Reading Teen

Book Release: Suffocate by S.R. Johannes

2012-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

It is May 21st and guess what that means?

S.R. Johannes’ Suffocate is out today!

Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.

Here’s a little about the novelette…

“For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.

If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.”

The 2nd novella in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.

You can purchase Suffocate for only 99 cents at Amazon

Also you can add it on Goodreads! - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13648347-suffocate

And in case you were wondering here is a bit about the author –

S.R. Johannes is author of the Amazon Bestseller Untraceable and a current nominee of the Georgia Author of the Year in the Young Adult category. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her goldendoodle Charley (notice he is listed first :), her British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. You can find her hanging out online and visit her at srjohannes.com

Twitter- https://twitter.com/#!/srjohannes

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/srjohannes

Pinterest- http://pinterest.com/srjohannes/

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: Book Review

2012-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Shadow and Bone
by Leigh Bardugo
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (June 5, 2012)
Buy the book: Amazon

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.

At a Glance:

I was completely surprised by how much I loved this book. With action, adventure, fighting, romance, and mystical powers and creatures, my epic fantasy addiction was completely satisfied by Shadow and Bone!

An Epic Epic!

There just aren't enough books in this genre. There is no other type of book that has the power to completely suck me in like a well-written Epic/High Fantasy. After I finished Shadow and Bone, I just sat and thought about this world for hours. I couldn't bring myself to pick up another book because I didn't want to leave this world behind. Leigh Bardugo does an amazing job of immersing you into the world that she's created, without leaving you bored and bogged down by details. I feel like it's a fine line between fascinating and boring when it comes to details, and she definitely pulled off fascinating. One of the things I found particularly original (for me anyway) was the base in Russian history and dialect. I loved that aspect, and it just added a certain feel to the book that I enjoyed. The world was so mystical and enchanting. I can sit and stare at the amazing map, and just picture Alina traveling all the places that are mentioned.

Tension, Lust, Love and Romance:

One of the things that Epic Fantasy seems to consistently get right is the romance. My heart was all over the place in this book. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" I loved the sweet relationship between Alina and Mal at the beginning of this book. Reading how Alina was falling for the boy who had been her best friend and protector her entire life, while he didn't seem to notice her in that way was both torturous and endearing. That was nothing compared to what happened when the Darkling entered the picture, though. Who can resist the bad boy? Not that he was a boy.....not at all. The Darkling brought a layer of mystery and confusion that took the lustmance (yeah, made that up) to a different level. Let me just say that I loved the love story in this book. Loved it. I have no idea what's going to happen in the next two books, but I can't wait to find out.

I Want to be a Grisha:

I think there's a part of everyone who thinks that somewhere deep down, we actually have magical powers, and that they're just biding their time, waiting to manifest at the perfect moment, when our lives are on the line, and then....watch out! What? That's just me? Well, yeah, I want to be a Grisha. I want to be able to slice my hands through the air and cut someone in half. Or just fix my wrinkles. ;) Yeah, I think being Grisha would be pretty freakin' awesome.

The Psychology of it All:

One thing that really surprised me was the psychology behind Alina's story; oh, how powerful the mind is. At first there were times when I was really aggravated with Alina and her behavior and her view of herself. As I read, though, and saw the way her childhood affected her, and how her character developed over time, I really grew to appreciate her. I loved that her logic and her desire to do right were at constant war with what was easy and what she may have originally thought she wanted or needed.

Book Doppelgangers:

The Seven Realms by Cinda Chima, The Seven Kingdoms by Kristin Cashore, The Pelinor Series by Alison Croggon

P.S. For those wishing to talk Russian dialect inaccuracies or certain issues you have with the MC, I have lots of thoughts and would love to discuss in the comments :D

Content:

Profanity: Mild
Sexual Content: Moderate*
Violence: Heavy
Other Notables: Alcoholic-type beverages consumed, but this is not illegal.

For more details, check out Shadow and Bone on Parentalbookreviews.com

Book Review: Serpent's Shadow (The Kane Chronicles, Book Three) by Rick Riordan

2012-05-20T15:05:00.000-04:00

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; First Edition edition (May 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423140575
ISBN-13: 978-1423140573
Buy the book: Amazon

He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos. The Kanes' only hope is an ancient spell that might turn the serpent's own shadow into a weapon, but the magic has been lost for a millennia. To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent's shadow . . . or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld.

Nothing less than the mortal world is at stake when the Kane family fulfills its destiny in this thrilling conclusion to the Kane Chronicles.

My Review

Rick Riordan is definitely one of my favorite authors to date. This love, of course, started out with his series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which I think everyone can agree are great books. The Kane Chronicles follows the fashion of Percy Jackson except that instead of Greek deities living in modern times, Egyptian Gods and Goddesses take this role. The series is centered around ancient Egypt and the descendants of its Gods who are, in fact, magicians. This is, of course, a very original and interesting concept and, from the start, was very successful.

For me, this series started out very strongly. I loved the book, the concept, the writing, the characters, pretty much everything about it. Same thing with the second book -- this was turning out to be one of my favorites. From there, I had extremely high expectations for this third and final book in the series.And I've got to say, the book didn't reach all of those. To me, it kind of seemed like there were many things in the plot that were too... convenient. I can't really give any examples without spoiling the book, but let's just say there were some things that seemed just too easy. I mean, these people, these teens, are battling Apep, or Apophis, the Egyptian God of Evil and Chaos. This thing is a snake that is miles long, thicker than a house. And there were some parts that came across as a bit too simple.

Now, don't get me wrong. I still like this book. A lot. It was written well, character development was great, and I think the story wrapped up nicely. So, once again, Riordan doesn't disappoint with yet another fantastic mythology book.

Giveaway: 172 Hours on the Moon

2012-05-19T19:04:00.000-04:00

We ended up with an extra copy of 172 Hours on the Moon, so we thought we'd share it with our peeps! If you'd like to win, just enter below!

It's been decades since anyone set foot on the moon. Now three ordinary teenagers, the winners of NASA's unprecedented, worldwide lottery, are about to become the first young people in space--and change their lives forever.

Mia, from Norway, hopes this will be her punk band's ticket to fame and fortune.

Midori believes it's her way out of her restrained life in Japan.

Antoine, from France, just wants to get as far away from his ex-girlfriend as possible.

It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but little do the teenagers know that something sinister is waiting for them on the desolate surface of the moon. And in the black vacuum of space... no one is coming to save them.

In this chilling adventure set in the most brutal landscape known to man, highly acclaimed Norwegian novelist Johan Harstad creates a vivid and frightening world of possibilities we can only hope never come true.

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Second Hand Saturday 5-19-2012

2012-05-19T18:14:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Second Hand Saturday!

In an attempt to clear our bookshelves, and pass on great used books to our ~~stalkers~~ followers, Amy, Kit, Abigaile, Austin and I have decided to hold weekly giveaways of some of the books on our bookshelves! Every Saturday, we will post the books available, and the following Saturday, we will announce the winner and our next challenge. The winner will get to choose a book from the list and we will ship it to that lucky person! Each week we will have a different challenge to complete.

This Week's Question:

Who is your favorite Avenger and WHY? Me....hmm...toss up between the wit of Iron Man and the HAWTNESS of Thor!!

Just comment below to be entered!

And this week's winner is...

Jolene and Family

Email me at Readingteen1(at)gmail.com with your book choice. Please put "winner" in the subject line. You have one week to claim your prize!

Books Available:

Middle Grade

Eragon paperback
Eldest paperback
Darke, Septimus Heap #6 by Angie Sage*
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone paperback*
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban paperback*
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets hardcover worn pages*
How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston*
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (hardback no jacket)*
Mattimeo by Brian Jacques
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
Summer Ball by Mike Lupica*
Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer
Nothing But The Truth: A Documentary Novel by AVI
Triss by Brian Jacques (Readwall, book 15)
Clovermead by David Randall
The O'Reilly Factor For Kids by Bill O'Reilly
Nerds by Michael Buckley
Zan Gah by Allan Richard Shickman
The Carnival of Lost Souls by Laura Quimby
Star Power book 1 Supernova by Catherine Hapka
High School Musical: The Junior Novel Disney
High School Musical: Stories from East High #6 Disney
Animal Ark Pets books #12 - #16
25 (very small thin) books fromThe Babysitters Club (paperback)
Madison Finn #1 Only the Lonely Boy, #2 Boy, OH Boy! #3 Play it Again ( whole set)
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
The Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of School by Ken Derby
The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic ARC by Jennifer Trafton

YA books + (ARC=Advanced Reading Copy)

Masque of the Red Death ARC by Bethany Griffin*
Gilt ARC by Katherine Longshore*
Numbers Infinity ARC by Rachel Ward*
Arise ARC by Tara Hudson*
The Springsweet ARC by Saundra Mitchell*
Faery Tales & Nightmares ARC by Melissa Marr*
In Darkness ARC by Nick Lake*
The Scorpio Races ARC by Maggie Stiefvater*
Wondershow ARC by Hannah Barnaby*
After the Snow ARC by S.D. Crockett*
Hush ARC by Eishes Chayil*
Dust City by Robert Paul Weston ARC*
Mercy by Rebecca Lim ARC *
Shelter by Harlan Coben ARC*
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick ARC*
The Carrier of the Mark by Lee Fallon ARC* (signed to Andye)
Deception by Lee Nichols ARC*
Guardian of the Gate ARC by Michelle Zink *
The Luxe (hardcover) by Anna Godbersen*
Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz Logsted*
The Daughters Break the Rules by Joanna Philbin*
The Gray Wolf Throne ARC by Cinda Williams Chima (signed to Kirstyn) *
Forever ARC by Maggie Stiefvater (signed to Kirstyn) *
The Iron King ARC by Julie Kagawa *
Darker Still ARC by Leanna Renee Hieber *
You are My Only ARC by Beth Kephart*
Dark Water ARC by Laura McNeal*
Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson (signed to Kirstyn)*
The Named (The Guardian of Time) by Marianne Curley*
The Key (The Guardian of Time) by Marianne Curley*
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else ARC by Erin McCahan*
The House of Dead Maids ARC by Clare B. Dunkle*
Frost ARC by Wendy Delsol *
Populazzi ARC by Elise Allen*
Shut Out ARC by Kody Keplinger*
The Healer's Apprentice ARC by Melanie Dickerson *
Going Underground ARC by Susan Vaught*
Bitter End ARC by Jennifer Brown*
Between by ARC Jessica Warman*
After Obsession ARC by Carrie Jones and Steven E Wedel*
Circle Nine ARC by Ann Heltzel*
Kiss Me Deadly ARC by various authors*
The Fox Inheritance ARC (signed to Andye) by Mary E. Pearson
Undercurrent ARC (signed to Andye) by Tricia Rayburn
The Julian Game ARC (signed to Andye) by Adele Griffin*
The Lucky Kind ARC byAlyssa B. Sheinmel*
Flash Burnout (hardcover) by L.K. Madigan*
Dark Goddess ARC by Sarwat Chadda*
Immortal Beloved ARC by Cate Tiernan*
The Prisoner of Azkaban Audio CD (Library Copy)*
I Am Legend Audio CD (Library Copy)*
WHEN I WAS JOE by Keren David*
HOLD ME CLOSER NECROMANCER ARC by Lish McBride*
HUSH ARC by Eishes Chayil*
END OF DAYS ARC (A Nightrunner Novel) by Max Turner*
YOU KILLED WESLEY PAYNE ARC by Sean Beaudoin
THE PAINTED BOY ARC by Charles de Lint*
THE 10 P.M. QUESTION ARC by Kate de Goldi*
BRIGHID'S QUEST by P.C. Cast*
ELPHAME'S CHOICE by P.C. Cast*
THE ETERNAL ONES ARC by Kirsten Miller
I am J ARC by Cris Beam*
Girl, 15, Charming But Insane by Sue Limb
*AUDIOBOOK Will Grayson, Will Grayson by Devid Levithan and John Green*
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (hardcover) by Ann Brashares*
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood (Traveling Pants 2) (hardcover) by Ann Brashares*
Girls in Pants (Traveling Pants 3) (hardcover w/out jacketflap) by Ann Brashares*
Forever in Blue (Traveling Pants 4) (harcover) by Ann Brashares*
The Gossip Girl Prequel (hardback) by Cecily Von Ziegesar*
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer*
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein*
The Lost Girls by Laurie Fox
The Riddle by Alison Croggon*
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Pride and Predjudice (Paperback) by Jane Austen
Lord of the Flies (paperback) by William Golding
Life, The Universe and Everything: Hitchhickers Trilogy book 3 (hardback) by Douglas Adams
So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish: Hitchhickers Trilogy book 4 (hardback) by Douglas Adams
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The World According to Narnia by Jonathan Rogers
Monster Blood Tattoo Book One: Foundling by D.M.Cornish (hardback)
Shadows of Doom Book Two: Iron Tower Trilogy by Dennis L. McKiernan
Me, The Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine (hardback)
*Signed Copy Rebel King Book One: Hammer of the Scots by Charles Randolph Bruce and Carolyn Hale Bruce
Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Shapeshifter by Holly Bennett
She Thief ARC by Daniel Finn
Logic of Demons by H.A.Goodman (hardback)
SteelTrapp 2 ARC by Ridley Pearson
*Signed with bookmark A Girl Named Mister ARC by Nikki Grimes*
The Tavernier Stones by Stephen Parrish
Death at the Alma Mater by G.M.Malliet
Livvie Owen Lived Here ARC by Sarah Dooley*
Choppy Socky Blues by Ed Briant
Indigo Blues by Danielle Joseph
Smudges Mark ARC by Claudia Osmond
Exley ARC by Brock ClarkADULT *18 and over
Echo Park by Michael Connelly (hardback)
The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman (hardback)
Timeline by Michael Crichton (hardback)
The Last Juror by John Grisham (hardback)
It Only Takes a Moment by Mary Jane Clark (hardback)
Foreign Body by Robin Cook (hardback)
Green Rider by Kristen Britain (fantasy) (hardback)
The DA Vinci Code by Dan Brown (hardback)
The English American by Alison Larkin (hardback)
Her Fearful Symmentry by Audrey Niffenegger (hardback)
Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy (hardback)
The Shack by William P. Young*
Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes*
Wicked by Gregory Macguire*
Jane and the Damned ARC by Janet Mullany
The Dutchess by Amanda Foreman
Belinda by Anne Rice writing as Anne Rampling
All Madden by John Madden with Dave Anderson
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlums (hardback)
Robert Ludlums The Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader
Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy
Age of Misrule: Worlds End by Mark Chadbourne Book1
Age of Misrule: Darkest Hour by Mark Chadbourne Book2
Age of Misrule: Always Forever by Mark Chadbourne Book3

A DEADLY Giveaway!

2012-05-18T16:44:00.000-04:00

In celebration of Julie Chibbaro's paperback release of DEADLY, we're giving away a signed paperback copy to a lucky follower! I've always thought this book looked fascinating, and I especially like the new cover. It gives it a very ominous feeling!

Prudence Galewski doesn’t belong in Mrs. Browning’s esteemed School for Girls. She doesn’t want an “appropriate” job that makes use of refinement and charm. Instead, she is fascinated by how the human body works—and why it fails.

Prudence is lucky to land a position in a laboratory, where she is swept into an investigation of a mysterious fever. From ritzy mansions to shady bars and rundown tenements, Prudence explores every potential cause of the disease to no avail—until the volatile Mary Mallon emerges. Dubbed “Typhoid Mary” by the press, Mary is an Irish immigrant who has worked as a cook in every home the fever has ravaged. But she’s never been sick a day in her life. Is the accusation against her an act of discrimination? Or is she the first clue in solving one of the greatest medical mysteries of the twentieth century?

Find out more about DEADLY on Julie's blog! Make sure you check out the illustrations, and you can even read an excerpt!

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Review: Operative by Kate Kaynak

2012-05-18T00:09:00.002-04:00

Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Series or Stand Alone: Series (Ganzfield #5)
Buy the Book: Amazon
Author's Website: http://www.katekaynak.com/

Maddie and the rest of the team must catch the person selling classified information to terrorists--before they become the targets.

My Review:

Oh, so much to say about these books. I feel like I have such a personal connection with each of them because I've loved them for so long, and they just keep getting better and better. Operative begins with a very interesting turn of events, this time Maddie ends up working with the government (very unlike her situation in Accused). But everyone is still in just as much danger. Maddie's whole team takes a trip overseas where they drive Ferraris, charm government officials, and kill bad guys, and that' s just the beginning. Operative is exciting and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Luckily I was already on summer break when I started it, because I wasn't about to get any homework finished while reading this book. BUT, not only is Operative exhilerating and action-packed, it also continues one of my favorite love stories of all time. Kate entwines battles and romance so seamlessly that I fall in love a little more with each new installment. I will be anxiously awaiting the next Ganzfield Novel Soulmate, and in the mean time, you should definitely read every single one of these amazing books.

P.S.- If you really don't want to start from the beginning of this series, but you think Operative sounds interesting, you should know that Kate recaps the story and explains everyone's powers at the beginning of this book.

The Night She Disappeared by April Henry

2012-05-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR);
First Edition edition (March 13, 2012)
Language: English
Buy from Amazon!

Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is.

My thoughts:
Wow.
Just wow.
The Night She Disappeared had me shaking.
Books about people getting kidnapped stresses me out more than anything.
There were moments in this book were it just got too intense.
I had to put down the book, and calm down.
Tell myself that it's just a book.
Except, it was totally realistic.
Everything that happened in this book, could really happen.
That's the part that freaks me out.
It's not a bunch of zombies eating people alive.
It's about a girl my age, getting kidnapped.
This story was told from five different perspectives. But the one that really put me over the edge was the perspective from the kidnapper. Once I started reading that chapter I literally got the chills.
The way this book affected me was crazy.
I haven't read a book this intense in a while, so I was pretty excited.
What made this book really realistic was that it had Police transcripts, crime scene documents and paragraphs from newspapers.

The only complaint I have about this book is honestly, I just wish it were longer. Even just 50 pages would have made a difference. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. But it was still great.
Definitely a nail biter.
Let me just say, prepare yourself for an anxiety attack while reading this book.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers: Book & Audiobook Review

2012-05-16T11:17:00.000-04:00

Grave Mercy
by Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassin Book #1
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 560 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1 edition (April 3, 2012)
Buy the book: Amazon

AUDIOBOOK
Publisher: Recorded Books
Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin, Book 1
UNABRIDGED
By Robin LaFevers
Narrated by Erin Moon
Length:14 hrs and 14 mins
Buy the Audio: Audible

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? 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?

At a glance:

Fans of The Seven Kingdoms, The Seven Realms, The Poison Study Series, as well as historical fiction lovers, will eat Grave Mercy up! Historical Fiction that feels like High Fantasy? This book has earned it’s place among my favorite books of all time.

The Audio:

I was so excited to get this book on audio. I've been anxiously waiting for it for ages, and was thrilled that Recorded Books had published it. I had no doubt they would pick a fantastic reader and do an amazing job. I immediately liked the narrator, Erin Moon. Her voice is kind of low and a little raspy, which I like. She kind of reminded me of Carol Monda, who is my favorite female reader. She did great with distinguishing voices, and male voices, and even threw in a few creepy sounding voices as well. The only minor disappointment for me was that, since this book is supposed to take place in history, in Europe (France/Brittany), I would have liked the reader to have more of an accent. Honestly, even a British accent would have added a little bit of the European, historical flair. However, it's hard to be too concerned with that when the reader was so good, and the story was so fantastic. If you're looking for a new audiobook, or debating between audio or hardcover, I highly, highly recommend this audio. This is one of those audiobooks that I'll be listening to over and over again! You can listen to a sample here!

Is this book High Fantasy or what?

When I first heard about Grave Mercy, I thought that it was high fantasy. I absolutely love high fantasy, so I was really excited about it. However, as I started reading, I began to realize that these were actual events and people that were being talked about. So, of course, I googled everyone, and discovered that, much of the book is based on historical events and actual people. However, even though it is technically historical fantasy, it still had the same feel to it as many of my favorite high fantasy books. There was even a map! :P

The Heroine:

Well, I’ll start out by saying that we gave away a copy of this book for our “Kick-butt Characters Giveaway” so that should tell you something. Ismae was freakin’ tough! I loved her! She was strong, smart, fierce, brave, selfless, and loyal. She had a hard life growing up, so she was a hard person to befriend, but once she trusted you, she would do anything for you. She actually reminded me a lot of Katsa from Graceling. Something I really appreciated about her was her personal character development. She grew and changed a lot during this book, and that’s something I love. She’ll be on my favorite kick-butt heroines list from now on! I mean, she's an assassin nun!

The Romance:

FAVORITE, FAVORITE, FAVORITE!!! This is absolutely my favorite type of romance to read. I mean, yes, we all know that Duval and Ismae are going to end up falling for each other, but it is so awesome to watch it slowly happen. I love it when characters start out with suspicion, and trust issues with each other, and have to work to overcome their prejudices over time. It just adds so much tension, frustration, and eventually satisfaction to a romance. I just couldn’t ask for more! It was almost like taking Katsa from Graceling and Brigan from Fire and watching them fall for each other. Who needs a love triangle when there’s this much tension?!

Will You Like It?

I have to say; there are some that this book won’t appeal to. I thought it was pretty mature for YA, so those looking for a quick or light read won’t find it here. There are also some religious happenings that some might be uncomfortable with, which I’ll add more about in the content review. That being said, if you like high fantasy, historical fiction, court intrigue, fighting, romance, suspense, mystery, and intensity that keeps you holding your breath until the last page, I think you’ll love this book. When I finished reading it, I just sat there and sighed and wanted to start reading it again! So, I'd say that if you like this type of book at all, you will definitely love this book. If you've never tried historical fiction, or high fantasy, you should give this one a shot. I seriously loved this book so much! If you still aren't sure, you can check out the first chapter here!

What about a Cliffhanger?

YAY for zero cliffhanger! Grave Mercy may be a part of a series, but it could definitely still stand alone. It has a complete storyline that concludes at the end of this book. Book two sounds like it might be more of a companion, keeping with the overall storyline, but focusing on a different character. This makes me so happy, and I can't wait to read about the character in the next book!!

Will I buy it?

YES! I just got an email from Amazon saying it's on the way!! I can't wait until it gets here because it's going to get one of my coveted book shadow-box spots! Yeah, I loved it that much! I already gave the ARC to my mom so she can read it too!

Book Doppelgangers: (I've already metioned these above, but I'll list them here anyway)

The Seven Kingdoms Series (Graceling/Fire/Bitterblue) by Kristen Cashore, The Seven Realms Series (The Demon King etc) by Cinda Williams-Chima, Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Content:

Profanity: Mild
Sexual Content: Heavy
Violence: Heavy
Other Notables: Assassin Nuns sent by the god of Death to kill people. Religious tones.

For more details, check out Grave Mercy on Parentalbookreviews.com

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers: Book Review

2012-05-16T00:01:00.000-04:00

Fall for Anything
by Courtney Summers
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (December 21, 2010)
Buy the book: Amazon

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

Eddie Reeves is a 17 year old high school senior who is trying to learn how to cope with the recent suicide of her father. Her mother is completely devastated and shuffles through the day in her husband's housecoat. She is so absorbed by her own grief that she has nothing to give Eddie. Eddie's only lifeline through all this is her best friend since 2nd grade, Milo. Eddie leans heavily on Milo for help and understanding but there is also some tension there due to the changing aspect of their relationship. Eddie is consumed with a need to understand why her father chose to kill himself....wondering what was so wrong with his life that he was willing to leave his loving wife and daughter behind. This desire makes Eddie vulnerable to a former photography student of her father's who claims to have the same need. Eddie, Milo and Culler, the photography student, set out on a journey to get answers and find the ability to move on with life.

Unfortunately, the first thing that jumps out from this book is the language. The book isn't even that long but there were 72 uses of the "f-word", and after a while it gets a little old. The story is an intense and dramatic one all on its own.

Fall for Anything is deep and serious. I felt great sympathy and sadness for Eddie. I could understand how she was willing to "fall for anything" in the hope of understanding what was behind her father's suicide. She questions her value and worth as a daughter, how her father could have been so unhappy and show no sign of it, and how she can possibly move forward in life without him. The story held my interest and made me think about this girl and her life. I would recommend the book but only with the understanding that the language is very rough.

Content:

Sexual Content: Heavy
Profanity: Extreme
Other Notables: Underage Drinking, drugs, suicide

For more info, check out Fall for Anything on Parentalbookreviews.com