TdB: Book blog and other stuff

Book Review - All fall down by Ally Carter

2015-02-15T17:40:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone!

Title: All Fall Down

Serie: Embassy Row 1/3

Author: Ally Carter

Publisher: Scholastic Press

First Edition edition (February, 2015)

Review Source: NetGalley
Language: English

Amazon / BD

A new series of global proportions -- from master of intrigue, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter.

This exciting new series from NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter focuses on Grace, who can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world, and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay--in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

The hero of our story is Grace, a girl that hasn'a had a stable family life. His family, (his parents, his brother Jamie and her) have been changing due to his father's work in the army. Her life seems to be stabilized, because they have decided to stay in one place, but it all goes to hell when Grace is the witness in her mother's murder. But nobody believes what she has seen, and everyone says the death of her mother was an unfortunate accident.

“Adria is a very friendly post, but we live in a dangerous world. That’s why security protocols are not optional. We do not prop open doors. We do not give out access codes. And we never, ever jump off of walls." [...]

“While you are in this building, you are on American soil. This is your country. This is your home. But step outside these walls and you are a visitor in Adria- a visitor with a very important job. Grace, I need to know that you understand me.” [...]

Our story begins when Grace arrives at Embassy Row to stay and live with his grandfather; three years have passed since that traumatic event. As we read, we get to know a little more to Grace and everything that happened to her in the last years. It is a traumatized young girl who tries to adapt to the circumstances, but she can not. Since the first day, her attitude is combative, sarcastic and distrustful. She doesn't want to be there, all place brings memories of her mother. They spent every summer at that residence, enjoying the city and the friends. When she was a child, the embassy was her playground, she kept getting into trouble, too naughty for her age, she followed his brother and his best friend, Alexei, everywhere. But today, that Gracie is gone, but today she gets into trouble. As the story progresses, we see that Grace has to face herself, her memories, those things she thinks she knows and her fears, to discover what really happened to her mother.

“Sometimes the walls that stand between us and our neighbors are all that stand between our country and war.”

Other characters are Noah, Megan, Lila, Rosie, Alexei, Ms. Chancellor, his grandfather, etc ... They all live there and are part of different embassies, I liked everyone, especially Noah and Rosie. Noah will become her best friend, and he has a very outgoing personality with Grace, and get closer since the beginning. Their dialogues are funny. Meanwhile, Rosie is a 13 years old girl, and she has many skills to be so small.

The story develops in one atmosphere full of political intrigue, conspiracies and secrets. I really enjoy the plot, because the nuanced plot has several twists, especially at the end, I did not expect them, so that I liked a lot. and that's the reason because I gave it 5 stars.

Some new series in February

2015-02-05T10:00:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone!

In today's post, I bring you the info of new series that will be published this month. There are known authors and others that are not, but they have a promising future. Enjoy it!

Red Queen (Red Queen Trilogy #1) - Victoria Aveyard
(February 10th)
GR, VA, BD & A

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court.

Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard —a growing Red rebellion— even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

Unspeakable (Freedom #1) - Michelle K. Pickett
(February 10th)
GR, MP, BD & A

“Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe.”

On the outside, Willow appears to have it all. She’s beautiful, smart, from an influential family, and she dates the most popular guy in school—Jaden. But she would walk away from it all in a second. Willow is tormented by lies and suffocating guilt, not the hearts and flowers people believe her life is full of.

She carries a dark secret. Plagued by nightmares and pain, the secret dominates her life. If she hadn’t walked away. If she had just…but she didn’t. And now she has to live with her choice. But when someone uncovers her family’s past, they use it against her, crushing her spirit little by little. She tells herself she just has to make it to graduation. Then she can leave Middleton, and her secret, far behind.

When Brody transfers to Cassidy High, he turns Willow’s life upside down. He shows her what it feels like to live again, really live. And suddenly, she isn’t satisfied with just surviving until graduation. She wants a normal life—with Brody—and he wants her. But the closer they become, the more it threatens to unravel the secret she’s worked so hard to hide.

Willow finds true love with Brody. Will she let his love save her, or walk away from him to keep her secret safe?

The Return (Titan #1) - Jennifer L. Armentrout
(February 17th)
GR, JLA, BD y A

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

Book 1 in the new adult paranormal TITAN series, spin-off to the best selling COVENANT series.

The Sin Eater's Daughter (The Sin Eater’s Daughter #1) - Melinda Salisbury
(February 24th)
GR, MS, BD y A

Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t exactly a member of the court.

She’s the executioner.

As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla’s fatal touch, avoids her company.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla’s been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.

However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice.

Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1) - Maria V. Snyder
(February 24th)
GR, MVS, BD y A

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job —and his life— are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret — while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers. Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous.

A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1) - V.E. Schwab
(February 24th)
GR, VES, BD y A

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.

What is your favorite?
What cover do you prefer?
That's all! XOXO

Book review: The here and now by Ann Brashares

2015-02-04T10:00:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone!

Title: The here and now

Author: Ann Brashares

Publisher: Delacorte Press

First Edition edition (April 8, 2014)
Hodder Childrens Books (January 1, 2015)

Review Source: NetGalley
Language: English

Amazon / BD

An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

The story begins when Ethan meets Prenna in the river. He thinks that the pretty girl covered in mud up to her ears isn't real. Finally he realizes that she is real and isn't the product of his imagination.

The rest of the book is told from the perspective of Prenna, who is giving us clues of her present time and past time. In her past life there was fear, hunger and disease, and in the present she is part of a community of people who came from the same time than hers (2098). This community must obey strictly a series of rules since they arrived on April 23, 2010.

The more I knew about that community, the more I reaffirmed my idea that it was conceived as a sect, which nobody could leave or interact with anyone outside. But in this story, that community has a very poor action in the nuance plot.

The two heroes of the story are Prenna and Ethan.

Prenna is a young girl from a future time that doesn't remember anything of the day when she arrived, but totally she remembers her past life. As the narrator of the story, we read how she reacts to such simple things like watching the sea, the snow, some new fruits that she didn't know...

Her relationship with their community isn't very special or fluid. There is a paragraph that explains these feelings:

Meanwhile, Ethan remembers everything about Prenna, but it seems that she doesn't recognize him. He is a character more developed than Prenna. Suddenly, he knows almost every secret of Prenna and together are going to look for what must be avoided to have a future.

The story begins to get interesting when a character is showed. This character will be the key in the developing of the story. He shows them the right way to discover the important and decisive fact of the history for the future.

The best part of the story is when Prenna and Ethan begin their trip to prevent future epidemic that will end the world. In these chapters, we find out the events that led to the great deadly epidemic and the writer makes us reconsider many things about the possible future.

I gave it 3 stars because I loved the storyline about the end of the world, but the heroes didn't convince me and the ending left me some questions about the future and the relationship about Prenna and Ethan, and there isn't secuel. It's not fair :(

Other covers:

(Thanks for the ARC)