Here are the winners for my Dark Divine Swag Giveaway. I just want everyone to know that these were picked my the random number generator, so if you didn't win this time, come back and maybe you will on the next one :)
And the winners are......
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
In My Mailbox (21)
In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.
This week I only got one book and it was from the library.
Viola in Reel Life - Adriana Trigiani
Summary - I'm marooned.
When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films . . . but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land.
But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into--as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house.
They soon discover there's something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school.
Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading off to far-off places--in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare.
This week I only got one book and it was from the library.
Viola in Reel Life - Adriana Trigiani
Summary - I'm marooned. Abandoned.
Left to rot in boarding school . . .
Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.
Ick.
There's no way Viola's going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.
Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.
But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.
Also, I took my brother with me and he got a book that I am sure I am going to read after him. It is a series and lucky for us, our library has all four books. There is a fifth that comes out in January.
House of Dark Shadows (Dreamhouse Kings) - Robert Liparulo
When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films . . . but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land.
But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into--as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house.
They soon discover there's something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school.
Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading off to far-off places--in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare.
Friday, November 27, 2009
A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray
Summary - A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel. Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. (Summary taken from Goodreads)Review - A Great and Terrible Beauty was nothing like I expected in both good and bad ways. I loved the story, it was unique and kept you attention. I felt, though, that it didnt get too interesting until the last 100 pages. There were many things that I didnt see coming that I felt made the wait worth it. Also the ending I thought was spectacular. If I didnt know that there were more I would think to read on though. But the way that it ended was very good for the story. There were some aspects of the story, I felt could have gone into more detail.
Cover - 4 stars
Plot - 5 stars
Characters - 5 stars
Writing - 4 stars
Ending - 4 stars
Sunday, November 22, 2009
In My Mailbox (20)
In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.
This week I only got one book, but it is one that I am looking forward to reading.
Summary - Sara Black is tiptoeing across a fraying tightrope.
As the new eleventh grader at Anton High – the most elite public school in the country – she sticks out like an old VW bus in a parking lot full of shiny BMWs. But being the new kid also brings a certain advantageous anonymity.
In Anton High’s world of privilege, intelligence, and wealth, Sara can escape her family’s tarnished past and become whomever she wants.
And what’s the harm in telling a few little black lies when it can lead to popularity? That is, until another it girl at Anton becomes jealous of Sara’s social climbing.
With her balance evaporating, one small push could bring Sara crashing down.
This week I only got one book, but it is one that I am looking forward to reading.
Summary - Sara Black is tiptoeing across a fraying tightrope. As the new eleventh grader at Anton High – the most elite public school in the country – she sticks out like an old VW bus in a parking lot full of shiny BMWs. But being the new kid also brings a certain advantageous anonymity.
In Anton High’s world of privilege, intelligence, and wealth, Sara can escape her family’s tarnished past and become whomever she wants.
And what’s the harm in telling a few little black lies when it can lead to popularity? That is, until another it girl at Anton becomes jealous of Sara’s social climbing.
With her balance evaporating, one small push could bring Sara crashing down.
Friday, November 20, 2009
2010 YA Book Challenge
So I have decided that I will be participating in this challenge starting in January. There are four different challenges....
--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.
--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.
--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.
I think I am going to shoot for the Stepping It Up challenge. If I am able to do more that would be awesome, but that is going to be my goal. If you would like to sign up head on over to J. Kaye's Blog and sign up. As soon as I start I will link all of my reviews on this page.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Waiting on Wednesday (10)
There are two books that I am really, really looking forward to reading and they are...
The Iron King - Julie Kagawa
Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.
Other - Karen Kincy
Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.
When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.
The Iron King - Julie Kagawa
Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.Other - Karen Kincy
Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
In My Mailbox (19)
In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.
This week I didn't do a vlog because I didn't get too many books and it takes forever to upload videos on Youtube.
For Review:
Lady MacBeth's Daughter - Lisa Klein
Anastasia's Secret - Susanne Dunlap
By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead - Julie Anne Peters
Swag - This week I got some swag from Reggie over at Reggie Writes. I got an Invisible Touch bookmark and a Graffiti Girl sticker.
This week I didn't do a vlog because I didn't get too many books and it takes forever to upload videos on Youtube.
For Review:
Lady MacBeth's Daughter - Lisa Klein
Anastasia's Secret - Susanne Dunlap
By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead - Julie Anne Peters
Swag - This week I got some swag from Reggie over at Reggie Writes. I got an Invisible Touch bookmark and a Graffiti Girl sticker.
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