Squeaky Books

More books for Trade/Sale!

2012-05-26T00:49:00.000-06:00

Hello! Hope you're excited for the long memorial day weekend. I just wanted to let y'all know that I added more books to my list of books for trade/sale. I've also created a wishlist of books I definitely would be willing to trade for, though that's not to say they're the only books I'd be willing to trade for.

Click here to see my new trade/sale page!

Have a great Saturday!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

*Of Poseidon-- Anna Banks

2012-05-25T00:55:00.000-06:00

Release Date: May 22nd, 2012
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 336
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk

Blurb: Not your typical insta-love!

Review: There was one line of this summary that made me nervous. Can you guess which one it is? You probably can, but I'll tell you anyway. "their connection is immediate and powerful." Uh-oh. Insta-love warning! And you know what, there was insta-love, but what made this book so unique was that the characters fought it, and I don't mean like they ran away from each other (thought that happened a little at first). I mean they tried not to be stupid and fall in love without knowing each other. They allowed themselves to be just friends and their relationship blossomed into something real. That was so refreshing! And it made a romance that I actually liked. Yes. You heard me. I actually liked the romance in this book.

Another awesome thing about this book, it begins with a BANG! Within the first few pages something EXTREMELY dramatic happens that sucked me in from the get-go. Granted, it doesn't keep up this racing pace for long. Most of the book is very calm and leisurely, and is more character driven than plot driven. But that doesn't make it bad, because the characters were great!

We had the sassy sister, the goofy friend, and a motley assortment of human-helpers. I loved every single one. Seriously. There wasn't a character I didn't like. That's so rare in a book!

HOWEVER, you may have noticed that I only gave it 4.5 stars. Again, that half-a star eludes me! Why? The "twist" was SO easy to guess. I guessed within the first 100 pages, was positive by 200, and it was confirmed by 300. It was still a good twist, and I'm really curious to see where it goes from here, but I like to feel a little more surprised by things while I'm reading.

But still, that's only a deficit of .5 stars. That's nothing. This book is still GREAT addition to the paranormal romance category because it stands out. It's not like all those others floating out there (and the two love interests are actually similar enough in terms of species to MAKE SENSE).

End of story? I thought it was fab.

Remember that I'm giving away a copy! Click here to enter!

Other Reviews:

Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me (Loved it!)
Book Brats (It was okay)
The Bookosaur (Didn't like it)

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

*Monument 14-- Emmy Laybourne

2012-05-23T00:23:00.001-06:00

Release Date: June 5th, 2012
Genre: Apocalyptic
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 304
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

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 launch yourself 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.

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.

Blurb: This book had me on the edge of my seat! ...and running to check my food storage every couple of minutes.

Review: I'll admit that when I first read the summary of this book... I wasn't wowed. And to be honest, I probably wouldn't have been in any hurry to read it if the author wasn't coming to my area next month.

HOLY COW. I'M SO GLAD I READ THIS BOOK.

For real, guys. This book grabs you by page one. Before you even know the name of the main character people are dying, things are exploding, and you're wow-ed out of your mind! And when they finally were safe inside the Greenway (Which is essentially a Wal-Mart) I thought to myself "Surely it must slow down now." Oh no. That same high-energy is maintained throughout the book, with just enough low-energy moments to stop you from pulling out all your hair from the stress.

The characters were also really interesting. Emmy created quite the hodge-podge of people in this book. No two characters are alike, although they might seem like it at first glance. Another interesting thing was that the narrator is male! There's nothing from the cover, summary, or anything that warns you of this. I read the first few pages thinking it was a female narrator, and it was very jarring to find out he was a guy. So... go in knowing that. But after I got over that shock, he was a very nice narrator. I love how he struggles with being himself, being "good," and being liked. Was a big fan of Dean by the end.

But, the reason why it's only a 4.5 stars instead of a perfect 5 is because there was quite a bit of sexual innuendo, as well as some substance abuse and swearing. Granted, some of the swearing was redacted (it looked like "f--------"), and some of the sexual content certainly added to the plot, but I can't absolutely adore a book with so much teen sex. It just makes me a little creepy crawly.

Along those same lines, though, this is a great crossover for those who only read contemporary or only read ~~non-realistic fiction~~ speculative fiction (like me). I think it's got enough contemporary elements to satisfy a contemporary reader, and enough apocalyptic elements to satisfy a ~~non-realistic~~ speculative reader (~~is there a word for that?~~ Thank you, Q, for introducing me to the correct usage of "speculative")

All in all, an awesome debut. The book doesn't quite end in a "cliffhanger" per say, but it definitely leaves you begging for more. I literally begged Emmy for more. I HAVE to know what's going to happen next! Can't wait for Monument 15! (Just kidding. That's not actually what it's called)

Other Reviews:

Books with Bite (Loved it!)
Great Imaginations (It was okay)
Book Labyrith (Didn't like it)

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

**Shadow and Bone-- Leigh Bardugo

2012-05-21T00:30:00.000-06:00

Release Date: June 5th, 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Pages: 368
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart

Blurb: How can so much awesome be packed into one book?

Review: This book was AMAZING. I was going to wait until closer to the release date to tell you exactly how amazing it was, but I just couldn't. I've never read anything quite like it. Let me tell you about all the awesomeness it contains:

It has a lot of high-fantasy flair, with great Russian roots. It doesn't take place in Russia, so you don't need to know anything about Russian culture to get it. Always a plus. But it allowed for some BEAUTIFUL imagery and language-building. Oh! I love the setting and language so much! Granted, the language was a little confusing at first, but there's a guide at the beginning that tells you the most important words you need to know. And after the first few chapters you start to get the hang of it.

The characters were engaging and easy to sympathize with. I loved Alina. Yes, she's quite a bit self-deprecating at times, but I can understand why she would be. In her world the people of power can magic themselves into looking beautiful, therefore there's this idea that if you aren't extremely beautiful you aren't powerful. Makes sense that she would have some self-esteem issues. And her issues were totally believable. Watching her resolve them and come into her own made me so happy!

Also, the villain was awesome. The whole time you're reading the book you think you know who the villain is, but then something happens that makes you doubt yourself, and by the time the villain is actually revealed you're on the edge of your seat! My head is STILL spinning from this!

The same thing goes for the love interests. Yes, I said love interestS, as in plural. But for all of you rolling your eyes and such, Bardugo manages to stick in two love interests WITHOUT creating a love triangle. GENIUS! And the romance was there, but subtle. I would definitely classify this book as a fantasy, and not a romance. Sure, it's got some romance in it, as most great stories do, but it didn't overpower the plot. It was subtle, and beautiful.

So there you go. I adored it. It was amazing. You all need to pre-order it right now and shower Leigh with love. That is all.

Oh, wait, one more thing: There's some summary floating around the internet that describes this book as "The most compelling romance since Twilight." I'm currently on a personal quest to hunt down all of these summaries. Please ignore them.

UPDATE: Leigh just posted today that books 2 & 3 have titles and you can win a personalized copy of Shadow & Bone! Go forth and do: CLICK HERE.

Other Reviews:

Paperback Dolls (Loved it!)
The Readventurer (It was okay)
Steph Su (Some Spoilers, Didn't like it)

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Books with Maps

2012-05-15T11:02:00.003-06:00

I have to admit that I have a weakspot when it comes to books with maps. I adore them. I love being able to see the world right there on the page! While reading Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (which I am head-over-heels in love with, review soon!), I kept wishing that there was a map. The world was just so rich and intricate, I wanted to SEE it. I was about ready to draw my own map. Lo and behold! The final version DOES have a map! And it looks like this! Isn't it amazing?

click to embiggen

And then I decided that it needed color. And then I decided to make it my desktop background (which I haven't changed in THREE YEARS):

I've already got my finished copy of Shadow & Bone pre-ordered because I NEED one to go with my ARC. And don't worry, I'll definitely be giving away this book on the blog sometime. You can count on that.

What about y'all? How do you feel about books in maps? What are some great books that have maps?

Another favorite of mine is Book of a Thousand Days and all of the Bayern books (shocker!).

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

I need adult and non-fiction recommendations!

2012-05-14T21:30:00.000-06:00

First of all, sorry for the lack of posting. Spring term is kicking my trash! I'm just managing to keep my feet under me. I hope to get some posts scheduled soon, though.

Now on to the REAL purpose of this post!

The Short Story: I need good adult fiction and non-fiction recommendations

The Long Story: A few weeks ago I applied for a "promotion" at the library I work at. I wanted to move from a page (someone who reshelves books) to an assistant librarian (someone who either helps people check out, or helps people with recommendations/research projects, etc.). Unfortunately, I didn't get the job. HOWEVER, my boss informed me that the reason I didn't get it is because I didn't quite have the broad spectrum of reading tastes as they were looking for. This totally makes sense. I only read YA fiction/fantasy. She encouraged me to expand my horizons, and then apply again when there was an opening. I intend to take the challenge!

That's where you come in.

I'm an expert in all things YA, but a total novice in things adult and non-fiction. Help! Do you know a great adult fiction or non-fiction book I should read? Please fill out the form! I'm open to any and all suggestions so long as they fit my content standards (no unnecessary profanity or vivid sexual scenes).

Thank you! I'm really looking forward to reading the books you guys recommend! (After I have time to read again, that is! Yeesh. At least Spring term is only 6 weeks long.)

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All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

Do I owe you a prize?

2012-05-09T19:17:00.000-06:00

Did you win a contest on Squeaky Books and haven't yet received your prize? I've recently been informed that some of my publisher sponsored and international giveaway winners never got their books. And I'm sure that I've forgotten some in the craziness that is college life.

If you still haven't gotten a prize you won from me, please email me ASAP! Enna@SqueakyBooks.com. If I don't reply within 24 hours email me again!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

It's Official!

2012-05-08T20:26:00.001-06:00

Veronica Roth is coming to Utah!

Along with 3 other awesome authors!

Are YOU going to go? What about you MO and CA residents? Excited?!

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

Utah Book Month Sign-ups!

2012-05-08T05:00:00.000-06:00

It's almost time for Utah Book Month! What is UBM, you ask? Well, it's a celebration of all things Bookish and Utah of course! We celebrate Utah's authors, aspiring writers, and book bloggers! And YOU can participate! There are so many different things you can do. If you're an author you can be interviewed or do a guest post, bloggers can host minichallenges and giveaways, interview another blogger, design a new cover, and that's just the first few things I thought of! There's SO much you can do. Anything you can think of! But in order to participate, you have to sign up! That's where this post comes into play.

Some things you should know:

If you are a blogger you do NOT have to live in Utah to participate, however, preference will be given to Utah bloggers.
If you are an author, you MUST live in Utah to participate (or have a purty darn good argument for why you're a Utah author)
The faster you sign up, the more likely you'll get your first choice of activity to host
The hosts of the event will be coordinating author contact. So if you select "author interview" don't go running off and e-mailing authors. We've got that covered and we'll get you in touch with them.
You have until 11:59pm on the 21st to sign up! That's only two weeks!
THIS IS THE SAME FORM ON ALL THE HOST BLOGS! There are five of us hosting the event this year, and you only need to fill out this form ONCE.
You can ask me questions directly, or e-mail UtahBookBloggers@gmail.com
If you want the latest updates, be sure to follow @UtahBooks on Twitter!

Now go forth and sign up! You'll be contacted with more details after the 21st!

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All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

Enna Answers Everything!

2012-05-07T00:07:00.001-06:00

I got some great questions, guys! Thanks! I broke them up into four categories: "Blogging," "Reading," "Personal," and "Random." Feel free to peruse my answers at your leisure. Is there a question you'd like me to answer? Click here to submit it, or you can submit questions at the bottom of this post!

Enjoy! Thanks for asking!

BLOGGING

Why did you decide to start a blog?

Well, I wanted to get free books (bad motive!) at first, but pretty quickly it just became a place for me to put down my thoughts. I love being able to go back and remember how I felt about a book years after I finished. Before the blog everything would just float away in my brain.

Is it hard to keep the blog updated?

Sometimes, especially if I don’t have time to read. I don’t want to fill the blog with random crap, but I also don’t want to just leave it blank while I’m waiting to finish a book. That’s why I always try to have some kind of interesting discussion post in my pocket.

What's the most challenging when it comes to blogging?

Probably finding time to read, and then writing my reviews right after I finish a book. Sometimes I wait too long and I forget the specifics of what I wanted to say/how I felt.

Do you read other blogs, if so, what kind of blogs?

I read a ton of other blogs! All of them are book blogs, and almost all are specifically YA fantasy/non-realistic fiction like me.

What do you think attracts people to start a blog or read blogs?

There are too many things to list! I think people start a blog when they have something to say, and maybe because they want someone to hear it. I think people read blogs if they are interested in other people’s opinions or finding people like them. For me, I read blogs so that I can figure out what great books are coming out!

What's the best thing about blogging? What is your favorite thing about blogging?

The best/my favorite thing would definitely be the people I meet. Some of my blogging buddies have become real life buddies! Probably half of my real life friends I met through blogging. And meeting authors is SO FREAKING COOL! Seriously. Those are my rock stars.

Why does blogging often feel like I am talking into a black hole? How do I make blogging more of an interactive experience and less of a me talking to myself experience?

Twitter. Seriously. If it weren’t for Twitter I would feel like I was talking into a black hole, too. I love my twitter peeps.

Do you review every book you read?

Almost. If I finish a book and don’t review it it’s usually because I feel like I wouldn’t be able to provide a review that wasn’t EXTREMELY biased.

Why does it seem like writing the review sometimes spoils the reading experience?

If it feels like that to you, don’t write the review! Reviewing isn’t supposed to spoil reading, it’s supposed to enhance it. If you finish a book and don’t want to review it… don’t!

What would you say are key points to hit in a review?

Hm… I don’t know. I think it’s important to say whether your liked it or not, of course. But other than that… just be as clear as you can about why you liked it or didn’t like it. I’ve never really thought about hitting “key points” in a review.

Do you ever take breaks from your blog or reading?

Yes. I just took a 10 day break for finals in April. And I don’t ever intentionally take a break from reading, but sometimes life gets so crazy that I just don’t have time. I usually don’t take a break from either blogging or reading just for the sake of taking a break. I love both too much!

What is one thing you wish you could change or improve about your blogging experience but haven't or aren't able to?

I wish I was better at communicating with publishers. I don’t ever send my reviews to publishers, or send review requests because most publishers I don’t feel comfortable talking to. I wish I could work on my rapport with the big six.

How come you're starting to call yourself Enna, instead of the full Enna Isilee?

I used to be REALLY picky about people calling me Enna Isilee, but as I met more and more people in real life I realized that Enna is just easier. And I still love it just as much.

Do you plan to continue Squeaky Books after college?

Certainly! I’ve always said that Squeaky Books will always exist as long as I’m reading books. Which I hope to always do!

Have you ever considered making a back up blog somewhere like Tumblr or word press to back up your reviews? And if so would you backup only your favorite reviews or every single review you have ever done?

I have never even thought about this… Sometimes I think about doing one of those blog-to-book things. That would be cool! But I’ve never thought of backing up my reviews… except maybe on GoodReads. I keep meaning to transfer my reviews over there. I would transfer every single one, for sure.

How do you prepare for your reviews?

I read the book… and that’s it. Oh. And I turn on my computer. But that’s all I do to “prepare.” I’ve tried taking metacognitive notes while I read, but it never works out.

Are you ever going to show your face on the blog?

I’ve thought a lot about this. My thought is that if I ever go to BEA I will show my face on my blog before I go so people can find me. Until then, I’m cool with the headless thing.

I have started my own book blog and was wondering for you how long it took to get a "big" following?

For one thing, I don’t know if you EVER feel like you have a “big” following. You always end up comparing yourselves to people “bigger” than you. BUT to answer your question, I started blogging almost exactly FIVE YEARS ago. But I’m also a very passive blogger. If you are active on twitter and commenting on other people’s blogs and hosting giveaways, your following will probably grow much quicker. However, generally the people who get A LOT of followers REALLY fast don’t have “good” followers (meaning followers who actually care and comment).

READING

Favorite superhero and do you read comic books?

My answer to that question has always been Spiderman, and I haven’t put a lot of thought into it recently… so I guess I’m gonna stick with him. I don’t read comic books generally. I really WISH I could read manga, but for some reason I just can’t read backwards. It gets all jumbled up in my brain.

Why do I feel compelled to finish books that aren't holding my interest? How can I stop myself or reach an understanding so that I can put the book down?

I went to a conference a few years ago where the speaker said something along the lines of “If you don’t like the book, stop reading it!” And that’s how I feel. If it’s not holding my interest, I’ll just stop. You might feel compelled because you’ve already put in so much effort, or you feel like you need to support the author (even if you don’t know them). But just think about this: how many MORE books could you put effort into in the time it takes you to finish this one, and then you’ll be supporting even more authors! And it’ll just be more fun.

Do you like to take time out and re-read your favorite books?

Certainly! I re-read Shannon Hale’s books all the time. Generally, though, I don’t re-read so much as re-listen. Whenever a sequel to a book I love comes out (INSURGENT, REBEL HEART, DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT) I will listen to the audio of the first one.

Do you attend a book club?

Nope! I’d like to, but at the same time I’ve never liked being forced to read books I don’t want to read… and there are no pure YA book clubs in my area.

Ever read a book you expected to dislike but instead absolutely adored, if so what book?

Oh. I’m sure this has happened to me a ton! But the only one I can remember currently is Between Shades of Gray. I read it just because a friend really wanted me to go to the signing with her, and I didn’t think I’d like it, but I loved it!

Do you like to meet the authors of books you have read? Does meeting an author enhance the reading experience or dampen it for you?

YES. I love to meet authors. But sometimes it does dampen the experience. I read a book a few years ago that I thought was okay, but not great. I met the author and he/she was a total jerk to me. Treated me like I was bothering him/her even though I just made a comment about something I liked in his/her book. I didn’t read any more of the books in the series. But there are other authors I’ve met who I LOVE and it makes me love their books even more (I’m looking at you, Utah friends!)

Ever read a book and wish you could live in it?

Usually not. Books (especially YA books) are usually interesting because there is something twisted about the world. I suppose if I really had to choose I would cop-out and say post-Voldemort Harry Potter-world. Only if I was a witch, of course.

Any characters you wish could be your real life friends?

Oh yes. Too many to list! I adore them all!

Which Shannon Hale characters (besides Enna) are you most like?

Hm… I’ve got quite a bit of Razo in me. I also have a lot of the same self-doubt feelings that Rin does. Dashti is who I WANT to be most like, but I’m not nearly selfless enough.

What is the worst book you've ever read?

Worst book EVER? Phht. That’s hard to say. I usually try to forget worst books, and there are so many things that make a book “worst.” Usually any book I really dislike I will just stop reading, so I’m going to say Beloved by Toni Morrison because I had to read it for class last semester and so I couldn’t stop reading. That book was just plain weird.

Generally, do you like to multi-task when you read?

I don’t LIKE to, but I almost always do. Usually I will refresh my twitter page, or see if anyone fun is on IM, etc.

PERSONAL

Why do you feel the need to have a secret identity? Do you find it hard to connect with bloggers/readers who are honest about who they are and what they do? Do you feel like you're missing part of the blogging community?

I actually don’t feel a “need” anymore. The secret identity came about when I was a minor and was afraid of internet prowlers. I’m still afraid of prowlers, but mostly I think having a secret identity is just fun! And I don’t find it hard to connect because I am completely honest about who I am and what I do. The only thing I leave out is my name. I’m a college student studying to be a math teacher. I work at a library and I’m a snake handler (no joke). If you follow me on twitter then you probably know exactly where I live and go to school. I do sometimes wish I could do a vlog where I actually TALK to you guys, but at the same time I like having a type of IMM that no one else does. :) So I don’t really feel like I’m missing out on anything. In fact, I think my secret identity gets me more attention than if I didn’t have one!

Which celebrity do you look the most like?

Um… maybe a young Tina Fey? I’d be okay with that. But I really don't know.

Are you still in high school or in college?

College. I’m a senior, but my major and minor are so big that I’ve got a couple years left.

What do you hope to pursue after college?

I want to be a high school mathematics teacher, hopefully AP. Fingers crossed!

I heard that you were a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or you're Mormon). Is that true? How do you think that has influenced you in your choice of media?

Yup. That's true. I actually answered that in my last round of Q&A. You can click here to see the long answer (it's the last question in the "personal" section). But the short answer is that my church influences me, and that influences what I read. But I have NEVER said “I’m not going to read this book because my religion says I can’t.” I think that’s silly. I don’t believe in “blind faith.” I think that you should always find the truth for yourself. And luckily for me, I’ve found a truth I believe in.

Are you dating anyone? If not, is there anyone you'd LIKE to date? Or even any cute, non-fictional boys?

No. No. And no. Who are you? Is that you SC? I have no problem talking to boys, but I’ve never gotten past the friends stage. And I’ve never even gotten to just the “hanging out” stage, let alone the dating seriously stage. My problem is that I am almost never attracted to someone physically, it’s all about the brains for me. And getting to know someone’s brain is a lot harder than getting to know their body. Oh dear… that doesn’t sound right.

Best bit of dating advice you've ever received?

"Don’t sweat about it. Just be friendly and things will work out." I'm hoping that's true.

RANDOM

Why is everyone obsessed with Formspring?

Probably because people by nature want to think that someone cares about their opinions? I don’t know. I just think it’s fun!

Why does rafflecopter hate me?

Because Pluto was your lucky planet, and after it was removed from the planets all your lucky went down the drain.

If you were a plant, what type of plant would you be?

A pansy. They’re actually really hardy flowers. I don’t know why it means someone is weak when they’re called a “pansy.”

Over the past week or so, what have you watched on Youtube?

I watch A LOT of clips from Ellen Degeneres. Also this Easter prank. And these steeple chasing rabbits.

Thanks for the great questions, guys! Is there anything that wasn't answered here that you'd like me to answer? Got a burning question? Feel free to ask me here:

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All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

Blogger Panel (1): Introductions

2012-05-04T21:44:00.000-06:00

Late in March a number of bloggers in my area, including me, were asked to be on a panel for a publishing class. The class asked us a bunch of questions, and we answered them to the best of our ability. I recorded and transcribed the event. It's a lot to put into one post, so I've decided to break it into a series of posts with 2-3 questions in each one. For this first one I thought I'd just include the part where we introduce our blogs. The four bloggers participating were me, Suey, Penelope, and Emily.

MODERATOR: We would like to welcome today, we have four fabulous bloggers with us. Suey, Penelope, Enna, and Emily. They are here courtesy of Diana who is also a blogger. We’re so excited to have them. They have a few things to say and then we’ll open it up to questions.

SUEY: I’m Suey, the name of my blog is “It’s All About Books” and I’ve been blogging for five years. I named it “All about books” because I thought it was going to be all about books, but it’s morphed into lots of other things too. But mostly about books. And… what else?

MODERATOR: Why did you start blogging?

SUEY: I started because I was part of an online book group on Yahoo and they all started talking about their blogs and so I thought it would be really fun. They all started doing book challenges and keeping track of them on their blogs, and so I decided I had better have one too. I had one that was a personal one on Yahoo, but people weren’t looking at that one. So I started what I call my “real” blog.

PENELOPE: I’m Penelope, my blog is “The Reading Fever.com.” I called it The Reading Fever because when I read a good book it’s kind of like an illness that I catch. I can’t get enough. I started blogging because I needed something. I have a son who was going through cancer treatments last year and I needed something to get my mind off of it, so reading and blogging was it. It was the perfect thing.

ENNA: I’m Enna Isilee, my blog is “Squeaky Books.” The name came from that quote that’s below the title. That comes at the very end of The Goose Girl audiobook, if you’re familiar with the books of Bayern; if you’re not, you should be! I just says “I couldn’t remember the last time I stayed up into the squeaky hours of the night” and I thought, “that’s an odd adjective to describe something,” And I was like “I like books, I like that quote—Squeaky Books.” And that’s how it worked.

I started blogging for the worst reason: I wanted to get free books. That is a terrible reason because it doesn’t happen like you want it to, ever. So it was really discouraging for the first few years. And that’s not to say that I now get free books, I just got over it. Enna is technically not my name, legally. But it’s what I use for everything blogging and bookish because when I started blogging I was a minor and I had been explicitly told by my parents “You cannot have a blog.” And so I said “I’m going to do it anyway and prove to them I can do it safely.” So I did it under a false name, I never showed my face or voice and as I grew up that kind of became my shtick.

EMILY: I’m Emily, my book-blog is “Emily’s Reading Room.com.” I started blogging about books because I couldn’t keep track of the books I’d read. It’s like water through sand for me. I have a hard time remembering character names, I have a hard time remembering plots. I’ll remember general feelings of how I felt about a book, and I’ll remember that I read it, but the specifics were getting lost. People were asking me for book recommendations and I’d say “Oh, you know, I read some really good books, but I don’t remember what they are.” So it started as a catalogue of what I’d read and then pretty quickly—I started in June 2009 and I thought I was the only person on the planet with this idea, to blog about books; and then I realized there was this whole other group of people that were doing it and so I started networking with other people and it just really caught fire. People were going to book conferences, meeting authors, all sorts of cool stuff. And so I’ve done that. I also freelance write for a local newspaper. Every once and a while an article for a YA book will pop up with my name on it. But [blogging] has kind of become my part time job.

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

Kill Me Softly-- Sarah Cross

2012-05-03T00:33:00.001-06:00

Release Date: April 10th, 2012
Genre: Romance, Fairy Tale, Teen Angst
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 331
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own... brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns

Blurb: A GREAT concept. A not great book.

Review: Perhaps I should break this up into the things I liked and didn't like about this book, eh?

Things I liked about this book:

The idea of modern teenagers being cursed to live our fairy tales.

That's it. That's what got it those two stars. All I liked about this book was the concept. So now let's talk about the other side:

Things I didn't like about this book:

The modern teenagers talked like modern teenagers. The profanity wasn't severe, but too frequent for my tastes. They also were drunk/drinking ALL THE TIME! Where are the adults here?! Some of these kids are 15!

Mira. Ugh. I don't know if I've ever had a main character annoy me so much! Here's how her though processes went "You're attractive, mysterious, and nice. I want to sleep with you. What?! You're all cursed to relive fairy tales?! Okay. No big deal. Oh... but your brother is attractive, mysterious, and a total jerk. I hate him. But give me some time and I think I'll make out with him too."

NONE of her thought processes seemed real. She fell in love with the two guys who seemed super-creepy, while ignoring the guy who actually was sweet to her because she didn't want to feel "forced" into that relationship. It took her all of two seconds to come to terms with the fairy-tale land, despite having never even read fairy tales as a child.

I should also mention that the guy she contemplates sleeping with is TWENTY ONE YEARS OLD. And she's not even sixteen. Now, don't correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that illegal? And CREEPY?!

And here's some pretty major spoiler-y comments. If you don't plan on reading this book, or don't care about spoilers, highlight to view.

WHY did no one want to kill the SERIAL KILLER?! He's literally killed DOZENS of girls and yet no one is putting a stop to it! In fact, they are actively PROTECTING him! What is wrong with you people?!

I also don't understand WHY Mira's Godmothers took her away from Beau Rivage in the first place. So we find out that Mira is cursed to live out the tale of Sleeping Beauty, and only the kiss of a prince will wake her up. But here's the thing: THEY KNOW WHO THE PRINCE IS! And he lives in Beau Rivage! So why take her away from him?! What you should have done is pricked her finger with the razor WHILE HE WAS IN THE ROOM, have him kiss her, and voila! There was absolutely no need to take her away from her parents and raise her in seclusion you crazy people!

Overall the story just fell flat. I felt like there was a lot going on, and not a lot to tie it together. The characters felt like hormones incarnate, and I couldn't relate to any of them. There were characters that I almost began to like, and then they would do something totally creepy or wrong. I ended up not liking anyone.

I feel bad because I had such high hopes for this book, but... it was a no go for me. *sigh*

Other Reviews:

Ageless Pages Reviews (Loved it!)
a GREAT read (It was okay)
The Reviews News (Didn't like it)

All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Ask Enna Anything!

2012-05-02T12:36:00.000-06:00

I did this a few months ago and it was such fun! Here's your chance to ask me anything 100% anonymously. I promise to answer any question that isn't inappropriate, or won't risk revealing my secret identity. Blogging, writing, reading, personal questions. Anything! Ask away! Just enter your question into this form. Sometime next week I'll answer all questions in a blog post.

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All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

June's Featured Upcoming Releases

2012-05-01T00:02:00.006-06:00

Each and every month on Squeaky Books I feature 5-8 upcoming releases. You vote for the ones you are excited about in the poll at the bottom of the post. At the beginning of the next month, the novel with the greatest amount of votes will be given away. Fun times, eh? You can vote for the June books from May 1st – May 31st at 7:59pm MST. At the beginning of June I'll post the giveaway of the book with the most votes!

Feel free to ask questions in the comments or e-mail me. Now go forth and vote!

Is there a book you'd like to be featured? Click here to fill out the form and nominate it. If it's picked as the book of the month you'll get 5 extra entries to win it!

Darkness Before Dawn

by J.A. London

Release Date: May 29, 2012

GoodReads Page | Amazon

Summary:

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Grim

by Anna Waggener

Release Date: June 1, 2012

GoodReads Page | Amazon

Summary:

When Erika wakes up after a horrific car crash, she finds herself somewhere between earth and heaven, between life and death. She doesn't want to accept help from Jeremiah, who she's not sure she can trust, even as she finds herself drawn to him, following him into a grim city of souls. She's not sure who wants to help her and who wants to hurt her. And she's desperate to get back to her children.

Shawn's never thought about having to shoulder the responsibility of caring for his young sister Megan and his reckless older sister. And he never imagined that the three of them would find themselves in a haunted wood, sometimes chased, sometimes assisted, never sure where they're headed.

Monument 14

by Emmy Laybourne

Release Date: June 5, 2012

GoodReads Page | Amazon

Summary:

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.

Shadow and Bone

by Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: June 5, 2012

GoodReads Page | Amazon

Summary:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

For Darkness Shows the Stars

by Diana Peterfreund

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Nominated by: NC/Truly Bookish
GoodReads Page | Amazon

Summary:

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.

Dust Girl

by Sara Zettel

Release Date: June 26, 2012

GoodReads Page | Amazon

Summary:

Callie LeRoux lives in Slow Run, Kansas, helping her mother run their small hotel and trying not to think about the father she’s never met. Lately all of her energy is spent battling the constant storms plaguing the Dust Bowl and their effects on her health. Callie is left alone, when her mother goes missing in a dust storm. Her only hope comes from a mysterious man offering a few clues about her destiny and the path she must take to find her parents in "the golden hills of the west" (California).

Along the way she meets Jack a young hobo boy who is happy to keep her company—there are dangerous, desperate people at every turn. And there’s also an otherworldly threat to Callie. Warring fae factions, attached to the creative communities of American society, are very aware of the role this half-mortal, half-fae teenage girl plays in their fate.

Here's the poll!

Select up to 5 books! The book with the most votes will be given away in June.

Psst! You have to actually come to the blog to see the poll. Feed readers don't work!

May's New Release Giveaway, April Winner!

2012-05-01T00:01:00.001-06:00

The winner of April's Upcoming Release Giveaway is...

Riz!

You won a copy of Masque of the Red Death! I have e-mailed you. You have 48 Hours to respond.

!!May's New Release Giveaway!!

I'm so excited for the book that won last month because I'm actually going to MEET the author! That means that I can give away a signed copy!

Of Poseidon

by Anna Banks

Rules and Overview:

Giveaway runs 5/1-5/31
Fill out the rafflecopter
Open international

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last Day to Support Team Amity!

2012-04-30T08:07:00.000-06:00

Today is the last day of the Divergent Nation promotion! That means that Insurgent comes out tomorrow and it's the last day you have to support Team Amity!! Doesn't Veronica look so cute in Amity colors? She posted about Amity here.

As a reminder, you support Team Amity by clicking this link AND this link. And to motivate you there are a TON of Team Amity giveaways. Here they are:

I'm giving away a finished copy of Insurgent
HUGE Giveaway of 15 prize packs (including 2 kindles!)
Better Read Than Dead- Insurgent Giveaway & Divergent Casting Giveaway
Hippies, Beauty, and Books- Insurgent ARC Giveaway & Blogoversary Giveaway
I Swim For Oceans- Insurgent ARC Giveaway
A Life Bound By Books- UK Insurgent & Divergent Giveaway
Emily's Reading Room- Dystopian Grab Bag Giveaway
All Things Urban Fantasy- Insurgent Recreate the cover Contest

Remember that you should click the links for EACH contest you enter. Don't just click them once and then enter all contests.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been supporting Team Amity. I love you!

In My Mailbox: Spring has Sprung

2012-04-28T12:12:00.001-06:00

Wow. I have officially cut my hair short enough that you can no longer see in in my IMM vlogs. That's crazy! Especially considering that I used to be able to SIT on it.

Once again, I made both a vlog and picture version of this IMM so you can choose which you prefer. Picture is below vlog, links are below picture! I've been trying to hold the books still while I dance in the video, but this song was so happy that I slipped up a couple times. Enjoy!

Gifted from Grandparents:

Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys (GoodReads | Amazon)

Borrowed:
From Library:

Crossed (Audio), Ally Condie (GoodReads | Amazon)
Kill Me Softly, Sarah Cross (GoodReads | Amazon)

From Emily:

Shadows on the Moon (Audio), Zoe Marriott (GoodReads | Amazon)

From Super-Awesome Friend Debbie:

Shadow and Bone, Leigh Bardugo (GoodReads | Amazon)
The Forsaken, Lisa M. Stasse (GoodReads | Amazon)
Seraphina, Rachel Hartman (GoodReads | Amazon)

Traded with Gabrielle Carolina:

The Predicteds, Christine Seifert (GoodReads | Amazon)
Thumped, Megan McCafferty (GoodReads | Amazon)
Once, Anna Carey (GoodReads | Amazon)
Princess of the Wild Swans, Diane Zahler (GoodReads | Amazon)
Shadows on the Moon, Zoe Marriott (GoodReads | Amazon)

For Review
From DAW:

Black Dawn, Rachel Caine (GoodReads | Amazon)
Silence, Michelle Sagara (GoodReads | Amazon)

From Amazon Vine:

This is Not a Test, Courtney Summers (GoodReads | Amazon)

From Macmillan:

Shadow and Bone, Leigh Bardugo (GoodReads | Amazon)

Newsletter is coming back!

2012-04-27T20:52:00.000-06:00

Hey y'all! I just wanted to let you know that my monthly newsletter, Squeaky News, is making a comeback! Squeaky News contains a brief overview of what has happened on Squeaky Books this month, as well as some other cool things happening around the blogosphere. It sometimes will even have a contest open only to newsletter subscribers (but not every month, it's a surprise!).

The first edition of the revival is going to be going out on May 1st. Just wanted to let you know in case there are some of you who would like to sign up! I couldn't figure out how to embed it in this post, so you'll actually have to come to the website in order to sign up. It's on the left sidebar, just under the social media buttons. You can't miss it!

Masque of the Red Death-- Bethany Griffin

2012-04-27T08:08:00.000-06:00

Release Date: April 24th, 2012
Genre: Romance, Dystopia, Post-Apocolypse
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 320
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Blurb: What a great atmosphere. Never once did I imagine the sun shining, even when the characters said "the sun was shining."

Review: This book was an interesting beast. I'm a HUGE Poe fan. I own a gilded collection of his most famous works. I adore him. So I was really excited for this book! And it didn't disappoint. Griffin has an amazing ability to create an incredibly dark atmosphere. I never once imagined the sun shining while reading this book. Even when the characters would say "the sun shone on his hair" or something, I would picture storm clouds and darkness. That's some writing ability. And the little Poe Easter eggs made me squeal with delight.

However, like Poe's original tales, the characters seem to be secondary to the plot. I couldn't relate with Araby AT ALL. She was just too wishy washy. I've never experienced guilt like she has, which may be why I couldn't relate to her. And the fact that she self-medicated her guilt with drugs and alcohol... not my favorite thing. And the two love interests just confused me. Yes, I said TWO love interests. There's a love triangle, brace yourself 'cause it's a doozy (mainly because I didn't like EITHER guy by the end, and I don't think you're supposed to).

BUT, I still loved the world of the book. And in this case, that will be enough to bring me back to the next one. All in all Masque of the Red Death kept me twisting and turning and looking for more. Griffin says that the real action from the ORIGINAL "Masque of the Red Death" comes in the sequel to this book, and I can't wait!

Other Reviews:

Good Choice Reading (Loved it!)
Emily's Reading Room (It was okay)
So Many Book, So Little Time (Didn't like it)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Fairy Tale Giveaway!

2012-04-26T14:39:00.000-06:00

Hey, y'all! In case you weren't aware, Fairy Tale Fortnight is currently happening at The Book Rat and Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing. It's two weeks of celebrating my FAVORITE books: twisted fairy tales!

Today I guest posted about the 10 fairy tale books I can't wait to read, and I'm giving one away!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POST AND ENTER

**Between Shades of Gray-- Ruta Sepetys

2012-04-26T00:21:00.001-06:00

Release Date: March 22nd, 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Philomel
Pages: 344
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously-and at great risk-documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives.

Blurb: I feel like my soul has been put through a paper shredder and then glued back together. Amazing. Amazing.

Review: Now, I had absolutely no desire to read this book. But Emily wanted someone to go meet Ruta with, so I grudgingly borrowed my grandmother's copy.

Ho. Ly. Cow. I'm usually not a big historical fiction fan, but when I like them I like them hard. Guys. I like this book hardcore. We hear a lot about what happened to the Jews and the Germans in WWII, but I've never read a book about the Soviets and Lithuanians. I get my Axis and Allies all mixed up, and so I was floored when I found out about 80% into the book that the "bad guys" were allied with the Americans! Hello, Enna! Your ignorance is showing.

Lina is a great narrator. She's such a powerful character. She's got spunk, and charisma, and an unwavering spirit. She was able to be strong, and still human. She broke down sometimes, she wasn't perfect, but she always knew when to pick herself back up. If there's ever a fictional character I want in my corner, it'd be her.

Please, if you don't know much about this side of WWII (or even if you do) PICK UP THIS BOOK. It is beautiful and it will open your eyes.

HOWEVER, the ending is very unsatisfying! Usually I'd be okay with that because it would mean there was another book coming, but the end of the book is followed by an epilogue that vaguely ties up the loose ends. Enough to close the story, but not enough to satisfy my curiosity! Again, I could spend another hundred or more pages with these characters. Ruta talked about why she ended the way she did (she didn't want the ending to be corny or false), and I guess I can understand where's she's coming from, but... I WANT MORE!

Other Reviews:

The Story Girl (Loved it!)
The Night Bookmobile (It was okay)
Venn Librarian (Didn't like it)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

*Starters-- Lissa Price

2012-04-25T07:51:00.000-06:00

Release Date: March 13th, 2012
Genre: Sci-fi, Romance, Dystopia
Publisher: Delacorte
Pages: 352
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .(

Blurb: Fast paced and unique, Starters is a great addition to the genre!

Review: Decided to jump Starters to the top of my TBR pile last month when I saw that the author was coming to my area! I'm so glad I did. Starters reminds me a lot of the TV show Dollhouse (which I loved and was cancelled WAY too soon!). It's fast paced, engaging, and relatively unique in this blossoming genre.

I wouldn't call it deep. I didn't get absorbed into the world, or even really believe it for a second (I have a hard time believing books that make people act so terribly that I can't imagine them every being that bad), but I had fun reading!

My only complaint (aside from the cover**) is that it all wrapped up WAY too quickly. Here we have this kick-butt heroine who isn't afraid to take her fate into her own hands, and the last 70-ish pages are her handing over all responsibility to others. She just kind of goes with the flow, and flow it does. It was essentially A leads to B leads to C leads to resolution, rapid-fire. I wish Lissa had taken a deep breath, and slowed down a little. She probably could have added another 100 pages and that would have been okay with me.

Something interesting in this book, it's part of a duet. We don't get those a lot anymore. The second (and final, in case you aren't sure what a duet is) book comes out later this year. It's called Enders. I'll definitely be picking it up!

Other Reviews:

Once a Reader, Always a Reader (Loved it!)
Book Strings (Liked it)
Epic (Chocolate) Fantasy (Didn't like it)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

**This cover weirds me out. Is it supposed to be the main character? She's described as being beautiful, not an alien. In real life the cover has some cool foil effects, but that model is just too strange. The way her hair covers her eye makes her look reptilian.

Partials-- Dan Wells

2012-04-24T17:06:00.001-06:00

Release Date: February 28th, 2012
Genre: Post-Apocolypse, Sci-fi, Romance
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 468
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

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

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

Blurb: Good for those who already love dystopia, not recommended for newbies

Review: This book is pretty entertaining. It has a fast-moving plot, a variety of interesting characters, and a splash of romance. What it doesn't have is a very strong world. I feel like there was SO MUCH left unexplained, and so I spent most of the book confused when the characters referred to anything other than what was immediately happening.

I mean... did they ever say what (spoilers, highlight to view) made Partials, partial? No. Ever really tell us what ParaGen was? No. Ever explain what RM stood for or exactly what it did? No. Or if those questions WERE answered in the story, they were answered so stubtly/slowly that I missed it. ANNOYING! I need a fully flushed out world to be satisfied. But I'll admit the plot was still very engaging, if not very saturated. It was engaging enough to be worth 4 flowers, even with the unanswered questions. However, if Wells doesn't answer some of those questions in book 2 I will probably re-think those 4 flowers.

If you're already a fan of dystopia novels, then you'll probably like this one. If you haven't been exposed to dystopia before, I wouldn't start with this one because it might scare you away from the genre.

Other Reviews:

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Sharing the link love!

2012-04-23T20:03:00.001-06:00

So I'm starting this new thing where I'm linking to other people's reviews at the end of mine. I hope to have a link to a "LOVED it" review, an "It was okay" review, and an "I didn't like it" review in each post. But here's the thing, I'm hoping y'all can make my life a little easier. If you would like me to link to your reviews in my posts, will you please fill out the following form? The first section just lets me know your blog exists, and I'll check it sometimes to see if it falls into any of the above categories. The second is asking about SPECIFIC books I need reviews for RIGHT NOW.

Much love!

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Grave Mercy-- Robin LaFevers

2012-04-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Release Date: April 3rd, 2012
Genre: Political Intrigue, Romance, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 549
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Blurb: An adult book in YA clothing. Disappointing.

Review: I'm afraid to say I didn't like this book. I posted the following review on Amazon, and (as Amazonites are wont to do) have recieved some... interesting criticisms. But I'm going to post the same review here and y'all can judge for yourself.

Okay, I stayed up late to finish this just because I wanted to write down my thoughts while they were still fresh. To keep it fairly simple, I'm just going to make a list of why I gave this book 2.5 flowers:

1. This does not read like a typical YA book. This reads like an adult book with a MC who is 17. But because it takes place in medieval France, she is a MEDIEVAL 17, which feels more like 30. There's a LOT of talk of sex, harlots, abusive men, etc. And the book culminates in a sexual act. Plus, it just reads like an adult book.

2. SO. MUCH. POLITICS. Here I was thinking I was going to read a book about a kick-butt female assassin, and what I got was about 400 pages of trying to remember which barons were the good guys and who were the bad guys. Listening to councils jibber jabber about who the 12-year-old duchess should marry, blah blah blah. All the while our assassin friend wasn't doing very much assassin-ing.

3. Ismae was a little flip-floppy. This may just be because I'm a love-skeptic, but she's spent her WHOLE LIFE fearing men and thinking that all men are evil, and after just a few weeks being SURROUNDED by men (many of which want to rape her) she falls in love with more than one. Granted, those she falls in love with (not all romantically) are really great men, but it just seemed a little strange that she would be so willing to become buddies with them. I'm not really a "feminist" but I do like characters to stand strong in their beliefs, or at least give me REALLY good reasons why their beliefs change (Sidenote: this was demonstrated very well in this book's religious beliefs. I loved Ismae's internal struggles with right and wrong.).

4. The world confused me. I personally don't like it when books have just enough stuff that is real that I can't tell what's fake. I'm not an expert on medieval France, so I didn't know which parts of this book were coming out of LaFevers' brain, and which parts were real. This is a minor thing, but still bugged me.

#3 and #4 are more secondary concerns. They were at the back of my mind as a read, but not huge factors. What was HUGE was #1 and #2. #1 made me dislike the book just because there is a REASON I dislike adult books. I read YA on purpose. And #2 bothered me because it made the story SO SLOW. And I've never been interested in political intrigue books. The only time that kind of thing has been able to keep me interested is in books like the Attolia books (and those are a lot shorter and less dense than Grave Mercy, and the characters were more interesting) and the Trickster's Choice series (which has a LOT more going on than just political intrigue, even though PI is the main plot).

I really WANTED to like this book, but I just couldn't. I wish I had read it with lower expectations, then I probably wouldn't have been so dissatisfied.

Other Reviews:

Emily's Reading Room (4.5 Stars)
Reading Teen (5 Stars)
Janina (2/2.5 Stars)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.