happy about this.

Latter-Half of September

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna. I've preordered this even before its release but it took another month before it got here. Last Wednesday, I finally finished it. I could definitely say it's worth the wait.

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer. I won this from a STORM blog tour before hosted by Brodie from Eleusinian Mysteries and 8 other bloggers. I also won the first one, Storm and the ebook, Elemental. Spark was published just last August and as usual, I got it super later than that. Heh.

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzch. Got this one from the Book Sale. I managed to read a few chapters and it's gory and bloody. I love it! Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty. I really squealed over this one. This was from the Book Sale, too. Everyone I know loved this and I'm looking forward to reading this myself.

September 27

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. This is the new book by the Queen. I begged my parents so hard to buy me a copy of this and I have to preorder it to avail the 30% off the price because if not, I don't think I'm going to afford it. I think my charm-o-meter had been reset to 0 again due to the intense sweet-talking. But none of it matter in the end. Hmp. I've been reading this slowly and honestly, it's not the book I usually read and enjoy. Was it worth all that money? Let me get back to you on that.

Oh yeaah. The book bag was part of the promotional marketing for the book like the Queen's name is not enough for people to buy it just because. There's also a gift card and a letter coming from the local bookstore explaining about the sudden decrease in the pricing which was quite controversial but that's actually a different story for another day.

October

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I bought these books because I haven't started yet on my Classics Reading Challenge. Now I'm prepared and ready to start anytime, I'm just waiting for the inspiration to entice me to pick them up.

Ravens by George Dawes Green. This was pretty pricey coming from the Book Sale but when I read the blurb at the back of the book, I was sold. The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I just have to read this. That is all.

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan. You have no idea how much I have anticipated for this. It actually set my final exam results on fire because instead of studying, I read this. It actually took me so long to finish it because every now and then I have to pause for awhile so I could rest my hand. It hurt from trying not to crease the spine. Being a book ninja sucks especially when you're reading a thick paperback!

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. I bought these two because they're so cheap and both sound promising!

E-galleys

I always forget about them so I decided that instead of including all the missed ones, I'm just going to include the recent ones.

Thank you to Harlequin, Flux Books, St. Martin's Press, Simon & Schuster, Stoke Books, ABRAMS, Andrea K. Hösth, and Coscom Entertainment. Thank you of course to Netgalley as well!

How about you guys? What books did you haul this weekend/month?

Don't forget to leave your links on the comment section below

with your own Book Haul posts! :)

Review: Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

2012-10-16T20:40:00.002+08:00

Read from July 22, 2012
to August 8, 2012

Book: Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

Publication Date: July 31, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Number of Pages: 384

Genre/s: Young Adult, Contemporary

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again. - From Goodreads

"I love you enough to never make you choose."

Pushing the Limits surprised me. It was an emotional journey all throughout and I loved every second of it.

Both coming from a troubled, imperfect life, Noah and Echo have a lot of issues. But in an unexpected turn of events, they crossed each others path and they couldn't deny the sudden, intense attraction they felt for each other.

Boy, I wasn't expecting this book to be heavy. It was a can full of issues and predicaments that I am entirely in awe of McGarry for really making it work. It wasn't dreary, galling nor was it ever dragging. It was drama with all the perks. I think most of what I truly loved from Pushing the Limits was the characters. The main and supporting characters were fully rounded. They were solidly developed and they were utterly real.

Noah and Echo had an amazing chemistry together. Suffering from great losses, they were pretty messed up but together they brought each other alive. I loved seeing them grow and accept what had happened to them. It was like watching a withered rose bloom again. The scars would of course stay with them for a very long time even forever but they gave each other hope. That everything would be alright as long they're together. It was I think one of the main reasons why they completely compliment each other.

Hooking me right from the first page, Pushing the Limits is one of my favorite contemporary read this year. I must say I found myself sniffling and feeling this tightness in my throat. McGarry had created a novel that would surely stir something in our hearts. It broke my heart in many different moments and just so you know, I'm still quite on the mending phase.

4 1/2 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley

Review: Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

2012-10-12T21:22:00.000+08:00

Read from October 3, 2012
to October 7, 2012

Book: Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Number of Pages: 304

Genre/s: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother, EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure, Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster than physically possible.

While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like Evening, he’s never questioned anything... until now. Solo drops hints to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it. Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world completely. - From Goodreads

It's the fate of all creators: They fall in love with their creations.

Eve and Adam is a tricky book to judge. If I have read it back then, I'd surely enjoy it more. Much more.

In a way, Eve and Adam is a fluffy read for me. It almost seemed like it doesn't take itself too seriously and I really appreciated that. I had my first few laughs just a few pages in, a rare feat I guess, what with the types of book I'm reading now. So that's a really pleasant surprise.

Evening, or E.V. to Aislin or Eve to Solo, is the daughter of Terra Spiker, the owner of the Spiker Biotech. Her mother is a force to reckon with and everyone is incredibly afraid of her. Evening has been in a terrible accident and that's where he meets Solo. The boy with the blue eyes and a surfer's hair and with whom she feels strangely attracted to. But Evening isn't really normal nor is Solo who is intent to bring Terra Spiker and her corporation down.

So before we all go through this, can someone please tell me who's EmmaRose in the synopsis? Did I somehow miss this while I was reading because for all I know, Eve's mother is called Terra. OK, now that's out of the way let me continue.

There's something missing with Eve and Adam. Like something's off and I'm still trying to figure what exactly is it. It's funny and entertaining, the concept is intriguing. I just don't understand what stopped me from enjoying and loving this fully. Maybe the "carefreeness" of the writing backfired or the villains were somehow laughable and pathetic. The villains were indeed pretty pathetic which I guess is how the authors intended them to be, but I really didn't dig it so much. Eve is an OK protagonist as well but I didn't really like her as much as Solo and Aislin.

I'm excited to see more of Adam though. Not because he's hotness-personified or traffic-stopping or jaw-dropping or cab-hailingly gorgeous but because I want to learn more about him and I want to know if he will grow to be an ordinary human boy. Oh now that sounds like Pinnochio. But perhaps, I just want to see more of Aislin in action. She could be jarringly likeable.

Cupid's Verdict:

2 1/2 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley

Review: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

2012-10-08T21:35:00.000+08:00

Read from August 26, 2012
to September 30, 2012

Book: Breathe (Breathe #1) by Sarah Crossan

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Publisher: Greenwillow

Number of Pages: 400

Genre/s: Young Adult, Dystopia

Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe . . .
The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina
has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to? - From Goodreads

The main draw of Breathe was its synopsis. It was intriguing and I think dystopian fans would eat it up or at least put this book on their radar. I know I did. And while I wasn't really engrossed by the story, Breathe has its moments.

The first and the last part of the book were the ones I really liked. Narrated by three characters; a rebel, an Auxiliary and a Premium, it made the storytelling more diverse. But there were plenty of lull moments and it didn't help that I felt that I read this type of dystopian a thousand times before. I want something new, something that would make me think and feel. Maybe that's also the reason why although I have a short-term memory when it comes to names, Alina, Bea and Quinn would be forgotten extra fast. They're not just very memorable.

What a harsh thing to say, no? But the thing is Crossan has a way with words and timing. At times when I feel like I'm reading just for the sake of reading and finishing the book, she comes up with something and it's like getting doused with a cold water in the face. She has a way of pulling the readers back to her story again, to make them more invested into it. There was also this quite touching scene with Quinn's father that had me aww-ing a little.

Overall, I believe Breathe would be enjoyable for a lot of readers who are into dystopian. It didn't really work for me but I'm still definitely watching out for Crossan's future works.

Cupid's Verdict:

3 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Edelweiss

Random Ramblings (21): Getting Right on Track

2012-10-07T20:47:00.000+08:00

Hey guys! Some of you might have noticed how sporadic is my presence here on the blog. I've been in and out and mostly just posting prescheduled reviews. It's even hard to keep up with my Owl Posts and Waiting on Wednesday memes. I think the same could be said with my Twitter activities, although when I'm there, I'm really there. If you know what I mean. ;)

I am very much happy to announced that my schedule has cleared up for much of the foreseeable future. The requirements had let up and we graduating seniors will be in for chill times. Oh I didn't jinx it, did I?

Anyways, for those of you guys who want to know what I have been doing this past few months, it was the THESIS. Me and my thesis-mates we're neck-deep in our thesis revisions and just last Thursday, we had our thesis defense. We got a merittisimus guys. The highest grade. I think I have the right to brag a little because I almost lost my marbles before that fateful day. That was like the highlight of my week until I watched The Perks of Being A Wallflower which is superbly adapted and all kinds of amazing. A must-watch!

Image from crushable.com

PERCY JACKSON and HERMIONE GRANGER FTW!

Also, I have been catching up on my TV series just so I could be in sync with the onslaught of the latest new episodes this Fall. I've been heavily reading as well and there's a building pile of books I have yet to review.

I am also using Feedcat now. For those of you who haven't heard about the Feedburner issue, all I can understand is it's not going to be as reliable as before. However as long as its working, I'm not going to remove it but the Feedcat is here to stay. So for those of you awesome bookstrucks who want to follow that way, I'm gonna send you virtual cookies and hugs. The Feedcat is on the sidebar BTW.

Photo by evi_vintage on Flickr

Pick your cupcake. Thank you for being awesome!

That's it guys. I am very sorry for this quite lengthy post. I guess I missed writing one! See ya guys around!

Much love,
Sarah

"Waiting On" Wednesday (10): The Darkest Minds

2012-10-03T00:00:00.000+08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Book: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Publication Date: December 18, 2012

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have been cursed with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby has spent nearly half her life desperately trying to hide the fact that she’s outwitted the camp’s sorting system—that she isn’t powerless, or safe. She’s one of the dangerous ones… and everyone knows what happens to them.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of teens who escaped their own camp, pursued along the way by terrifying bounty hunters. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close to him. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Before the end, Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living. - Goodreads

I am pretty sure I will be in for a ride when I get the chance to read this. It looks like it's full of adventure with a dash of romance, perhaps? Ruby sure has a tough life ahead of her and I am definitely excited to know more and learn the details. ;)

What are you waiting on?

Leave your link down below so I can check yours out.

Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

2012-10-02T18:30:00.000+08:00

Book: Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin

Publication Date: October 4, 2012

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Number of Pages: 360

Genre/s: Young Adult, Dystopia

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back. - From Goodreads

It was Under the Never Sky all over again.

In all honesty, I was so much looking forward to reading Crewel. I read so many favorable reviews about it and the premise really got my attention that not shortly thereafter I began pining for it. I was expecting a lot of squealing with the likes of "OMG"/"HOLY SHIDOODLES"/"FRAKING FANTASTIC"/"SQUEEEEE!"/"BESTBOOKEVUH!"/"AMAZINGBALLS". But unfortunately, I didn't get what I was expecting.

Sometimes when you read a book and no matter how insanely unlikeable it is when you take into consideration your reading standards, you will still like it or even love it. But there are also times when a book that you should supposed to like or love just fails to capture you. That "thing" that will make or break a book could be a single element or the entirety of the book but when that "thing" is present, everything will surely work out.

Just like what happened with Under the Never Sky, I can't seem to pinpoint just when did Crewel start to lose me. It started really well. It was unputdownable, I immediately fell in love with the protagonist, Adelice, I felt a connection with her family, the concept was interesting and the pacing was just right.

However, when it did start to take off, I really had trouble keeping much of the enthusiasm I had when it started. Probably because I didn't think it would turn out the way it did. What am I talking about? Well, Adelice's perpective of the Spinster's coventry was it's not as glamorous as they painted it out to be. I second that. The moment Adelice started living the life of Spinster, I just lost her.

The bad guys were unbelievably weak. I don't believe she would get away with so much if they weren't so pathetic. Also, I don't care at all with the love triangle. For me, it was unnecessary and it did nothing to help gripped me with the story.

It was highly technical, too. While the concept is intriguing and interesting, I had problems grasping how the weaving and time works. I had a hard time feeling the story because I wasn't able to understand how it works in the first place. In some books, I could get passed that but in Crewel, it seems like I keep being jolted out of its world because I have to stop and think about what I read at times.

However, Albin's delivery of the story is highly commendable. She had in mind a fantastic story and if not for her writing, I would've have liked it much less. Although, I had problems understanding the concept of weaving itself, I love that she didn't bombard the readers with details regarding the world she created in just one blow. She did it piece by piece and I appreciated it. I especially love that it wasn't until the last chapters of the book, that we knew what year the setting was in.

Crewel had a lot of potential. I wouldn't go far as to say it didn't live up to it because in a way it did stand up to its premise. And despite my reservations and quite lukewarm feelings with Crewel, I'm still looking forward to its sequel.

3 1/2 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley

The Unfailing Light Blog Tour Kick Off: Review + Giveaway

2012-09-24T12:48:00.000+08:00

Read from September 23, 2012
to September 23, 2012

Book: The Unfailing Light (The Katerina Trilogy #2) by Robin Bridges

Publishing Date: October 9, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte BFYR

Number of Pages: 320

Genre/s: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction

Lush and opulent, romantic and sinister, "The Unfailing Light, " Volume II in The Katerina Trilogy, reimagines the lives of Russia's aristocracy in a fabulously intoxicating and page-turning fantasy.

Having had no choice but to use her power has a necromancer to save Russia from dark forces, Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, now wants to forget that she ever used her special powers. She's about to set off to pursue her lifelong dream of attending medical school when she discovers that Russia's arch nemesis--who she thought she'd destroyed--is still alive. So on imperial orders, Katerina remains at her old finishing school. She'll be safe there, because the empress has cast a potent spell to protect it against the vampires and revenants who are bent on toppling the tsar and using Katerina for their own gains. But to Katerina's horror, the spell unleashes a vengeful ghost within the school, a ghost more dangerous than any creature trying to get in. - From Goodreads

“I believe you can create the life you want, Katiya. You are strong enough to make all of your dreams come true."

I've always admired Katerina. She is strong-willed and compassionate. Her dream of becoming a doctor to help and heal others is all the more inspiring because it's very uncommon in her time and for someone of nobility. Other girls her age think of nothing but balls, gowns and only ambitions to marry someone rich and powerful. But Katerina also has a dark gift and despite her efforts not to be involved with the continuously rising dispute in the St. Petersburg's royal courts, she always finds herself dragged in the middle of it all. Everybody just wants to use her. Amidst all of this, Katerina struggles to remain untouched by darkness and this just made her truly endearing.

One of the many positive qualities of The Unfailing Light is its ability to enthrall its readers with its atmosphere. Imperial Russia is depicted as regal and majestic but it is also sinister and foreboding and boasts quite a number of paranormal creatures that would scare the living wit out of an unknowing, oblivious ordinary person. It's still hard to keep track of the lineages and who's who but the mystery that was sustain all throughout the book just made The Unfailing Light such a thrilling read.

Katerina's time back in Smolny Institute was definitely one of my favorite parts. I kept trying to guess what's really happening, who to trust, who's behind it all as Katerina attempts to appease the uncontrollable, vehement presence to protect her friends.

We also get to see more of Katerina's power. It's getting stronger and with it Katerina seems to be evolving, too. She's still the same stubborn yet kindhearted girl but she's growing to become someone formidable. Her relationship with George progresses as well. Their secret meetings and stolen kisses were surprisingly enough to make me giddy and lighthearted.

In The Gathering Storm, Bridges introduced us to Imperial Russia in all its glory but we quickly learned that behind all the glamour and curtsies, power struggles exist. In this second installment, the conspiracy and deceit was as palpable as ever. But like in the first book, the ending left me a little frustrated and somewhat disgruntled. Bridges really has a knack to end her books in a way that will left her readers wanting more.

Overall, The Unfailing Light is a strong, compelling read. Full of intrigue and magic, The Unfailing Light is as enchanting as its predecessor.

Cupid's Verdict:

4 Cupids

A copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley

***

I am very honored to be kicking off this blog tour and I'm offering a copy to one lucky reader courtesy of the wonderful people from Random House Kids. This giveaway is open to US only. Sorry international peeps! To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

By day, Robin Bridges is a mild-mannered writer of fantasy and paranormal fiction for young adults. By night, she is a pediatric nurse. Robin lives on the Gulf Coast with her husband, one soon-to-be teenager, and two slobbery mastiffs. She likes playing video games and watching Jane Austen movies. (If only there was a Jane Austen video game!) The Katerina Trilogy began with the The Gathering Storm and continues with The Unfailing Light.

You can find Robin Bridges here: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

***

Here are the rest of the stops. Don't forget to drop by! ;)

~September 25th: Casey’s Crew

~September 26th: Much Ado About Books

~September 26th: The Streetlight Reader

~September 27th: Infinite Reads

~September 28th: The Hiding Spot

~September 29th: Girls *Heart* Books

~October 1st: Mom Reads My Books

~October 2nd: Magical Urban Fantasy Reads

~October 2nd: The Book Review Club

~October 3rd: The Book Review Club

~October 4th: Kimba Caffeinated

~October 4th: My Life is a Notebook

~October 5th: My Life is a Notebook

~October 6th: Candace’s Book Blog

~October 7th: Reader Girls

~October 8th: Bookish

~October 8th: Peace, Love, Books

~October 9th: YA Bibliophile

~October 9th: Reader Girls

~October 10th: Wastepaper Prose

~October 10th: Imaginary Reads

~October 11th: Imaginary Reads

~October 12th: Well Read Wife

~October 15th: Libby Blog

~October 16th: Cracking the Cover

~October 17th: A Bookish Libraria

~October 18th: A Novel Review

~October 19th: In the Best Worlds

~October 20th: Tripping Over Books

Review: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

2012-09-20T07:35:00.000+08:00

Read from August 28, 2012
to September 18. 2012

Book: Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1) by Jay Kristoff

Publication Date: September 18, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Number of Pages: 336

Genre/s: Young Adult, Steampunk

A DYING LAND

The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST

The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL

Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire. - From Goodreads

Let me take a moment to wipe my tears.

Stormdancer has all the merits, the grace, the freaking epicness. I AM IN AWE. I AM STUNNED. I AM AMAZED. My jaw is somewhere in the floor of my dormitory struggling to close itself and to recover from the awesomeness of it all. There are no words to express how much Stormdancer touched me. There are no words. No words.

Oh come on guys. Do I really need to spell it all out why Stormdancer rock so hard, it made the ant hills tremble in fear for their existence. It made thunderstorms cool. It made you anticipate for an arashitora. It made you want to have a Kenning. This book is so good, I have to stop for a while, wide eyed and slack jawed, look at my surroundings and remind myself that I'm not Yukiko. It's a shame really because I want my own Buruu. I want my own arashitora!

I swear to you, I was grinning, smirking, giggling all by myself in class with my professor in the middle of her lecture about peritoneal dialysis and epidural anesthesia. Nothing else mattered at those times. NOTHING ELSE. I was thoroughly sucked in and I could care less with anyone. Anything is nothing compared to this. SHALL I CONVINCE YOU MORE? Because I can, I could go on and on about how freakingtastic Stormdancer is.

Honestly, I was well-prepared for anything. Those early reviews of those lucky reviewers about Kristoff's writing being so...overwhelming. Indeed it is, in a good way. I loved it. Every word is chosen carefully to add more conviction, to provide more weight in a situation. I appreciated how he string words together, how the words become lifelike, how it showcased his creativity, how it become an art, a written painting. Everything was so vividly described and characterized, even the slightest details were beautifully crafted. Kristoff's writing made my senses alive.

For those of you who might've problem with that kind of writing, do not give up. The last thing you would ever want to do is give up. I swear it will grow on you and you will love it. If not, then something's really wrong with you. Nah, I'm just kidding. ~~Or am I?~~ But seriously, you wouldn't meet Buruu. The glorious arashitora whom everybody loves right now. Just do it for Buruu. ALL HAIL BURUU!

Yukiko, the bearer of the kick-ass sash and the winner of the badass trophy. You just have to hand it to her. She's fierce yet compassionate. She's just a young girl task to start a revolution, to change everything, to inspire people to see through the haze of corruption, the heat of oppression, to save what there's left to be save. She was an enigma to behold.

The romance. Oh how I giggled. Buruu can be such a tease sometimes. I think it effectively added another side to Yukiko. There was also Yukiko's relationship with her father. She hated him for all the thing she thought she lost because of him. Only to find out that he gave it all up just for her. In his father he learned forgiveness and sacrifice. Her father once said to her, "One day you will see that we must sometimes sacrifice for the sake of something greater". And her father do held to this until the very end.

Kristoff's Stormdancer is my first steampunk. It reminded me why I love reading in the first place. It's because I want to feel so much, I'm going to be so close to exploding. It's because I want to be mindblown and I want to be transported into a completely different world that only amazingness awaits me. GAWD. JAY KRISTOFF remember this, if I see you someday I will...cry. YOU ARE JUST...My heart just bursts with admiration for you.

It's been a long time since I fell madly in love with a book, I'd sell my right kidney just to..I don't know..spread the love? It's packed-full of adventure with solid characters and important and relevant themes. It was about everlasting bond and friendship, unconditional love, sacrifice and reconciliation, and family. It was incredibly outstanding, marvelously superb and everything in between. It was love.

If I had a love jar, I would certainly be broke by now. But yeah, I still want my own Buruu. Dibs.

Cupid's Verdict:

5 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley.

Owl Post (2)

2012-09-16T20:09:00.001+08:00

Meme created by Brodie of Eleusinian Mysteries.
Inspired by In My Mailbox by Kristi of The Story Siren.

It was last June since my first Owl Post. It was that long! Anyway, who of you guys love book sales? There is a lot of cheap, good books to buy in a book sale. I swear, especially to my Filipino friends and readers (winks), I knocked myself out 2 weeks ago. I was in Book Sale in SM North Edsa and me and a friend of mine was supposed to buy books in honor of the last day of the National Book Store sale but I ended up buying ONLY one book in NBS. Heh!

So here's my book haul:

All of those books minus Insurgent, I got from Book Sale. We went crazy. We swept the whole shop, literally. We restacked shelves, we rearranged them. We were there for about 4-5 hours. If you're wondering how much I spent, it's less than P1500 ($35) and yes, including Insurgent. ;)

~Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Started on this one. All I can say is I hope I could have the time to sit down and focus on this.

~Life As We Know It and The Dead and The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Craving for an apocalyptic read? Both of these books might satisfy you.

~Atonement by Ian McEwan. I actually watched the movie first and my heart was crushed and broken into pieces. Sigh. Even thinking about makes me sad. *sniffs* I am not big on movie tie-in covers but it's on sale and the movie was actually good so I made an exception.

~Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I've been pining for The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandana since forever. I've been stalkerish with all her interviews, too and she said Frankenstein was the inspiration of the novel. I was intrigued so I thought of reading it for myself.

~A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb. I've read this before. I liked it and the cover was so gorgeously haunting.

~Kokology by Tadahiko Nagao and Isami Saito. This one isn't novel. Click the link to find out more.

~On The Brightside, I'm Now The Girlfriend of A Sex God by Louise Rennison. Georgia Nicholson is a delight to read. If you haven't tried this series yet, you're in for a treat. Oh! That semi-rhymed!

~Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck. I squealed for this one. I'm not kidding, everybody in the shop looked at me like I'm on crack or something. I've been meaning to read this series and it's like a dream come true. My next mission is to find the first one in the series after that I can finally start.

~Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I've yet to read Divergent but I took advantage of the NBS Book Sale. So I'm all set to finally read the series before the next book comes out. Now to find the time to read them...

That's it for my Owl Post. My balloon owl is still recovering from all that. How about you guys? What books did you haul this weekend? I love to see them so don't forget to leave your links on the comment section below.

Under the Sea Giveaway Hop: 9/14-9/20

2012-09-14T12:00:00.000+08:00

Welcome to Under the Sea giveaway hop featuring books with mermaids, sirens, or anything water-related. This is hosted by Kathy of I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Amber of The Musings of ALMYBNENR. This will last from September 14 to September 20th, 2012.

Here are the books you can win. All of them are linked to Goodreads to help you choose. ;)

Monstrous Beauty | Breathless | Of Poseidon | Everblue | Lies Beneath

Vicious Deep | Between the Sea and Sky | Forgive My Fins | Lullaby

This giveaway is open internationally as long as The Book Depository ships to your country for free. There will be ONE winner. I will contact the winner via email and the winner must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be picked. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone and happy hopping! :)

"Waiting On" Wednesday (9): Gravity

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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Book: Gravity (The Taking #1) by Melissa West

Publication Date: October 16, 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC

In the future, only one rule will matter: Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed--arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know--especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war. - Goodreads

Never been a fan of alien stuff but I am so excited to read this one! Alien spy, military legacy, war? Come on!

What are you waiting on?

Leave your link down below so I can check yours out.

Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

2012-09-11T12:32:00.001+08:00

Book: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter

Publication Date: March 27, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Number of Pages: 296

Genre/s: Young Adult, Mythology

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone. - From Goodreads

Being brave doesn’t mean never being afraid, you know. It means going for it anyway because you know it's the right thing to do.

You know you love or even like a book when a cliffhanger beats the hell out of you (Yes, I'm looking at you Daughter of Smoke and Bone). That happened in this book. So does that mean I loved it to bits? Hmm...

The first part of the book was really problematic for me. I'm irritated and annoyed at all the characters, especially the main ones: Kate and Henry. The drama, the whining and the angst was too much for me. But my problem really lies on the mythology itself. I guess they could say it's an original take on the book but I've read so many retellings that are highly imaginative but still preserves the "basics". I did enjoy The Goddess Test, the first book but come to think I've yet to process that one because I still haven't written a review.

Besides that, The Goddess Interrupted was engaging especially on the latter half of the book. The characters became less annoying. I started liking Kate again, mostly because through her stubborness she started to talk to Henry rather than sulk in the corner, moaning about how she's only a replacement and second-best at everything. Henry begun to open up towards the end of the book. A bit late but we get what we can get.

We are also introduced to Persephone. My, my, isn't Persephone something? First of all, I'm surprised at how she acts and talks. But personally, I appreciated what Persephone represented in this book. I think what her presence did was to help Kate and Henry. Kate sees her as a threat because Henry obviously still loves her but with doing what she did when she came back, Henry realize that what's in his mind and what's actually real was not the same. And by doing so, Henry acknowledges that although he fell in love with Persephone, she is not the one for him.

As for Kate, all throughout the book she struggled to understand Henry while knowing that his issues will not disappear overnight. She's trying to overcome her own doubts about herself and if what Henry feels for her is real. With Persephone coming back, somehow the animosity between her and Kate and the feelings Henry still feels for her dissolved little by little.

The Goddess Interrupted also showcased Kate's strength and love, not only for Henry, but for her family when she became immortal. She has to toughen it up and find Persephone. Henry's first love and the ultimate reason why he's willing to just fade away. Then finally, on the last few chapters of the book, I get to see a glimpse of the future of Henry and Kate and I like it. Because even though, the issues were still there, I know together they will work it out. And isn't that what a relationship really means?

That's why I'm really conflicted right now. I do not know for certain whether I loved The Goddess Interrupted or not. But despite of the many flaws and my reservations with it, I could still say that it's a solid second-installment. I am definitely dying to read the next one.

Cupid's Verdict:

3 1/2 Cupids

An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley.