Interview: Lisa M. Stasse author of The Forsaken

Good afternoon blog readers! I have a very special post for you today. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Lisa M. Stasse, author of THE FORSAKEN, whose debut novel releases today! I'm reading the book at the moment, and I have to say that it is fantastic so far. Before you read the interview check out the book trailer. :) 

Interested in reading the book yet? Or even more excited to read it now? Let me know what you think in the comments. Now here is the interview that I had a lot of fun formulating the questions, and just as much fun reading Lisa's answers. 

1. What is the most fun part of writing a book? 

The most fun part for me is when the characters start to come alive on the page like they're real people. And they start doing and saying stuff that surprises me. I love it when that happens. Another fun part of writing a book is trying to come up with new and cool stuff that people haven't read before (I love twists and turns, and putting surprises into a story).

2. What do you hope readers get out of reading THE FORSAKEN?

First, I hope they're entertained and feel like they got their money's worth! I am obsessed with books and spend most of my time reading and buying books (I'm also a librarian at UCLA, so I'm surrounded by books pretty much all the time). I definitely want anyone who buys and reads THE FORSAKEN to enjoy it and love the characters and the story. Second, on another level, I hope readers engage with some of the themes in the book: That you must persevere against all odds. That you must believe in yourself at times when no one else does. And that you must fight for what you believe in. Don't let anyone else speak for you—you must always find your own voice, even if it's hard or scary sometimes. My protagonist, Alenna Shawcross, learns along the way that she is much stronger than she first thought.

3. What’s a fun little fact about THE FORSAKEN? 

I wrote most of this book on my laptop between 2AM and 5AM over the period of about a year, a few pages at a time.

4. Use three words to describe Alenna.

Strong. Smart. Brave.

5. I heard that there are two main guys in your novel. Can you tell us something about them? 

Liam—the hunter—is a fierce warrior who is protective and open about his love for Alenna. David—the wanderer–is more mysterious and enigmatic. Part of Alenna's journey is discovering her true feelings about these two guys.

6. Who is your favorite male character in YA, and why?

Obviously Peeta from THE HUNGER GAMES is awesome, but I also love Miles (aka Pudge) from LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green. I think Miles is one of the more complex and well-rounded male YA protagonists.

7. Where is your favorite place to visit in the world? 

Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It's pretty desolate, with tons of great beaches. My husband and I go camping there on the beach in the summer. It's a really great spot to reconnect with nature (we live in Los Angeles, so I really crave as much "nature time" as I can get!)

8. What is your favorite holiday?

I love traveling in general. My favorite vacation spots are generally beaches. I love the Bahamas and tropical islands in general. I get really down in the dumps when the weather is gray for long periods, so I'm always trying to get a lot of sunlight to stay upbeat and positive about life (I've always been that way—my parents say I always used to cry hysterically if it got gray and rained a lot when I was a little girl!) I love anyplace where's there's lots of sunshine and it's warm.

9. What is your most favorite scene in THE FORSAKEN (if you don’t want any spoilers you can just put an estimated page number for the start of the scene), and what song would be fitting for that scene? 

My favorite scenes are probably at the end of the book, where the book (hopefully) takes an unexpected direction! I don't want to put any spoilers in here, but there is some intense stuff at the end of THE FORSAKEN, when Alenna, Liam, David and her friends are trying to break free from the island. As for music, I listen to tons of stuff when I write. I was actually listening to the album "King Night" by the band Salem when I wrote those scenes (Salem's music is like this weird apocalyptic stuff—very creepy but great music for writing because most of it is instrumental.)

Thank you so much Lisa Stasse for answering my questions. They were a blast to read. Now I'll have to pay a little visit to Ocracoke Island next time I'm in the Outer Banks! Now that the interview is over, I'll just be over here picking up your novel and see where Aleena's journey takes her. 

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins Book Trailer

If anyone that is Goodreads friends with me would know that I was very excited when I found/discovered Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins on BarnesandNoble.com for just $5! I really can't wait to get my copy so I can read it. The book sounds like it's going to be amazing. Plus, you can't really exept anything but awesome when it comes to the books HarperTeen (Harper Collins) publishes.

As for the trailer I really liked how it seems to capture the essensce of the novel. The only thing that bothered me was the girl's country accent. I'm from the South, and I really don't think us Southerners sound like that at all. Maybe it's just me and I'm use to everyone's accent.

Any who, make sure you pre-order or grab Sweet Evil off the shelves May 1!

Update: On What I've Been Doing Lately

Hey Everyone,


I feel really bad for being away from my blog for so long. A lot has been going on in my life with school, relationships, and family. My grandfather recently was hospitalized, and it's going to take a while for him to get better. I'm not going to go into detail about the school and relationship ordeal. All I'll say is that I had a distraction and it made me fall behind in life. I'm happy to say that I no longer have any distractions and am on the path of where I want to be, which is working hard to get good grades in school and back to reading. 


Yes, I said BACK TO READING! Haha, in the book world not reading should be considered a crime. For 3-4 months I just couldn't get myself to read. Whenever I did read it would only be one page, and then I'd set the book down and not pick it back up for a while. I suppose this is what we call a major book reading slump? All that matters now is that I'm back to reading like I never took a break at all. To all the publishers/authors waiting for a review from me, I will have them posted as soon as I can. Thanks to all my blog followers for hanging in there with me. Love you guys! 

Brodi Ashton (Author of Everneath) talks about her book past

Hey everyone! I have Brodi Ashton here on my blog today to talk about the books she liked when she was 5, 11, 16, and 20 years old. Thanks Brodi for sharing with us the books you liked, and I assume still like today.  :) 

As for the Mr.Darcy part, I think we can all agree that a lot of the time the boys/men in fiction are way better than boys/men in real life. Haha! 

____________________________________

My five year old self would recommend the book ANIMALS IN WINTER. My mom told me that when I was three, I read my first words from that book. So at five, I would've considered myself an expert, and demanded all the other kindergarteners read it so they could be like me. My five year old self was very confident.

When I was eleven, I was probably obsessed with Madeline L'Engle's A WRINKLE IN TIME. Seriously, I wanted to BE Meg. And hang out with Cal. And travel to freaky worlds to fight IT.

At sixteen, I was obsessed with the book DRACULA by Bram Stoker. I fancied myself a very dark person, and sometimes to back it up, I would even wear dark eyeliner.  I remember the first time I read this book, starting with letters from Jonathan Harkness about his horrific encounter with a strange Count from Transylvania. It scared the living crap out of me.

It's important to note at this time that my mom was an English teacher, and basically all I had to read were the classics. 

By the time I was twenty, there was only one author for me. Jane Austen. I first saw the BBC mini-series of Pride and Prejudice around then, and I was a goner. I hardly dated, because no boy could measure up to Mr. Darcy. (Okay, at least I tell myself that's why I hardly dated.)

_________________________________________________________________

Well that's the end of this tour stop, but please be sure to check out all the other amazing tour stops as well just click here to see the full tour list. 

Here is the synopsis for Brodi Ashton's novel, Everneath: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...


Want a copy? Well you're in luck, because Everneath will be released this Tuesday! 

Short Review: Karma by Cathy Ostlere

Synopsis: On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi is gunned down by two Sikh bodyguards. The murder sparks riots in Delhi and for three days Sikh families are targeted and killed in retribution for the Prime Minister’s death. It is into this chaos that sixteen-year-old Maya and her Sikh father, Amar, arrive from their home in Canada. India’s political instability is the backdrop and catalyst for Maya’s awakening to the world. KARMA is the story of how a young woman, straddling two cultures and enduring personal loss, learns forgiveness, acceptance and love.






Book Details: 
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)
Pub. Date: 3/31/11
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 528


My Review:
Well this is going to be a really short review for a really long book. I liked that it was written in verse, and because of this I actually felt like I was reading it pretty quickly. There was only one problem I had with this book, it took me forever to get into it. When I did get into this novel I really liked it. The subject matter is based on true events and the story was just sad. It made me appreciate the life that I have. There was a little love story in this book and the connection between the MC and the boy was sweet. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a book written in verse. Nice debut from Cathy Ostlere. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Synopsis: Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A. 

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Book Details:

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Poppy)

Pub. Date: Jan 2, 2012

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 236

My Review:

When I first saw the cover and read the synopsis for The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, I knew immediately that the statistical probability of loving this debut novel would be pretty high. And guess what, I was absolutely right! 

As soon as I got this book I quickly sat down to read it. The story was fast paced, and oh how I wish the book was longer than it was. In my opinion the book was too short. Well, really it was the ending that was too short. It has me begging for a sequel. I'd love to spend more time with all the characters. 

Jennifer E. Smith did a fantastic job on her debut. She excellently told a story about love. This is one of the many reasons why I love her book. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is not only about the romantic kind of love, but it's also about the love between family members. The dialogue between the characters was fun, flirty, serious, sad, and angry. The love interest, Oliver, made me laugh a lot because he was just so cute, charming, and funny. I can tell how Hadley fell for him. I mean come on he is BRITISH! Hadley was a great MC too. I was able to relate to her and sympathize with her. I was rooting for everything to work out for her. 


After reading The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight I am now a believer of chance and love at first sight. There were many great lessons I took from this book, like tell people how you really feel about them or you'll end up living with regret. Another lesson; there is always more to the story than what people believe too. If you're looking for a fun and cute book to read then this is the book to read. 

Review: Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? by Sloane Tanen

Synopsis (from Amazon.com): Being marooned on an island somewhere off the coast of Madagascar with five celebrities sounds romantic and glamorous, right?

Wrong.
You couldn't find people with fewer survival skills if you tried. Seriously. Cisco may have centerfold abs, but he can't even spell SOS. At least super-sexy Jonah seems to have a clue (too bad about the purity ring). If I'm stuck here much longer, these self-involved head cases might drive me crazy-assuming they don't insult each other to death first. It's like a group therapy edition of Survivor.

At this point, I'm pretty convinced that all celebrities should be caged in Hollywood and confined to the pages of US magazine. And, btw, if you're there, God, it's me, Francesca, and I really want to go home.
Help!


Book Details:
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pub. Date: May 1, 2011
Format: Paperback
Pages: 354

My Review: The first thing I have to say about this book is that everything about it was misleading. The cover, the title, the synopsis... they are pointed to a fun, romantic comedy. In reality, what I got was a book full of bickering and I would say zero romance.

Its has been about a month or two since I finished reading Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? and I can honestly I say there is still a ton of mixed feelings present about this book. While it was not at all what I was expecting, I found myself glued to the pages. For some reason I can't explain or put my finger on while I didn't really like the book I just could not stop reading it! I don't recall a time where this has ever happened to me. So kudos to Sloane for accomplishing this feat.

Now, I'm about to talk about a mild spoiler! The ending was like the only best part of the story. While all the secrets the celebrities held are revealed and they all become close like a family, those two things almost made 300 pages of bickering and griping worth it. But I do understand how celebrities could be so miserable stranded on an island without all the luxuries they are use to having. Oh, and the actions of most of the celebrites and the main character were just awful. I really didn't like how they all took advantage of each other. I didn't like how and why the main character gave up her virginity.

Also, I felt that there was no plot. Sure they all wanted to get rescued but still I couldn't find any major or subplots. I don't know about anyone else, but I need a plot! If I were the publisher I would seriously consider changing the title of this novel.

Aside from all the things that were bothering me with this novel, I did find it somewhat enjoyable when I accepted the fact that it was not the book I was expecting to read. By the end I was able to sympathize with most of the characters. I found Jonah and his dad to be the most sincere people out of the bunch. Everyone was a wreck, but I was glad to see that they all took their experience on the island and changed themselves and their lives for the better.

Where does the time go?

Hi everyone! Boy does the time fly by. It feels like just yesterday that I was celebrating the new year. Yet, another new year is right around the corner. It has been too long since I last posted on this blog. For that I am greatly sorry. I never wanted to leave you guys hanging. I just really felt like I needed break. One of the reasons as to why I have not been blogging lately is that I'm more into trying to reach my goal for year of 50 books. Last year I had read 56 book! I felt defeated, because at the start of the year I had made my goal 56 but school has been kicking my butt so I had to lower it to 50. Yet, I'm still finding it hard to keep up with the lowered reading goal. Right now I'm basically 4 books behind. So in my rush to try to read as many books as I can to catch up blogging has taken a back seat. 


I do have so many books to gush about and discuss with you guys. I've read an equal amount of books I totally adore and books that were just okay. Also. have you seen the book trailer for Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi? Well I saw it when they released it and was blown away it was so awesome. I wasn't even expecting an updated trailer. What are your thoughts about it? If you have yet to see it here it is: 



Also, today I saw the trailer for Everneath by Brodi Ashton. I feel like a little kid, because I was absolutely fascinated by the use of smoke in the trailer. 




There is one book that is about to hit shelves very soon. This book would be The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. If you didn't know I reviewed this fun and adorable book. You can check out my review here. The trailer for the book was released three days ago. I think the trailer is cute but there was one thing that was bothering me. The person doing the voice over did not sound like a teenager or a even a young adult to me. No offense to the person! The voice just sounded like it came from someone more mature and sophisticated than a teenager would be. Anyways here's the trailer and when you're done watching please tell me what your opinions are on any of the trailers.



Last but not least, Wednesday, 11/16, was my blog's two year anniversary! So happy birthday to my blog! Yay! I'm looking forward to another wonderful book year with you guys. :) 

Eve Book Trailer + A GORGEOUS Book Cover

The book trailer for Eve by Anna Carey was just released today. Take a look at it here:


I love the book's trailer. It really does capture what the book is about. In case you missed my blog tour stops for Eve you can check them out here and here.

While browsing Goodreads I saw that the cover for Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock was revealed. The cover is simply gorgeous! I love the color scheme, the beautiful purple dress, the pretty blue flowers, the background, and the model's hair style. I can't wait to read Hemlock! I just don't know if I'll be able to wait until next year, Hemlock is expected to be released early summer 2012. For more information about Hemlock you can check out its Goodreads page.

Blog Tour Book Review: Eve by Anna Carey

Synopsis: 

Where do you go when nowhere is safe?

Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in Eve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.

Book Details: 

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pub. Date: October 4, 2011

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 336

My Review:

To begin this review I want to say that Eve by Anna Carey was everything I expected it to be and then some. When I first sat down to read Eve I was only going to read the chapter one. Boy was I wrong, because I ended up reading 13 chapters. I had to force myself to quit reading that night due to homework and sleep. Ok, I guess the fact that Eve immediately gripped me was a surprise.

I enjoyed every single step of Eve's journey for a new life. What would you do if you found out everything that you've been told your whole life was a lie? Eve discovers the truth about what really happens to girls after they graduate from school. Instead of having others tell her what her life will be, she decides to take her future into her own hands. I really loved how this is a story about independence and new discoveries. 

Eve's journey for the life that she wants is not an easy one. The fact that she is not just any girl on the run makes the journey that much more difficult. Along her journey she makes alliances and friendships. Because when you're out in the wild you sure don't want to be alone to find shelter, food, and face enemies. The plot of this book will have anyone hanging on the edge, and reading like there is no tomorrow just to find out how it all works out for Eve. 

Aside from the plot, I loved all the characters. I loved Eve's friends at her school even if they were barely in the book. I loved Arden even though I didn't really care much for her at the start. Arden does prove that there's more to a person than what they project. I LOVED Caleb, he is such a kind and caring boy. The relationship that he forms with Eve is the true kind. I also love the boys who Caleb lives with. Especially the little ones, they were adorable! Although there was one boy who I didn't like from the start and I still don't like him after reading Eve. 

Before I conclude this review, I do want to point out that the lies the girls were fed to about boys were very interesting. Yes, boys do cause trouble but they are not something girls should avoid like the plague. The lies Eve grew up memorizing makes her all the more hesitant to accept help from Caleb. So it was fascinating to see how she eventually gets comfortable with Caleb. Not to mention an entire cave full of the opposite sex. 

The ending literally had me saying, "Why the ending? WHY? I need book to now!" I'm totally serious I need book two now! haha! I have to know whats going to happen next with an ending like that. There's not even a website that tells me when the next book is expected to be released. :( 

Whatever you do do yourself a favor and read Eve by Anna Carey. There's love, danger, friendship, suspense, and moments where I found myself cheering Eve on. A wonderful dystopian to be read. I absolutely loved it, and hopefully you will too. 

*I want to thank The {Teen} Book Scene for the opportunity to be on this book's tour. I also want to thank The {Teen} Book Scene and HarperTeen for the privilege of reading and reviewing Eve early. Thanks a bunch! <3*

Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Synopsis: It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.

Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

Book Details:
Publisher: Razorbill
Pub. Date: November. 21, 2011
Format: Hardcover 
Pages: 320


My Review:  The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler was pure brilliance. My only regret that I have is not having read any of the authors’ previous novels. Collaborations novels are so fun to read. I thoroughly enjoyed Josh and Emma’s story. 

Since The Future of Us is set in 1996, the reader can reminisce about the 90s. That is if the reader is old enough to have experienced that time period. Haha. I’m not trying to make anyone feel old! I was born in the very early 90s, so I have a lot of favorite 90s memories to look back on. I remember getting the AOL CD-ROM all the time in the mail. I remember the fuzzy and staticy sound of the modem dialing up AOL. I remember having to be quick about how much time spent online because there was just one phone line. So I totally understood what Emma had to through. It was also exciting whenever other 90s things got mentioned. Oh, I just love and miss the 90s. Well, I’m certainly glad that the internet is easier to access and cell phone are not as big as bricks!

Anyways, The Future of Us is told from the perspectives of Josh and Emma. A lot of people always complain about books being told from multiple POV, but I loved the way the others made this story come together. There was hardly ever a dull moment in this novel. The plot was pretty fast paced, and had me gripped all the way till the very end. I love how one of the themes was that one cannot control the future. Also one shouldn’t focus too much on the future, and to just live in the now. 

All the characters are awesome! I loved them all; from the main characters to the secondary characters. Each character had their own personality and quirks. Seriously, I can’t find one flaw about this book. I loved how they actually made the Facebook posts look like actual posts. I looked forward to seeing what the future Emma and Josh had to say about their lives. I also looked forward to what Emma and Josh would do, which was basically the whole book! The Future of Us is one book that simply can’t be missed. Get your copy as soon as you can, because you’ll be reading this book as fast as I did. Yes, The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler is that good!

This or That with Anna Carey + Giveaway

Today Anna Carey, the author of the upcoming book Eve, is here to share what she prefers. Read on for some fun and even a giveaway.

This or That with author Anna Carey:
Day or night? Day.

Summer or winter? Depends on which coast. Love the winter in California, the summer in New York.

Library or bookstore? Bookstore. 

Paper book or e-book? Paper. I have bookcases all over my apartment, and I love thumbing through books I read years ago, looking at things I underlined or little notes I made in the margins.

Read a 200 page book or 500 page book? Most books I right in between that. But usually: 200.

Book or movie/television version of the book? Book. 

Which is better Home Alone 1 or 2? Keep the change ya filthy animal.

Go to a concert or listen to the CD? Concerts (insert a thousand exclamation points here) My favorite venue is the Hollywood Bowl.

Talk on a cell phone or talk in person? I’d much rather talk in person. I’m known for my three-minute cell conversations.

PC or Mac? I’ve written all my books on a MacBook.

Car or Airplane? Airplane—my parents live across the country.

Hot coffee or Iced coffee? Coffee affects me like crack. If I had to pick though, I’d say hot.

Chocolate or Gummies? Gummies (sour!).

Dancing or Running? Dancing.

Be an angel or a fairy? Angel—but only if I could live on earth.


Thanks Anna for your time, I had a blast coming up with this list. Plus, an even more fun time reading your response. 


Now, thanks to the awesome publisher, HarperTeen, you have a chance to win a copy of Eve!

Giveaway for a Copy of Eve:
U.S. Residents Only
1 Winner
Giveaway Ends Oct. 4
Click here to fill out the form.

This post is brought to you by The {Teen} Book Scene. To read more fun posts on this blog tour please click the banner at the top of this post.

Review: Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

Synopsis: With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister--and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way. 

There are some secrets sisters aren't meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them. This stunning conclusion to Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy will make saying good-bye bittersweet for readers.




Book Details: 
Publisher: Little, Brown for Young Readers
Pub. Date: August 1st, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352

My Review: Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink was a fantastic conclusion to an awesome trilogy. The pace of this novel was a little more faster than the last book, Guardian of the Gate. Which is a good thing, because I would of dreaded picking up this novel just to read a slow paced ending. I have thoroughly enjoyed Lia's entire journey, and Circle of Fire ends the journey perfectly. I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion than what Michelle gave.

Yes, at this point in the review I'm literally at a loss for words. Michelle Zink's writing is superb. Her writing style is fluid and magical. Michelle really has a gift for writing and being able to put readers into her stories. All along I felt like I was right alongside Lia and cheering her on.

Sometimes trilogies or book series end feeling kind of rushed. Michelle took her time writing out the well thought out ending. Each book tied nicely together. Circle of Fire certainly packed a lot of great feelings and messages to the readers. I felt a wide range of emotions while reading Circle of Fire. Among my favorites about this book is the theme of redemption, love, and friendship. I even came to love every single character by the end of this book.

Michelle has proven herself to be one of those authors I will read anything they write. I can't wait for more books by Michelle! If you haven't read the Phophecy of the Sisters Trilogy I highly suggest you do so. If you haven't yet read Circle of Fire what are you waiting on? Circle of Fire will not disappoint readers.

Review: Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

Synopsis: The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.

Book Details:

Publisher: Little, Brown books for Young Readers
Pub. Date: August 1, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352

My Review:

What could I possibly say about Guardian of the Gate? Well for starters I was a little disappointed with the first half of the book. I was hoping to love the sequel as much as I loved the first book of the trilogy. The first book, Prophecy of the Sisters, had me completely captivated. Very much so in fact I was on a trip in Florida to go to SeaWorld (which was awesome) and Universal Studios (which was a bore) and everyday I woke up early to read the book. Needless to say Prophecy of the Sisters was one of my most memorable moments from that trip. 

For much of Guardian of the Gate, Lia is traveling to Altus. The journey, for the most part, was slow going and not much happened. When things did happen, however, the book got less boring. Along the way to Altus is a journey full of betrayal, budding romance, and flight. To be honest the only good thing to come out of the trip was Dimitri who is Lia’s new love interest. Even though he didn’t make my heart flutter and swoon over him I really liked that he cares a great deal for Lia. He is willing to go to great lengths to protect her and make her feel comfortable. 

What happened on the journey to Altus did change the way things are between the keys and Lia. This certain incident made me want to read to find out how, and if, things will get back to the way they were. Besides the first half of the book the second half was awesome! I liked Altus as much as Lia. The people on the island were great (besides two of them) and I like their laid-back kind of living. I mean seriously silk robes as the usual attire sounds heavenly. I remember the day where I would come home Michelle Zink has created and continued to maintain a wonderful world in her Sisters trilogy. Her writing flows magically and thats just one reason why I will forever read her stories. I can say with 100% certainty that the second half of Guardian of the Gate will leave you wanting to read Circle of Fire to find out how it all ends. 

Giveaway: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Synopsis: This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action. 

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul. 

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once. 

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

If you would like to win a copy of Angelfire here is what you need to know:

The Giveaway is for residents of the U.S. and Canda (sorry I'm really short on cash)

Ends September 10 at midnight Eastern Time

Yep thats about it. :) 

Good luck!

Fill out form here!

Review: Lie by Caroline Bock

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Everybody knows, nobody’s talking. . . .

Seventeen-year-old Skylar Thompson is being questioned by the police. Her boyfriend, Jimmy, stands accused of brutally assaulting two young El Salvadoran immigrants from a neighboring town, and she’s the prime witness. Skylar is keeping quiet about what she’s seen, but how long can she keep it up? 

But Jimmy was her savior. . . .

When her mother died, he was the only person who made her feel safe, protected from the world. But when she begins to appreciate the enormity of what has happened, especially when Carlos Cortez, one of the victims, steps up to demand justice, she starts to have second thoughts about protecting Jimmy. Jimmy’s accomplice, Sean, is facing his own moral quandary. He’s out on bail and has been offered a plea in exchange for testifying against Jimmy.

The truth must be told. . . .

Sean must decide whether or not to turn on his friend in order to save himself. But most important, both he and Skylar need to figure out why they would follow someone like Jimmy in the first place.

Book Details:

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 

Pub. Date: August 30, 2011

Format: Paperback

Pages: 224

My Review:

What can I say about Lie by Caroline Bock other than the fact this is a heartbreaking novel? Lie certainly takes readers on a ride to the truth. This book had me feeling a wide range of not so good emotions. Really this book is not a happy book. While not much happens in this book so much does happen within the characters of Lie. Weird, right? Lie is told from multiple point of views and each character has their own inner turmoil. 

Lie is about the vicious attack against two Hispanic brothers. The main character, Skylar Thompson, must accept the fact that her beloved Jimmy participated in this hate crime. No one is talking to the police and Skylar is one of the only witnesses who can bring justice to the victims' family. Will Skylar stay loyal to her boyfriend and friend, Lisa Marie, and stay silent about what happened that night her boyfriend and his friend Sean decided to beat two brothers? Or will she be true to herself and tell the truth to give justice to the Cortez family?

I have so much to say about Lie, and yet I just don't know how to say what I want to say about it. Lie definitely deals with some controversial and difficult topics like hate crimes and immigration. I just don't understand how someone could hate someone that basically has done nothing bad to the other person and gets beaten or worse just because they are different. Lie truly does takes readers into how Jimmy is manipulative. Readers also find out how he believes so strongly in his beliefs that he is actually doing the right thing by beating those that are either not his race or here in the U.S. illegally. But his logic is totally not the right way of thinking. He basically justifies his actions by saying that it is to protect Skylar and making where they live safer. I don't care what race someone is or if they are legally or illegally in the U.S. no one deserves to be beaten or murdered because they are different from others. 

While Lie can be slow and somewhat repetitive, because a lot of thoughts are continuously said throughout the novel, it truly is a good read. Lie goes in depth as to how a crime affects the whole community. The word lie also takes on many meanings too in this story. Whatever one does take caution that this book will break your heart and it will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. 

Giveaway: Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Synopsis: Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is. 

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued. 

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very…different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her. 

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Sounds interesting right? Well it turns out that I have an extra copy and I'd love to give this copy to one of my fabulous followers. What's that some of you are not follower?! Why the heck are you here then? Just kidding! Follower or not you are still eligible to enter. 

Here are the details for this giveaway:

You must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada

Giveaway ends August 31st at midnight EST

If you are a follower you get 2 extra entry points 

That's about it. 

To enter to win click here. 

Good luck!

The Joys of the Internet (that doesn't work)

The other day I mentioned that I would be posting some giveaways on my blog yesterday. Well, as you can tell that plan did not work out. So I just wanted to let you all know that it wasn't my intention to leave y'all hanging. 

I guess I should explain. First off the one major problem is that my internet now a days only works when it wants to which is basically NEVER! Its frustrating. Hopefully my family can figure out if its the modem or our router that is the source of the problems. Its always a bummer when I want to post something and there is no internet connection. 

Secondly, when I went to create the forms for the giveaways there of course had to be a problem. I don't really like using the comments as entries for giveaways, so I'm going to post the giveaways whenever the forms start working again. 

In the end I suppose that its a blessing in disguise that the internet is not working all the time. It only gives me more time read. Its unbelievable how much reading I've gotten done when the internet is not working. I'm actually catching up in my 2011 reading goal!

Thanks for hanging in there with me! :) 

Today August 14th is my 20th Birthday!!!

Hi everyone! So today is my 20th birthday. I know its sad that I'm no longer a teenager. Regardless of my age I'm thinking that I'll keep my blog's name the same. I mean why should I change it just because my age when really everyone is a teenager at heart. :)


Truthfully if anyone was to see me in person one would guess that my age is 12 at the least and 14 at the most. Which is understandable because I'm a small person. I'm like Kiersten White. We're both small and short. Whenever I go out to eat with my family people have to ask how many kids menus are needed. Most recently my family went to the movies and the ticket guy said one adult (my dad) and two kids (my brother and I). Oh how wrong was he?! I often joke about enrolling as a fifth grader and no one would be able to tell the difference. For real haha! Last year I went to my brother's play and all the little fifth graders were the same size as me if not a wee bit bigger. Okay well enough with the comparisons. 


The main point of this post is:
 1. To inform you all that I am now a twenty year old today. 
 2. I might just be having two giveaways starting tomorrow because I'm in a festive mood. 


Here is a cute penguin holding a yummy cupcake. I hope you all have had a great day today!

*photo found on Google images*

Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Synopsis: The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Book Details: 

Publisher: Hyperion

Pub Date: August 2, 2011

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 288

My Review: 

Ever wish there was a fairy tale like story for an audience older than 12 years old? Well look no further because Victoria Schwab has masterfully created a wonderful fairy tale for the older crowd. So good of a book is The Near Witch it's sure to become a classic.

The Near Witch is a story of the town of Near whose children are mysteriously disappearing late in the night. Once the town finds out about a stranger in their territory they blame him for the disappearances. The protagonist, Lexi, is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. Her father always told her stories of the Near Witch and nature. With all towns there are missing parts to every story, things left untold and buried. Will Lexi uncover the truth to the story of the Near Witch, and will she find out who or what is taking the children? Will she be able to find the answer and make it out unharmed?

Seriously this book was pure brilliance! I read this book in two days. Once I started reading I couldn't stop until I was reading the last sentence. The Near Witch is a very captivating tale and will have readers  asking where has someone like Victoria been all their lives? Lexi is a very admirable protagonist she is a strong willed person and takes a stand for herself despite everyone's wishes. The stranger while is phantom like in the beginning turned out to be so adorable and cute. Lexi gave him the name of Cole. The whole time I was praying that Cole was not guilty of kidnapping the kids from their beds, because he was so nice to Lexi. I also love Lexi's mother and little sister. I felt the same determination that Lexi had to protect Lexi's sister from whatever is happening to the other children. The mother who is often quite and in her own world really took me by surprise when it came to her daughter Lexi. Just read the book to find out why.

Aside from the great characters in the book the writing is just superb. The words and sentences and story as a whole just flowed naturally and poetically. If your looking for a great and mysterious nighttime read then get The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab in your hands!