PJV Quickie: A competent follow-up, Hamilton again immerses you in the creative world that she has created with her Goblin Wars series.

Review

I don’t want to give away too much with my review, but this is a series you don’t want to miss out on. Full of original and lovable characters, a compelling and scary world along with plot twists and turns, the Goblin Wars series is unique and entertaining. The second in the series, the story catches up with Teagan, Finn and Aiden after their trek to Mag Mell to save Teagan and Aiden’s father. Now, back in the real world with a few other otherworldly creatures in two, Tea has to face facts that she is not quite normal and her world probably won’t be the same again. Her fears are confirmed when Teagan’s cousins begin showing up at her school, convinced that it is only time before she joins them. Exciting and rich in detail, I was sucked right back into Teagan Wylltson’s world and charmed by Finn, who is a love interest of über swoon proportions. I can’t wait to continue the series and recommend this gem to anyone interested in young adult fantasy and paranormal.

Recommendations:

Recommended for mature teens, there is a bit of scare factors and some heavy subjects but nothing blatant. 14+ is my take. The mature nature also makes it suitable for adults that enjoy the younger books. Fans of paranormal fantasy should enjoy. This one is not to be read out of order. Read the first one before this one.

Like This, Like That:

‘The Iron King‘ by Julie Kagawa
‘The Scorpio Races‘ by Maggie Stiefvater

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Review: In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

PJV Quickie: Tyger, Tyger is a richly, imaginative story that drew me in from the onset.

Review

Steeped in Irish lore and myth the story wrapped around me so deeply that I actually heard the Irish brogue as I read the words – which was so much fun. I love having a different accent in my head! Tyger, Tyger had all the makings for a wonderful YA that I love: A hint of romance, a dastardly evil plot bent to eradicate the heroine, strong well-established characters, rich back story and a tight plot. I also like my YA dark and this one fit the bill. Team all that up with a very unique storyline – I know you are thinking Irish + Faeries + Human Chick = like a million other YA novels, but this one was much different and you might learn something about Irish History along the way.

Goblin. Teagan Wyllston’s thoughts on goblins were reserved only for when viewing her mother’s paintings which were rich in Irish folklore and legend. Goblins aren’t real. College is real, scholarships are real. Her friend Abby’s crazy talk about dreams where goblins come out of paintings and attack is purely ludicrous. Yet, when her wayward “cousin” {in name only} Finn Mac Cumhaill is dragged to her house by a overzealous child protection service agent and begins telling her about the cat-sidhe goblins, Tea starts doubting her entire life. Even worse when she starts seeing glimmers of maggot-infested nasty creatures that enjoy squeezing the life out of innocent baby animals…goblins are real???

A brilliant story that now has me slavering to read book two. I couldn’t really tell you anything that I found wrong with the story…crazy right? I’m completely engrossed in the story of The Mac Cumhail and Teagan and look forward to more.

Recommendations:

I highly recommend this tale for Young Adult paranormal fans. If you read and liked stories such as Julie Kagawa’s Iron Series or Marr’s Wicked Lovely series you should really enjoy this one.

Even More:

Other Young Adult Fantasy Series or Similar Novels

‘The Iron King’ (Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa
‘Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception’ (Books of Faerie #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Review: Tyger Tyger: A Goblin Wars Book by Kersten Hamilton

Welcome to the Twitter & Facebook Hop on Parajunkee’s View.

Today we are linking up our Facebook Fan Pages & our Twitter accounts so we can earn more followers and likes. Social networks are an integral way to get more exposure for your blog, so click away!

Rules To Participate

1. As a courtesy please follow & like your host — me Parajunkee!
2. When you follow or like someone @ them and let them know so they can follow back
3. Be nice about it! Don’t just send the same message over and over again!
4. Leave a comment and tell me if this meme is a keeper.
5. As a courtesy if someone follows you be sure to follow back.
6. You can use the icon above for your Facebook fan page. This is a place people can commend and Like so you know to follow back.
7. Have fun!

********** Please Remember *********

1. This is for Facebook FAN pages – not your friend account
2. This is also not for your Blogs – if you want to add your blog – please join the #FF Hop

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Twitter & Facebook Hop #6

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

---

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

Our Feature -Book’d Out

Hi, my name is Shelleyrae of Book’d Out. As a thirty something, married, mother of four I live a quiet life at home in Australia (in amongst moments of sheer chaos) which I love, but with a book in my hand I can be a vampire’s mistress; a detective on the hunt for a serial killer; a damsel in distress or even a teenager again. I have always loved reading but never had anyone to talk to about books with. No one really wanted to listen if a book made me cry or rage or laugh or filled my heart with joy. *insert sob here* So like everyone who has something to say but feels no one is listening, I started a blog. I read an eclectic mix though I prefer urban fantasy, mystery and contemporary fiction, I find it impossible to choose favourites though. I am as happy to read ebooks (on my iPod) as I am print, from backlists to bestsellers, mostly if there is a story to tell I am willing to read it.

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

Memoirs. Gah! I don’t think there is anyone I’ve every cared about enough to read their “memoir”. I’ll read someone’s biography, that another person has written, preferably notable historical figures. But, I won’t do autobiographies or memoirs.

If you have followed me via GFC you will no longer be able to get my feed via GFC or Blogger. I ask that if you use a reader, like Google Reader – just follow my RSS directly. That would be super!

<—- Just clicky clicky!

 

 

 

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

<a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/ff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4710921228_e3140444bf_o.png" /></a> 

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
5. If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
6. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
7. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
8. If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday! Come back at midnight CST for the Facebook & Twitter hop!!

 

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Feature & Follow #81

Welcome to Book Blogging 101, a weekly feature on Parajunkee’s View that answers your questions and strives to share great book blogging tips and some helpful hints to help you on your way.

The name game.

Changed my Book Blogging 101 post topic again today in light of things that came up on Twitter – Again! I shouldn’t plan these anymore. Just troll the twitter halls for tawdry topics.

So, what came up you might ask? The fact that the names of our blogs are not as sacred as we might think. You see, with just an additional THE or a dropped AND for an “&” and your blog name can be modified and used. It might not even be on purpose, it might be purely accidental and that unwary name thief just didn’t do the right research…

Let me tell you a story.

It is Monday morning and with your coffee and croissant by your side you decide it’s been a month, time to Google yourself yet again. You are a logical person and you know your online presence is a big deal. Maintaining knowledge of what is on the internet about you is an even bigger chore than crafting your blog posts. With a few clicks of your mouse you scroll through the pages and your mouth drops open.

What is this? Click. Click.

This is my blog? Same name though…what?? What!!??

Are you the type of blogger that Google’s yourself? You should. You need to be aware of what is out there about you. There might be an author that quoted your review. Or another blog that wrote a rant that included your post…it’s nice to find these things out for yourself. Or, as the story went earlier, if there is another blog out there that has your name. Yet, if you do come across this — like let’s say a Parajunkie or even so far as a Parajunkee’s Take on Books — it can be done — what do you do??

Freak? Get mad? Ignore it? Unfortunately there is nothing much you can do, unless of course you’ve trademarked your name. You could write a letter asking them to cease and desist. They could still continue on, though. As we have found with piracy laws, the internet is full of copy cats and digital thieves. If you put it on the internet there are people that are just waiting to scoop it up. So, let’s try to play on the logical sensibilities of the start-up blogs to not be the unwary name thief, because accidentally or on purpose name grabbing can have some dire consequences:

1. The established blog feels like they’ve had their name stolen. The obvious problem right? But being an established blog means the have A LOT more contacts than your few followers. They’ve been around longer, experience, friends, followers, etc. — their call-to-action about a blog stealing their name will be seen and heard by a lot more people than your defense post.
2. The start-up blog looks unoriginal and copy-cat-esque. Do you really want to be the copy-cat? Go for trend setter, not lame rip-off.
3. Readers get confused and are not able to distinguish bloggers. (There are so many bloggers out there, if you are like me and follow hundreds of blogs, how do you know what blogger you are chatting up on twitter or even reading — when they are all named the same??)

The person that will be hurt the worst will be the start-up…and all because that wanna-be blogger didn’t do their homework.

Unless you are purposefully trying to siphon off an established blogger’s street cred, you might want to cross your t’s and dot your eyes before you register that .blogspot or wordpress or you might find yourself ostracized before you even get started.

It’s called Planning –

A little bit of research.

Google is your friend – get on Google and search the name that you want to roll out. My suggestion is to have a few names lined up, because you might go through them quickly, depending on their originality.

Five is a good number.

Original names are even better.

Come up with your potential names and then start plugging them into Google. If you purposefully misspell something, make sure that you Google the right spelling.
Just because you are wittily calling yourself The Hawt Book Blogger doesn’t mean The Hot Book Blogger won’t be offended.

Google and Google and Google. Check twitter to see if the name is used, check Facebook to see if they have a page. Then jump on Blogger or WordPress and see if the URL is available. Even jump on GoDaddy and check if a .com is available because you might want to buy it at some point – it’s only ten bucks a great investment.

If you have to add a THE or a YA or a JA or a WHATEVER — then someone is using the original .com — find the original dot com. Are they still in operation, active and happy? Then don’t use that name!! It’s just a name. Pick a new one. You might think it is witty and original – but it’s not because someone already came up with the idea.

After all this research, hopefully you have nailed down your name and have a good plan to get it implemented.

Originality is key people. You don’t want to be just another Book Addict, right? My friend Patti found out this the hard way –

She was Book Addict Patti and who knows if she came first, but on Google you’ll find the Book Addict, then you’ll find The True Book Addict, further down there will be the Book Addicts (two of them), then there is Confessions of a Book Addict, which adds originality but is overshadowed by thebookaddict.net, Mrs. Book Addict, Mr. Book Addict, Me the Book Addict and then a slew of other female names followed by Book Addict. Ashley the Book Addict, Angelle the Book Addict the list goes on and on and on and on and on.
Some of these bloggers are friends of mine – but I’ll tell them straight, they might have done research before taking that blogger plunge. The problem is most bloggers just start it on the fly. If you haven’t done that yet, or are just starting – there is still time. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Be original.

Your name is your name is your name. Call yourself something else…it has meaning but only if it sets you apart.

O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

What started this??
The Established Blog #1
The start-up <– Updated Name and everything is happy!
The Established Blog #2
The I’m not sure what is to come

I can’t get to all the questions, but please ask your BB101 Questions here…bring it on.

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Book Blogging 101: Name Thieves and Proper Planning

Book to Movies 2012

We all know about The Hunger Games and Breaking Dawn Part II as a part of the Books to Movies in 2012, but there are a few more on the list that you might not be aware of their up coming releases. In no particular order…these are US release dates.

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> In Production: Book to Movies 2012

This is my “Want to Read” of

Classic Vampire Romance Novels

Title: Hotel Transylvania
Series: (Saint-Germain #1) 
Author: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Genre: Adult, Vampire Romance
First Published in 1982

The classic tale that introduced the legendary Le Comte de Saint-Germain, first published in 1978 and spawning 14 titles in the Saint-Germain epic, is now available in paperback. A fixture in 1740s Parisian society, Saint-Germain is a perfect gentleman–and a vampire. When the fiery young Madeline falls in love with him, a group of evil sorcerers targets her for their black mass–and only Saint-Germain can save her soul.

Title: The Darkangel
Series: (Darkangel Trilogy #1)
Author: Meredith Ann Pierce
Genre: Young Adult, Vampire Romance
First Published in 1982

Eoduin, a beautiful young woman, is abducted by a vampyre while out with her slave Aeriel gathering flowers, and carried off to be a vampyre’s bride. Aeriel, determined to avenge her mistress, returns to the peak from which Eoduin was stolen and waits until the vampyre should return. Eventually, he comes for her and she can not kill him because of his beauty and power, and he takes her but not to be his bride.

<a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/feature/wanting" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6678961827_53a3b81485_o.png" alt="Desperatly Wanting Wednesday, hosted by Parajunkee's View" width="350" height="233" border="0" /></a>

<a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/feature/wanting" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6678961893_f194d1e8ba_o.png" alt="Desperatly Wanting Wednesday, hosted by Parajunkee's View" width="400" height="421" border="0" /></a> 

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: Classic Vampire Romance

PJV Quickie: A fantastical and horrifying young adult dystopian adventure story that had me engrossed from the beginning. Moira Young spun a highly original tale that I couldn’t shake even after it ended. Another must read for fans of the dystopian genre.

Review

‘Blood Red Road’ is the story of a family torn apart when men come charging out of a dust storm and kidnap the brother, Lugh. Saba, his twin is left with her unwelcome little sister Emmi and a determination to get her brother back – who is the only person that has ever meant something to her. The wasteland that is the world around them is hard and desolate and it gives you no sense of relief as the sisters are forced into one horrible situation after another. This was not your usual dystopian with the oppressive government as one of the main characters that loomed in the background and the unlikely hero that tries to take it down. No, this was a world gone mad in the wake of poor living conditions, drought and drug abuse, there wasn’t even a government from what I could tell. There was tons of adventure, action, coming of age drama and even a smidge of romance to make up for the lack of political interplay, though.

Moira Young breathes originality and realness into every aspect of this novel, from the highly descriptive world building to the dialect and her fabulous character creation. Her main character Saba will at first unhinge you and then slowly you’ll fall madly in love with her. She just rang true with me, but it didn’t stop there as each new character was introduced and expanded upon they took on a life of their own. I swoon over Jacked, cooed over Emmi and rooted for the Free Hawks.

The only splinters that wheedled in with this book was the character of the bad guy, the King and the ending. The King’s character was a bit over the top and some of the events that were included that were supposed to be surprises were a bit unbelievable. Then the ending rather threw a curve ball into it. I felt the resolution could have been there – but was included for the sake of giving a sort of cliffhanger. It got me slavering for book two which isn’t due out until October 2012 so I’m a big old hot mess over this one.

Audiobook Review:

The audiobook was fabulous, with narrator Heather Lind conveying the tone of the novel with each nuance of her speech. If you think you might have a problem with the dialect you might want to give the audiobook a try. I enjoyed it immensely and was sold after listening to a small excerpt.

Recommendations:

Recommended for fans of the dystopian genre. This was like a Mad Max meets The Hunger Games. There is violence and some heavier subjects but nothing for parents to have to worry from. Recommended for 12+ teens.

Even More:

Ridley Scott, the genius behind movies like ‘Gladiator’ has acquired the film rights to ‘Blood Red Road’. Could this be a series to rival The Hunger Games?

Other Young Adult Dystopian, or Similar Novels

‘Poison Study’ Series by Maria V. Snyder
‘Enclave‘ by Ann Aguirre

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

PJV Quickie: Mary Lindsey set off to make her hero one of the good guys, instead of the tried and true “bad boy” that redeems himself through the love of a good woman. I was almost immediately intrigued by her unique take on the young adult paranormal romance genre. Even better, it is a stand-alone and written with a simplistic and intelligent style that makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Review

Mary Lindsey’s ‘Shattered Souls’ has everything a good young adult paranormal romance needs. The story goes back centuries and is the tale of Rose and her unique occupation. She is reincarnated age after age to help assist souls cross over, assisted herself by her faithful Protector, Alden. Yet, it has been decades since Rose has been reincarnated and something is wrong this time. Her usual memories of her past lives and her knowledge of how to complete her jobs usually resurface by her 17^th birthday, this time around she is a blank slate. She was named Lenzi this lifetime, not Rose and the voices of the dead she has been hearing she has suspected it is a form of schizophrenia taking shape. Lenzi believes she is on the brink of insanity when Alden approaches her and tells her about her unlikely past lives and his roll as Protector.

Now, Lenzi has to make a choice, embrace her destiny and roll as Speaker with Alden or fall back into her everyday life, especially since it means staying with her rocker boyfriend Zak.

Once again, I can not begin to portray how refreshing this tale was. Yes, there was a love triangle, but look past that. The story had an original myth and fantastic character building. Lindsey’s (the author not the character) unique voice was to the point and had an intelligent resonance that I really enjoyed. I also enjoyed that this story was a one book arc even though it has the possibility to be an expanded series. Which, since I’m so used to these inflated story arcs, I thought some plot-lines could be expanded upon, especially Lenzi’s relationship with Zak. It was almost like that was downplayed a lot. Overall a fabulous tale and I’m happy that Patti and I were able to visit with Ms. Lindsey when she visited New Orleans. She was very charming and I can’t wait to read her next novel, which is a retelling of Poe’s Annabel Lee, told within the style of Poe’s writing.

Recommendations:

Recommended for teen audiences that enjoy the young adult paranormal romance genre. The writing style might also be well received by adult audiences, since Lindsey’s writing has a mature tone. There are some more mature topics and I’m putting this at about 15+.

Even More:

View the trailer.

Other Young Adult Dystopian, or Similar Novels

‘Angelfire‘ by Courtney Allison Moulton
‘Nightshade‘ by Andrea Cremer

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Q: If you could go back in time, what would you do first?

Contest Deets:

• Giveaway is for one copy of ‘Tempest’ by Julie Cross
• Shipping Restrictions: US & Canada only
• Giveaway ends 02/02/2012
• Free Entry
• Extra entries are available
• Winner will be announced via email
• Winner has 48 hours to respond, failure to respond will result in disqualification and another winner chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Win Tempest by Julie Cross

Welcome to the Twitter & Facebook Hop on Parajunkee’s View.

Today we are linking up our Facebook Fan Pages & our Twitter accounts so we can earn more followers and likes. Social networks are an integral way to get more exposure for your blog, so click away!

Rules To Participate

1. As a courtesy please follow & like your host — me Parajunkee!
2. When you follow or like someone @ them and let them know so they can follow back
3. Be nice about it! Don’t just send the same message over and over again!
4. Leave a comment and tell me if this meme is a keeper.
5. As a courtesy if someone follows you be sure to follow back.
6. You can use the icon above for your Facebook fan page. This is a place people can commend and Like so you know to follow back.
7. Have fun!

********** Please Remember *********

1. This is for Facebook FAN pages – not your friend account
2. This is also not for your Blogs – if you want to add your blog – please join the #FF Hop

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Twitter & Facebook Hop #5

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

---

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and  you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

Our Feature -Pretty in Fiction

We are four cousins (well, two pairs of sisters) who have been sharing books, and our crazy love for them for ages—and I do mean crazy. We even took the time to invent, and perfect (well, close enough, for now) a card game, made with index cards, using all our favorite characters. We call it Ultimate Showdown: Crazy Hearts, which is where our review rating system comes from.

We decided we wanted to share our love of books with more than just ourselves, and so Pretty in Fiction was born.

Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

Craziest?? Waited in line for hours — but usually that was to meet the author along with the book. To get my hands on Shadowfever I stood in line for hours – then I finally got my hand on the book and then sat and waited for hours to line up to get it signed. I guess that would be craziest.

If you have followed me via GFC you will no longer be able to get my feed via GFC or Blogger. I ask that if you use a reader, like Google Reader – just follow my RSS directly. That would be super!

<—- Just clicky clicky!

 

 

 

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

<a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/ff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4710921228_e3140444bf_o.png" /></a> 

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
5. If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
6. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
7. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
8. If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday! Come back at midnight CST for the Facebook & Twitter hop!!

 

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Feature & Follow #80

Welcome to Book Blogging 101, a weekly feature on Parajunkee’s View that answers your questions and strives to share great book blogging tips and some helpful hints to help you on your way.

Today’s discussion is not based on a question posed to me, but rather a question that came to mind as I was following the recent drama that ensued after a snarky review on Goodreads.  If you aren’t aware of what is going on, it is really quite simple and happens every now and again — someone wrote a negative review and an author got upset. But, really it wasn’t even the author that the review focused on that got upset, it was other authors and it was brought to twitter and then there were blog posts written about it, people were insulted, tirades began, names were called — and then finally it went mainstream, with an article in The Guardian.  That article also cites a blog post that narrates all the BS that went down – because you know, it’s not news unless it is dissected in graphic detail.

Now, I’m never one to get in a tizzy over these sort of things. I think the fact that we are not saying things to people’s faces makes us write dumb things on social media sites and it has to be taken with a grain of salt. It’s not like we are all politicians or anything. What authors sometimes forget is that they are a public figure and everything they do is being monitored and their words can affect the sales of their books. It may seem like they are just chatting back and forth with friends — but on twitter it is like they have a megaphone and are screaming it into a microphone that is blasted through a global satellite that goes into a searchable database. I digress though, because this post is not about proper social media behavior. It is really about what constitutes a a reviewer.

Because that Guardian article prompted this post, which was written by my favorite YA author, Maggie Stiefvater. In this posts she calls the review in question, a negative “review” and the Guardian article “fairly ridiculous” and then goes on to point out that what these authors are lashing out at aren’t “reviews” at all but nothing more than posts and that reviews are actually “little academic paper(s)” that “are hard to write”. She states that in a “real” review her opinion is secondary to her defining the strength and weaknesses of the book.

Okay. I can agree with that, somewhat.

But, what caught my attention was later in the post when she stated: “Let’s talk about the negative “reviews” that authors have been lashing out at. They often involve animated gifs, swearing, and snark. They’re often quite funny. But here’s the thing, though. When a blogger writes a biased, hilarious, snarky rundown of a book they despised, he/ she is not writing a review. They are writing a post about a book.”

She also says it’s not wrong but they shouldn’t be respected like “real reviews” are respected in the author community.

She then goes on to state that when you get personal in your “post” you are just being a jerk and even professional camps that push out mean negative thoughts cause a stir and I think she was implying that they weren’t reviews also.

Personally, I think she is mostly correct in her assessment — how many times do we have discussions on reviews and say DON’T GET PERSONAL. Personal jabs and mean spirited-comments are not something you want to include in your review. But, making it out that reviews are only these long winded, hard to write, literary dissections — well I don’t know if I agree with that. Because I think there is a middle ground somewhere, a little gray hopefully??

On first reading her statement, “I’m not saying that bloggers shouldn’t write biased, hilarious, snarky rundowns of books. I’m saying that those rundowns are not reviews. Bloggers who regularly write them cannot expect to garner the same respect and treatment from authors that pro reviewers or non-pro reviewers do.” I felt like I was being scoffed at, yes I’m being sensitive. Yes, yes, I know this. But, everyone wants respect right? And that was hard to read.

I think if a blogger handles themselves in a professional matter, just because they don’t follow some per-ordained academic guideline, can’t they keep the title of reviewer??

Maggie Stiefvater is still my favorite YA author, I’ve never written to her about her strange relationship with wolves — who does that??? But, I still feel like she made what I do here on Parajunkee’s View something not that important and trivial. Her post implied that my thoughts on books would only be considered “real” if I was published in a literary journal or followed certain guidelines. I thought I was a blogger / reviewer but according to Ms. Stiefvater, I’m nothing more than a woman that posts about books and should know my place. Did I read too much into that post? All stemming from the fact that I don’t do literary reviews — which frankly I wouldn’t want to, I did that in college and would get Ds on my paper if my opinion didn’t coincide with the professor. My reviews are a statement of my opinion and my negative responses are usually followed up by reasonable explanations.

I didn’t like this book because…
I loved this book because…

I thought that constituted a review?

Dictionary.com states a review:
1. a critical article or report, as in a periodical, on a book, play, recital, or the like; critique; evaluation.

If I’m dissecting that definition correctly, if I write a critical report about something it is a review, right? Therefor, I can still call myself a reviewer? I would hate to have to redefine myself. My current definition goes as such, I am a blogger that does book reviews and POSTS book info.

Saying this person is a reviewer and this person is not, I believe is just another way to judge one another. To be an author you don’t have to write in a particular way — there are plenty of academic ways to write, how our teachers told us we must always write in this fashion and do this certain thing. But, lucky for us, most authors don’t listen to what their teachers tell them. They break molds, they try new things, the profession morphs –

Not to mention, not all authors get published with big respectable publishing houses, like Scholastic or HarperCollins, does this make them less of an author, less deserving of respect? Does this make them…only a — *gasp*  — writer??

I think that everyone’s opinions should be respected and tolerated, and if that opinion differs from your own you have the free will to ignore it. Even if the “reviewer” gets snarky and uses animated gifs — or *gasp* curse words — that is how they express their opinion. It might not be your way of doing it and maybe their methods might actually turn off more readers than it does turn them on — but once again it’s theirs and let them have it.

Yet, the funny thing about this whole thing is, I actually don’t agree with the “review” that started it off. Because in actuality the person didn’t even read the book, she read the excerpt and was already forming opinions. Does this constitute a review? And by calling into question her review, if it is a review, does this make me judgmental and snobby?

See, once again, I just want your opinions!

Should book bloggers change their names to something like “Book Opinionaters”? Or should we proudly wave our Reviewer Flags and stand up for defining ourselves? I personally would like to be a reviewer instead of just some “book post writer person”. But, I also don’t want people to think that I’m a total poser — pretending to be something I’m not. Miles away from the “cool people” respected club, nope don’t want to be that girl.

As always I await your verdict, dear readers.

Here are the links:

Maggie’s Post
The Guardian Article
The review that started it all.
The post that broke it down.

Update

The review mentioned later in comments from Amazon
The plot thickens with a PW article

I can’t get to all the questions, but please ask your BB101 Questions here…bring it on.

Home > Feature > Book Blogging 101: Creating a Great Blog Checklist

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Book Blogging 101: What is a review?

I actually was won over by this book trailer, which rarely happens. But the trailer is great – go check it out.

Title: Partials
Author:  Dan Wells
Expected publication: February 28th 2012 by HarperTEEN The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

I really enjoy the young adult that comes out of the Harlequin publishing house. I’m hoping that this looker is going to live up to the other greats that have come hot off those presses — that was so cheesy. I’m sorry, it’s late!

Title: Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1)
Author: Michele Vail
Expected publication: February 28th 2012 by Harlequin Teen The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird…

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath.

Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with.

To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly—against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.

If you want to participate in a Desperately Wanting Wednesday, you are more then welcome to join in. Here are buttons and a link-up list to leave your post URL:

<a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/feature/wanting" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6678961827_53a3b81485_o.png" alt="Desperatly Wanting Wednesday, hosted by Parajunkee's View" width="350" height="233" border="0" /></a>

<a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/feature/wanting" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6678961893_f194d1e8ba_o.png" alt="Desperatly Wanting Wednesday, hosted by Parajunkee's View" width="400" height="421" border="0" /></a> 

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: February New Releases

PJV Quickie: The start of a very hot series, Zoe Archer’s struck gold with her Hellraisers. I was instantly infatuated with the Earl of Whitney – I’ll bet on him any day.

 

Review

Striking out lately with paranormal romance I thought ‘Devil’s Kiss’ by Zoe Archer might be just what I needed. A little taste of something new – and I was right. Archer crafted some unique lore and put together a great start of series that has me excited to read more. The Hellraisers are a group of men in the 1700s that are of a wealthy persuasion and have the tendency to get a bit rowdy. Prone to gamble, drinking and women, the boys are always two steps away from danger. Boredom has led them to a gypsy encampment, gambling and drinking the night away, the gypsies more than willing to entertain the five men for a bit of coin. Whit, our handsome hero isn’t used to being distracted from the game – but the gorgeous gypsy girl, Zora Grey is quite distracting.

Rumors of a cursed ruin and talk of evil get the Hellraisers interested to go exploring in their inebriated state and abandoning their gypsy company. But, Zora is determined to prevent them from doing harm – yet, she’s too late and the men have made their deal. Now, it’s a race against the clock to convince Whit that his deal was a deal with the devil – and he needs to break it or he risks more than just his soul.

A tortured hero, a willful heroine and a unique and very plot driven storyline made ‘Devil’s Kiss’ an awesome paranormal romance. I’m now smitten with Zoe Archer and hope to read more from her. Some down points did rise up in the story in the guys behavior at how easily they sold their souls and how hard it was to logically get through to Whit. But, I’ve never been offered my souls desire or had a vice like Whit has, so I guess I can’t judge. But, it did lead to some WTFs with the behavior. But, once the pursuit to save the soul swept into full swing it was on and I completely enjoyed.

Recommendations:

Recommended for historical romance and paranormal romance fans. This is an adult romance novel so there are sexual interactions that is meant for adults only.

Like This, Like That

‘Darkness Dawns’ (Immortal Guardians) by Dianne Duvall
‘The Iron Duke’ (A Novel of the Iron Seas) by Meljean Brook

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Review: Devil’s Kiss by Zoe Archer

PJV Quickie: Leanna Hieber has a way of taking a character and making them larger than life. She breaths this quirky life into her creations and they become almost a part of you as you read. If you haven’t read Ms. Heiber’s work — I ask, “Why not?”

Review

Having read, Leanna Renee Hieber’s, Percy Parker series I was prepared for her unique style of writing with the visceral and descriptive weaving of characters, settings and plot structure, I just wasn’t prepared for how well she portrayed this style in a young adult novel. I was highly impressed and hope to see more of this kind from her. The fact that I usually don’t like Victorian accounts, unless they have Steampunk influences is a testament to the uniqueness of this novel.

‘Darker Still’ is the diary account of Natalie Stewart, seventeen year old daughter of a museum curator. She lost her mother in a tragic accident that she witnessed and since then has not been able to speak. Mute and from a moderately placed family, Natalie has really no hopes of being introduced into Society or landing a good husband. Her spinster status seems right on the horizon until the moment she hears rumor of a mysterious portrait that is said to be haunted. With a bit of maneuvering Natalie gets her father to befriend the interested buyer of the portrait, Mrs. Evelyn Northe and convince her to lend it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Once laying eyes on the portrait of Lord Denbury, Natalie knows the rumors are true. There is something wrong with the painting, she thinks she might have even noticed it moving! Mrs. Northe is also  quite intrigued, both with the paintings mystical properties and Natalie herself. Together they investigate the mystery of Lord Denbury and Natalie’s connection to the painting – along with an evil that seems to be associated with the painting.

A mystery, a romance and a Victorian showcase all rolled into one. Heiber takes her influences from the greats and rolls it into a mesmerizing young adult novel that will have your flipping quickly through to find out if Natalie will triumph! Natalie and Mrs. Northe were such strong characters that it gave the book a backbone. I think the reason I don’t usually like Victorian/Historical is because of the restrictions they put on the female characters,  with the proper societal behavior and the deferment to the male gender.  I never like when women have to have a proper place. Hieber doesn’t restrict her characters to any such nonsense, she even claims in interviews that this is the exact reason she writes in these time periods. The restriction and rules that she has work within but triumph over. Makes for a unique character. Her two female leads are apart, yet within society giving them a little more freedom and thus making them stronger characters than the usual cowed and corseted heroines.

There were a few things that I found disconcerting with the novel, thus lending it with a less than perfect rating. Where I found Natalie to be larger-than-life, Lord Denbury I found fell flat. Hieber seems to put all her energy into the females of the novel. The only thing I got from him was his attractiveness. I hope that I’ll come to enjoy Lord Denbury in the later books, because of course he was rather restricted in this novel. Also, I did find the climax to be rather hurried and the diary style of the writing restrictive. I found it rather hard to believe that Natalie instead interacting would be scribbling in her diary, which is what was hinted in the writing.

Besides those minor down points, the novel was excellent. I liked the wrap-ups at the end and thought that was a great touch. I love Hieber’s writing style and believe that if you enjoyed this one you’ll definitely want to check out her adult series.

Recommendations:

Recommended for fans of historical young adult, but it is a great transition book if you haven’t read anything like it before. Paranormal romance young adult fans might really enjoy. The style is mature, but there is little mature content for parents to wary of, I’m giving it a 13+ recommendation.

Even More:

Leanna Renee Hieber & myself at ALA 2011 when I actually received this book. Read excerpts and view a great interview of Leanna on her website.

 Like This, Like That:

‘The Girl in the Steel Corset‘ by Kady Cross
‘The Faerie Ring’ by Kiki Hamilton

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Review: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Cinder is a scifi retelling of the Cinderella story. What fairy-tale or myth would you like to see retold in the science fiction genre?

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Contest Deets:

• Giveaway is for one copy of ‘Cinder’ by Marissa Meyer
• Shipping Restrictions: US & Canada only
• Giveaway ends 01/27/2012
• Mandatory Entry: Please comment on this post by asking the question posed above.
• Extra entries are available
• Winner will be announced via email
• Winner has 48 hours to respond, failure to respond will result in disqualification and another winner chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Win Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Hot Kindle Deals!

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> The WordPress / Blogger Saga continues

Welcome to the Twitter & Facebook Hop on Parajunkee’s View.

Today we are linking up our Facebook Fan Pages & our Twitter accounts so we can earn more followers and likes. Social networks are an integral way to get more exposure for your blog, so click away!

Rules To Participate

1. As a courtesy please follow & like your host — me Parajunkee!
2. When you follow or like someone @ them and let them know so they can follow back
3. Be nice about it! Don’t just send the same message over and over again!
4. Leave a comment and tell me if this meme is a keeper.
5. As a courtesy if someone follows you be sure to follow back.
6. You can use the icon above for your Facebook fan page. This is a place people can commend and Like so you know to follow back.
7. Have fun!

********** Please Remember *********

1. This is for Facebook FAN pages – not your friend account
2. This is also not for your Blogs – if you want to add your blog – please join the #FF Hop

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Twitter & Facebook Hop #4