Follow Friday! (AND BOOK BLOGGER HOP! WAHOO!)

So it's Friday! That means FOLLOW FRIDAY!! Not only is it Follow Friday, but Book Blogger Hop too! So much excitement for one little day. I can barely contain myself! (I'm quite sorry about all of this. I'm a bit delirious. Too much Harry Potter for one girl.)


Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee each week and is a joint effort between all of us bloggers to get more followers (who we love with all our hearts.) Plus, each week a different question is asked, and I get to answer it! So here goes:

Q. What do you do when you aren't reading?
Me: Ohh, well lots of things. I currently work at a vastly exciting movie theater, so I spend lots of time there right now. But at the end of August I will be heading back to college, which means I will be doing lots of studying and homework, and, of course, some hard partying (HAHAHAHAHAHA.) I also spend time writing reviews for you lovely people and watching WAY too much Pawn Stars on Netflix, along with normal stuff like hanging out with friends, eating, etc.

So that fun is over, on to Book Blogger Hop!


Book Blogger Hop is a weekly par-tay for book bloggers to connect! It's hosted by Crazy for Books and lasts Friday through Monday every week! And we get another exciting question, here goes:

Q. How/Where do you get your books? Do you buy them or go to the library? Is there a certain website you use like paperbackswap?
Me: I really, really love to buy books, despite my normal lack of funds for such frivolity. I buy them at Barnes & Noble mostly, because it's what's around, but I also buy ebooks for my Nook from their website, and, really, books from anywhere I can get them. I also have a wonderful relationship with my librarian. I check out massive piles of books at once, and that's great fun. :) AND, I love the bookswap on Goodreads. It's fantastic for finding books you may be interested in for cheap, just the cost of shipping.


Mmkay! So, I shall be heading to bed, given that it's 3:45 in the morning here, and will talk to you cats when normal people are awake (which obviously does not include me!)

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase has never fit in. Since her father mysteriously disappeared one day in the park, Meghan has felt different from everyone in her life, except her best friend, Robbie. But on the day before her sixteenth birthday, weird things start happening, and Meghan soon finds out just why she's always felt so different. She would've never guessed that she was actually the daughter of a powerful faery king, fated to become a pawn in a war against a foe that could destroy the fae world as it has always existed.

Wow. I'm a latecomer to this series, and I honestly, deeply regret it. If I had known just how much I would enjoy The Iron King, I would've read it the day it came out. But, I now understand where the slight craziness surrounding these books comes from, and I probably will become a part of it. :)

My first thought is how much I loved the idea behind the antagonist. So, so much. I don't know enough about the traditional fae stories to know if they actually came into being from people's hopes and dreams, like in the book, but I just loved the idea that the Iron Fae were a result of man's want for more and more advanced technology, which is slowly eradicating people's creativity and imaginations. I thought it was a resonating idea.

I appreciated Meghan's growth throughout the book, too. Sometimes you go into a novel and the protagonist starts off annoying, gets better for a while, and then gets annoying again, for whatever reason. Meghan started off a normal teenage girl, who wants the attention of the cute boy and wants to be liked, but goes through such a transformation. You can see it starting when she heads into the Nevernever to find Ethan, but by the end it's a complete change, and it made me love her.

I also loved a bunch of the secondary characters. Grimalkin was awesome. He had a very Cheshire Cat-ness about him, who I have always loved. Puck/Robbie was always good for a laugh. Ethan was adorable whenever he was not a changeling. What I enjoyed most about all of the fae is that you never know quite where they stand in terms of good or bad. Yes, they will help you, but for a price, be it a memory, your name, or even your first born child. It keeps you on your toes, though you always want to hope they're good (at least I do!)

 

The Iron King exceeded all expectations I had for it. I thought the story was imaginative, plot-driven, and fast paced. I will be getting my grubby hands on the next two very very soon. :)

Risk a paper cut? YES!!! I would reckon I'd give a kidney... If those are the organs you can live without one of...

To buy: Amazon
            Barnes & Noble

Teaser Tuesday: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa {1}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading, and it is quite simple. (That's why I'm doing it. Hehe.)

All you have to do is:

1. Pick up whatever book you are currently reading.
2. Open it up to a random page.
3. Pick two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page. (Be careful not to spoil anything!)
4. Share those sentences! Be sure to include the book title, author, etc. so your readers can add it to their to be read pile if they're intrigued!

Easy peasy, right?

So this is my first time, and I'm excited. I'm a bit behind on this series, but I'm reading The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa, the first book in the Iron Fey series, and I'm really enjoying it! I'll be reading the rest very soon. :)

Here is my teaser:

From page 136, "Ethan stood there, his face blue and wrinkled, his lips pulled into a rictus grin. In one hand, he clutched a butcher knife."

Creepy, right? :) You can post your teasers in my comments here if you'd like me to check them out, otherwise you can check out Should Be Reading's post for a long list of comments with links.

Enjoy!

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Release date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN
Source: Publisher provided galley from NetGalley


From Goodreads:

In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.

When the palace guard captures and intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy—Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.

In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

I hate writing reviews like this, but I don't keep a blog to write only good things. I am here to tell my honest thoughts, and so here they are:  

Legacy looked so promising. The cover was very appealing, with the lovely curly script and the girl in the fancy dress, but the book just needed some help. On a scale of one to five stars, I would probably rate it at about 2.6. The idea was there; the world was there. The book suffered from a lack of editing.

The synopsis gives the reader the idea that they are in for something of historical fiction with some political intrigue, war, and romance thrown into the mix. Truthfully, it didn't feel like much of any of those. Princess Alera's biggest problem seems to be that her father wants her to marry a drop dead gorgeous, charming guy, but she likes another guy. That's all she worries about for a good 400 of close to 500 pages. When we do get some hint of a prophecy, it's mentioned for a few pages, and then completely dropped for another 50 pages only to be mentioned briefly once more. Or when the capitol city of Hytanica is lain under siege and all food is rationed, somehow the royalty and the captain of the guard manage to have an extravagant dinner party. Yes, they're royalty so they get leeway, but a multiple course feast? Things just don't add up.

There are, at times, some really good moments of storytelling in this book. When I got to those, I cherished them. There are also some really well done characters. London, for example, I love. He was Alera's personal bodyguard for most of her life and her closest confidant next to her sister. London is the most developed character out of the lot. Alera is too changeable, and wishy-washy. I also didn't find Narian (does anyone else want to read that as Narnia?) to be an appealing love interest. The reader just doesn't get enough out of him. Hopefully this will change in the next book, because I really want to like him, I do.

My biggest complaint in this book was the descriptions of the clothing. I could pretty well get past most of the other faults, but for the clothing. I do not need a description of every dress Alera wears, nor do I need to hear about what her sister, Steldor, London, Narian, or anyone else wears. Brief, pertinent clothing descriptions I accept, and am perfectly happy to read. There were maybe two times I found a description of someone's dress or tiara important, and I didn't mind those in the least. I understand trying to give a visual, but there are times a reader needs to imagine for themselves, rather than being told what to see.

Now, I really liked the idea for the story. The idea of a war that had ended mysteriously with the death of 48 children is a fascinating one. When I heard the story, I immediately wanted to know why the rival country had withdrawn, why they had fought in the first place, etc. Details of this are unveiled, but not so many as to give it all away, which is why there are more books! (And I will be reading them, with great hope.)

I was very impressed when I learned that Cayla Kluver was fourteen when she wrote this book. For a fourteen-year-old, it is quite accomplished. She was able to create her own world, some good characters, an involved story, and make it not predictable. Those things are where this book shines. There is quite a bit of potential here, too. Most of my discrepancies could be fixed, and easily. Scenes with some character development for Narian and Alera would not be hard, nor would cutting out some descriptions. With those fixed, I could see myself giving this book a solid three stars, maybe working up to being rounded to four.

Risk a paper cut? Ummm... Not really, in my opinion. For major fans of historical fiction and/or political intrigue, maybe.

To buy: Amazon
            Barnes & Noble

Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

Release date: September 1, 2011
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Source: Publisher provided egalley from NetGalley 

From Goodreads: 

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special. 
This is not her story. 
Unless you count the part where I killed her.

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori -- the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right? 

Ultraviolet was in no way what I expected it to be. It starts off with you thinking it's going in one direction, and, then maybe halfway through, just completely blindsides you. And I loved it. It's hard to find books that do that, and I treasure them.


The book hits the ground running. Alison wakes up in the psychiatric wing of a hospital to find out she has confessed to murdering Tori, a girl from her school. Alison recalls having fought with Tori and distinctly remembers Tori disintegrating right in front of her. While Alison is positive that was what she saw, those around her think she's crazy, and Alison doesn't really doubt them. Since a very young age, Alison has been able to see sounds, see letters and numbers as colored and distinguish their personalities, and can even taste lies.

Alison can't relate to those around her very well, until enchanting Dr. Faraday comes into the picture. He explains that she has synesthesia, a condition in which the stimulation of one sense automatically leads to the stimulation of another (such as hearing stimulating sight), and believes everything she says. Alison finds herself drawn to him, and trusts him more than she should. What she doesn't expect is what the two of them uncover and experience together.

Oh, so many good things to say! The first thing that struck me when I started this book was how much I loved the descriptions. Now, many good writers today come up with some breathtaking descriptions, but with Alison being a synesthete, she sees thing differently from the rest of us. I adored reading phrases that told how a piece of smooth, sanded wood tasted like caramel. for example. It's so different to read, yet at times I could understand how something could taste or look as Alison perceives it.

Of course, the cover is quite beautiful. While I still don't really see what it pertains to, (maybe I'm just being slow) the mood of it fits the book perfectly. And, of course, the purple is exactly what most people think of when they hear "ultraviolet".

R.J. Anderson's writing is solid, with the pacing of the book just right. She gives you just the right amount of fodder each chapter to keep you reading. The novel is really high concept without making you think it is, and works. I found it to be a beautiful story of a girl finding her strength in a situation where many would waver.

I can see how some people would be turned off by the book once they reach the big turning point, but honestly it didn't bother me. I can't divulge much else, because knowing what is going to happen would definitely ruin the entire book. Part of the appeal is the fact that one is just chugging along, enjoying a good book, and it just takes a completely new, unexpected direction. I urge anyone to at least give Ultraviolet a chance, and if you stick with it, it will reward you in more ways than one. 

Risk a paper cut? In my opinion, Ultraviolet is exactly what a book should be. Exciting, unexpected, enchanting, memorable, and breathtaking at times. If you trust me, go get your Band-Aids!

To buy: Amazon 
             Barnes & Noble

A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) Cover Revealed!

So I know this is not a review, which I am actually working on (albeit very slowly...) but I just had to post this. The sequel to Beth Revis' Across the Universe, A Million Suns, now has a cover! And it is BEAUTIFUL, is it not?

I really enjoyed Across the Universe, and now am just sitting on the edge of my seat for the sequel! We don't know anything about the plot, but it is to be published on January 12, 2012, and here's to hoping for an ARC! :)

What are your thoughts on the cover? Do you like it as much as Across the Universe's hardcover, or paperback?

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Finley Jayne knows something is different about her. She knows that when she's afraid or threatened, some part of her hidden deep inside comes out and rears its ugly head. How else could she beat up a fully grown man or hurl a footman out of the room?

Whatever is inside her causes her problems, too. When the son of her employer attempts to take advantage of her and she beats him up, she must flee. She then meets Griffin King. Griffin heads up a small brigade of people with problems just as big as hers, and he can help her. Griffin has resources Finley could never dream of, monetary and supernatural. In return, Griffin says Finley must trust him completely and give him her word he can do the same with her. But Finley wonders, how can she expect him to trust her when she can't even trust herself?

At the same time, a mysterious villain known as The Machinist is committing random crimes throughout London. Griffin knows this has some connection to him, and he and his friends, including Finley, must stop the villain before he can do unimaginable damage.

To get it out of the way, The Girl in the Steel Corset is a steampunk novel. I love steampunk. I love the Victorian age, for one thing. It's always fascinated me, and if I could live in a different time, it'd definitely be in the top three. Some of you may not know exactly what steampunk is, and, truthfully, sometimes I feel like I don't, so... To learn more about it, visit Kady Cross' Links page. She has links to some interesting sites about steampunk, bands, even costumes!

I've also been on this fantastic streak of kick-butt female protagonists, which I am loving. I am not a feminist per se, but I can appreciate this trend, definitely. Finley may have some problems, but she's tough. It's recognized several times in the book that she doesn't need any help defending herself. Not a single one of the male characters treats her like they must protect her, rather they help her. It all makes for a happy Rachel.

Kady Cross has said she wanted to write a book that was "X-Men meets The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", and I fully believe she achieved just that. The reader has that sense of historical fiction, with mentions of Queen Victoria and her diamond jubilee, but there's a twist. That's where the steampunk comes in, making the book also a good fantasy read.

And I know we're all quite tired of love triangles, but I must point this one out. It works. Because Finley has two sides to her, she is attracted to two different men. One is Griffin, who is trying to help her two sides become one. But then there's Jack Dandy. He's a notorious criminal in London, but also charming and handsome to boot. He's also very funny, and his appearances always make for good scenes. I'm hoping for much more of him in books to come.

Now, for a bit of negative: the plot is sometimes formulaic, though that's not always such a bad thing. Here it's not bad, but makes for a less exciting read. At the same time, there are some good, unpredictable twists that will keep you reading, I promise.

If I haven't sold you on the book here, Harlequin also has an excerpt from the first chapter for you to check out here. In addition, there is a short prequel novella you can download here, which gives you some good insight into Finley, should you be curious.

Risk a paper cut?  The Girl in the Steel Corset is a bang of a novel. For fans of steampunk, historical fiction or fantasy, it's a must read. Wear a thimble if you don't want to cut your fingers.

To buy: Amazon
            Barnes & Noble