ARC Review: Wake by Amanda Hocking + US Giveaway

Title: Wake
Story Arc: Series, Book 1
Publication: August 7, 2012 by St. Martin's Press
Hardcover: 320 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Mythology
Age Group: Teen, Young Adult
Content: Kissing, Violence, Murder
Source: St. Martin's Press | Quote(s): No

Even over the sea, Thea could smell the blood on her.

ARC Review: While He Was Away

my thoughts in a few sentences: An overall disappointment, While He Was Away by Karen Schreck left me aching for something more after all that wasted pent-up excitement. The story is so… forgettable, though, that the lingering dissatisfaction faded into obscurity and from my memory quickly.

hooking first line: "I won't let the Oklahoma wind whip our words away."

Sourcebooks Fire • NetGalley • Contemporary Romance • 5/1/12 • $8.97

Review: The Last Princess

my thoughts in a few sentences: What begins as a strictly heart-pounding, intense, and fast-paced story, The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze suddenly spirals into the disappointing with it’s unbelievable heroine, even more unbelievable romance, with several aspects in between that felt more than a little rushed. Perhaps because of the short length, or because of some other unseen reason entirely, The Last Princess fails to explain Eliza’s transition from dainty princess to vicious, vengeful warrior and rescuer in disguise, and how and why this same girl is so quick to fall into the arms of a soldier partly behind the kidnapping of her only remaining family.

hooking first lines: "The day began as a beautiful and vivid dream."

Poppy/Little Brown • Requested • Post-Apocalyptic • 5/1/12 • $13.47

Review: Awakened by P.C & Kristin Cast *no spoilers*

Awakened (House of Night #8)

by P.C. & Kristin Cast

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Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Age Group: Older YA
Source: Purchased/Gifted
Rating: Guilty Pleasure
Related Review(s): Fledgling Handbook 101
About the Book:

(highlight to read)

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

Told ya, more vampires!

Is it me or does it feel like this series has been dragging on forever? To the point where you almost want to stop reading it? I don't know, I feel exactly like that. And with the stakes higher and more deaths, I can't help but get a little turned off. And this eighth book didn't show me anything that reestablishes my love for this series. Which is sad, really, because I used to be sooo into it. However, unfortunately, I skimmed through a large chunk of the book as consequence from being either a) bored, b) interested in something else, or c) pissed and/or sad. Awakened is a little bit of a tear-jerker, I'll tell you that.

All my hopes, which have manifested since the last book, seem to come true... but at what cost? Loss strikes one of my favorite sets of teens again in Awakened, not pulling any punches whatsoever. It hits below the belt, and was very unwanted. But that's about all I can rant about that without giving anything away, so let me shut up...

Zoey Redbird. *sighs* You leave me conflicted, you do. In the beginning, I remember loving Zoey like crazy, but, these days, I'm not really feeling her actions or her narration for that matter. I only really get interested when James Stark is involved (Team Stark, raise your hands!). I've actually grown to love Aphrodite and Stevie Rae infinitely more, so much so that I wish they had more of the spotlight. Still, all of the things that I adored about these characters really shows itself in this installment. When any member of the team needs support the most, they don't hold back and answer unreservedly without question. I was struck with that familiar sensation of Go Team! and caught myself nearly fist-pumping.

Still, it wasn't enough to make up for the dig-in-your-toes-so-drag story line. I mean, when does it end? When can we expect these teens to hand out misery to Miss Villain instead of the other way around? Why is each book thus far about one of the following: recuperation, loss, sex, and tangled-up relationships? Why are these latest books so focused on these aspects instead of centering on the characters working to bring down Miss Villain? I don't appreciate the lack of plot direction. I don't like feeling like I'm being pulled along for the ride so I can finally finish it, half not wanting to. Like I have to go on with the series. By this point, I'm no longer in love with the books and Awakened, I think, played a huge role in that definite absence of feeling.

Instead of convincing me of its greatness, I'm stuck with an undesirable plot device to stretch out the story, and, as much as I adore these characters, I'm getting tired of these books that are full of situations in which the good guys consistently get slapped around with no real retaliation to the darker forces. I want more action, more magic, and waaay more battling! No more moral conflicts, healing, or philosophical crap to egg the story on. I want the good guys to defeat Miss Villain, get their happy endings, and move on with their lives. Awakened initially got me motivated and excited, only to end in tragic failure of luring me deeper into the series. Now more than ever I want to pull away.

I really hope that these last set of books change that. That I won't be disappointed. Things for the House of Night aren't looking up, and I need that to change soon. Otherwise, I don't think I can take anymore heart-twisting situations to keep the story going. Just finish already!

Despite their undermining qualities, Guilty Pleasure books still find ways to get you addicted and still like them... (My Rating System In-Depth)

Review: The Forest of Adventures by Katie M. John

The Forest of Adventures

by Katie M. John

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Release Date: December 10, 2010
Publisher: Little Bird Publishing House
Source: borrowed from a friend
Purchase: Amazon | Kindle
About the Book:

For seventeen year old Mina Singer, falling in love with an Arthurian Knight on a white horse was never part of the plan - especially being that she's an ordinary college girl living in the twenty first century. As Mina finds herself catapulted into a land she believed only existed in the bedtime stories of her childhood, she soon discovers that Fairyland is not quite as innocent as she imagined.

The question is...who will come out alive?

Haunting, beautiful and sexy, The Forest of Adventures, is a dark romantic quest into the land of true and forbidden love.

I can't believe how disappointing this book was for me. Maybe I'd let my expectations run a little too high, but what I thought was going to be an innovative and incredible Arthurian-based story turned out to be about a "forbidden love" that made this book into a forgettable, unpleasant read. This book focuses on an instaluv romance that did nothing for me, and instead furthered my dislike of this book. I felt deceived by the time I was done, frustrated and baffled. The Forest of Adventures has the potential to be a great story had the author paid more attention to exerting the world-building she'd done beautifully, thoroughly, and the development of the characters. The Forest of Adventures is alternatively just another insufficient romance-driven novel.

I can't tell you how let down I felt by this book. In the occasional faerie books you get mentions of King Arthur, his court, and his knights, but rarely a well-done story that focuses primarily on that. So when I happened upon this book due to a friend, I was excited as hell. Then reading the book I found out I was disillusioned all along. This opening book has nothing whatsoever to do with the legend itself, apart from the related world-building and side characters, but the MC's "love" for one of the Arthurian Knights. *head-desk* I confess, I was bored out of my mind. All Mina thinks about is how beautiful and gorgeous he is and blah blah blah. Mina herself treats her so-called best friends and boyfriend like crap, utterly carelessly as soon as this Blake character waltzes into her life. I could detest her for her narration and actions.

But, really, who the heck is Mina Singer? 

Even in light of the first-person POV I had absolutely no freaking clue who she is, apart from her Bella Swan Obsession with Blake. Other than her innate jerkiness, I discovered nothing about her, made no connection with her. Same goes for Blake. So he's an Arthurian Knight descended from a rather famous one, travels through the Realm, and lives with a *SORTA SPOILERY* contemporary depiction of The Lady of the Lake. But who is Blake the person? Other than Mina's constant reference to his good looks and some of his evident humor in the dialogue, Blake Beldivere is a relative stranger. So how could I have been expected to fall in love with this guy, this romance between two strangers who barely know themselves?

*HEAD-DESK*

Random and oddly placed moments in the book where some Arthurian-ish scenes take place aside, there is nothing very relevant to what's described in the summary. Then, the villain, oh the villain. Morgan le Fay has such promise. She's a dark, twisted character and could have been EPIC. But, no, alas, she's only a magically-inclined, vindictive woman hell-bent on making Blake hers. WHY? Maybe it's just me, but I've always felt that Morgan In The Legend was a Take Over the World Like Voldemort kind of person. John's depiction did little for me, and that glimmer of coolness in the character that I saw in the beginning of the book slowly fades away as it progresses, which ended in me shaking my head in distaste.

The ending may have actually been the worst part for me. I was confused and irritated. And frankly, I didn't care about the characters so why would I care how it ended?

So, plainly speaking, I really did NOT like The Forest of Adventures, as it's a flavorless Arthurian adaptation starring a flat heroine who engages in a poorly drawn out, detestable instaluv-esque romance that only serves to promote disinterest and failed to motivate me to read the rest of the series.

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No fun quotes this time :(

Review: The Awakening by L.J. Smith

T h e  A w a k e n i n g by L.J. Smith

A deadly love triangle

Elena: beautiful and popular, the girl who can have any guy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, desperately trying to resist his desire for Elena . . . for her own good.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him.

Elena finds herself drawn to both brothers . . . who will she choose?

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Source: borrowed/Library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle
Next: The Struggle


Since Vampire Diaries is giving tonight I thought it appropriate to post up my review for the first book in L.J. Smith's Vampires Diaries series. Yes, the books came before the show. And when people said that the show is immensely different from the book series, they weren't kidding. Nearly everything is different apart from the characters' names. But, looks, appearances, locations... that stuff all got changed in the TV-remake. I must say that I find the TV show much more appealing, though.  And it's not just because Ian Somerhalder is playing Damon Salvatore, I swear.

Maybe it's because there was that tedious instantaneous love between the two main characters. It was almost reminiscent of Twilight in that sense, yet completely different. And what's particularly funny about that is Vampire Diaries came out long before Stephanie Meyer gave a thought to Twilight. Normally, I love that kind of soulmate-love-attraction stuff that happens with Smith's characters (i.e. Nightworld, Secret Circle, etc.) But, this time around it didn't send me headlong in love with book. Rather I got a little irritated...

Or perhaps its because the original Elena Gilbert isn't sweet and selfless like her TV portrayal. She's actually the opposite. Which, at first, was pretty nice, because I've never read about a heroine who's selfish, self-serving, and spoiled before. However, the attraction quickly faded to be replaced by mild flickers of anger. Elena, basically, takes her friends and family for granted, and simultaneously uses them for her own ends. Elena snaps her pretty little fingers and these people in her life jump up for the chance to serve. It got to be pretty annoying. The whole time I was expecting someone to tell her to Piss Off. But no such luck.

And because she's a character with a pretty rotten personality, I didn't feel like she deserved to be with Stefan (aka Mr. Tallldarkandbrooding). Like, why should she win the guy when all she's successfully done throughout the book is annoy the crap out of me? Eventually, though, I warmed up to the romance. Instant-love and Elena's obsession with Stefan aside, I could immediately see that Stefan would change Elena for the better and vice versa. Which is great! as I find that that's a crucial aspect of being in love, you know bringing out the best in each other and all that. The romance came to be really sweet; I like that L.J. Smith makes her characters decidedly soulmates.

As for the other characters, like Meredith and Bonnie, I wasn't too thrilled with the characterization. These two are supposedly her best friends so why did I find myself wondering why they seemed so two dimensional? Quick comparison to the show, Bonnie really grows on you throughout the entirety of it. You feel for her when she looses her grandmother in the beginning, you're just as caught in wonderment as she is when she discovers the extent of her powers, and so on. Book Bonnie didn't shine nearly as much. While it became more and more obvious that her powers were starting to kick in, it wasn't as exciting. And get this - there's no super-hot-younger-brother-Jeremy in the books. I found myself paging through to see if there was a similar character, but nada. (I have a huge thing for Jeremy Gilbert.) *cries* But, despite how unimpressed I was with the best friends, I really fell for the book version of Damon Salvatore. Maybe I'll always have a thing for the guy, no matter how much his personality his altered. In the book, Damon is darker, more mysterious, and his powers making him infinitely more cool than Stefan. And unlike Stefan, he isn't a brooder. He may be tortured, but at least he doesn't come off as bland and sickeningly sensitive. Even TV Stefan isn't as bad.

While the plot was kind of predictable and not as crazy as I'd've liked, I can honestly say that I did enjoy the story. I'll always like anything of L.J. Smith's, undoubtedly. Still, I'm much crazier about the TV show, which was to be expected. Though that doesn't mean I won't be continuing on to the second half of the volume, THE STRUGGLE. I'm curious to see what's going to happen next.

She could not stop herself from laying a hand on his arm. "Stefan, I know how it can hurt--"
"You can't know," he exploded, all his quietness erupting into white rage. He looked down at her hand as if just realizing it was there, as if infuriated at her effrontery in touching him. His green eyes were dilated and dark as he shook her hand off, flinging a hand up to bar her from touching him again--
--somehow, instead, he was holding her hand, his fingers tightly interlocked with hers, hanging on for dear life. He looked down at their locked hands in bewilderment. Then, slowly, his gaze moved from their clasping fingers to her face. (121)

Review: The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

T h e  B e a u t i f u l  B e t w e e n by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Release Date: 5/11/10

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Pages: 192

Source: Borrowed/school library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kindle

Word Blurb: Saddening, interesting, and mysterious!

"If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

This lovely and memorable debut by Alyssa B. Sheinmel contains many of the hallmark themes found in young adult literature—friendship, coming of age, finding a place to belong, and overcoming the death of a loved one. Emotionally moving from start to finish, The Beautiful Between introduces a strong new voice to the genre, a voice with a long future ahead of it."

I was thoroughly disappointed with this book, as it happens. I was expecting this book to be more. Filled with emotion and depth. It isn't. THE BEAUTIFUL BETWEEN has a nice synopsis, and a potentially good story, were it not for the many, many, many things that bothered me about it. While it's still saddening, and holds a touch of sad emotion, there's nothing about it that screams authenticity or amazement.

First, the heroine fell flat to the ideal heroine. This story is supposed to be more of a character-driven tale, in which the heroine develops, but that isn't what entirely happened. Sure, Connelly learned a little about herself and others, but she doesn't strike me as this amazing heroine because she's... well... boring. I couldn't get into her - her habits, her flaws, her insecurities. The only thing that made me feel a twinge of sympathy is the loneliness and isolation she feels because of her caring, yet distant mother. The mystery of her father's pronounced death didn't make me all that curious to know what was going on. And I felt bored along the way, trying to hang on until things started to pick up.

Things did not pick up.

Even worse, there was no burning desire to get to know the other characters. Jeremy is weird, in my opinion. I don't find him attractive, more I find him to be odd. Not exactly the ideal popular prince of the school, though granted he is going through some major familial issues. Then there's Kate, Jeremy's younger sister, whose character was about the only one I adored. She's sweet, kind, and intuitive, even for one so young. And about the only time I got emotional in the novel pertained to my liking her. Other than that, the characters did nothing for me.

It was clear, after I reached the climax, that I wasn't going to be entirely fond of this book. While I had good expectations, perhaps even high ones, THE BEAUTIFUL BETWEEN isn't at all what I had expected or had intended to read.

Thanks for reading! And happy blogging!