Spotted! Cover of Underworld by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot unveiled the jacket flap / book cover for Underworld, the second novel in the Abandon Trilogy, on her Twitter and Facebook accounts last night as a Halloween treat for her fans!

Release Date: May 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Summary (from Goodreads):

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead. Not this time. But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies. And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

I always really enjoy reading Meg Cabot's novels and ever since reading Abandon (here's my review!), I've been looking forward to seeing what would happen next after such an exciting conclusion! Abandon was very much an introduction to the trilogy, so I'm hoping we see more development and action in the plot this time around... plus some more of John Hayden!

What do you think of the cover? I love how it matches the style of the cover for Abandon with its font and curly lines at the corners. And it's kind of creepy seeing a hand reaching out from the bottom of the page grabbing onto Pierce...

In My Mailbox (49)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.

This week I got... 

Received for Review:

• ARC of A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness 
• ARC of Winter Town by Stephen Emond 

Thanks so much to Hachette Book Group Canada and Random House Canada for providing these novels for review!   

Bought:

• The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

I wasn't actually planning on getting The Near Witch this week but I had happened to see it at Walmart while I was there earlier in the week and didn't want to leave empty-handed when I saw that they hadn't shelved The Iron Knight yet. I'll have to try again next week to get it!

I have another test coming on Tuesday which I need to study for, but after that, I should have some more free time to catch up on reading. Yay!

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week? 

And as always... Happy Reading!

Spotted! Cover of As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender

Katie Alender revealed the title and cover of the final novel in her Bad Girls Don't Die trilogy on her blog today! It will be called As Dead As It Gets!

  Release Date: May 15, 2012

Publisher: Hyperion

Summary (from author's website): 

It’s been three months since Alexis helplessly witnessed Lydia Small’s violent death, and all she wants is for her life to return to normal.

But normal people don’t see decaying bodies haunting photographs. Normal people don’t have to deal with regular intrusions from Lydia’s angry ghost, sometimes escalating to terrifying attacks.

At first, it seems that Lydia wants revenge on Alexis alone. But a girl from school disappears one night, and Alexis spots one of Lydia’s signature yellow roses lying on the girl’s dresser the next day. Soon, it becomes clear that several of Alexis’s friends are in danger, and that she’s the only person who can save them. But as she tries to intervene, Alexis realizes that her enemy is a much more powerful ghost than she’s ever faced before… and that its fate is tied to hers in ways she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Not even in her worst nightmares.

I still haven't had a chance to read the second novel, From Bad to Cursed, yet but I'll definitely be getting to it soon once I have some more time! They're really great reads if you're looking for novels with suspense and a creepiness factor.

What do you think of the cover? I sure love how it similarly matches the theme of the previous novels! The soft colours work really well... and I'm kind of afraid to stare at the girl's face for too long...

Spotted! Cover of Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Earlier in the week, the book cover for Myra McEntire's Timepiece was leaked online when it wasn't supposed to be revealed until March 2012. Today, she officially posted the cover on her blog and clarified that it was the ARC cover. I'm assuming that the final cover will feature a shinier look and an added blurb on it since that's what happened to the one for Hourglass...

Myra McEntire also shared the awesome news today that Twentieth Century Fox had optioned Hourglass for film! Exciting, right?

 Release Date: June 12, 2012

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Summary (from Chapters/Indigo): 

When vital research about the time gene is stolen, Kaleb must join Emerson and the Hourglass team to find the criminal, who could be anywhere in time.

I couldn't find the plot summary after searching around, but I did find this one sentence description on Chapters/Indigo! I'm very glad to hear that we'll get to see some more of Kaleb in Timepiece! But, you know, I'm also excited to see what kind of trouble of Emerson will be finding herself in too.

What do you guys think of the cover? Isn't it just as jaw-dropping cool as the one for Hourglass? I sure do love how these covers defy gravity!

If you missed it before, you can read my review of Hourglass.

Waiting on Wednesday (69) - The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: Candlewick Press

Summary (from Goodreads):

Queen Victoria has a little problem: there’s a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Mary Quinn takes the simple case, going undercover as a domestic servant. But before long, a scandal threatens to tear apart the Royal Family.

One of the Prince of Wales’s irresponsible young friends is killed in disgraceful circumstances. Should the Queen hush things up or allow justice to take its course? Mary’s interest in this private matter soon becomes deeply personal: the killer, a drug-addicted Chinese sailor, shares a name with her long-lost father.

Meanwhile, James Easton’s engineering firm is repairing the sewers beneath Buckingham Palace. Trouble is, there’s a tunnel that’s not on the plans. Its purpose is unclear. But it seems to be very much in use.

These overlapping puzzles offer a perfect opportunity for Mary and James to work together again… if they can still trust one another. This is Mary’s most personal case yet and she has everything to lose.

It has been a long wait for North Americans to read The Traitor in the Tunnel, the third novel in Canadian author Y.S. Lee's The Agency series, but I have a feeling that it will be absolutely worth it! I really enjoyed reading the previous novels, and I can't wait to see what adventures and danger awaits Mary in her latest investigation. And it seems like we'll be seeing more of James Easton too!

If you're looking for well-written historical fictional novels which whisk you away to the Victorian era and include a touch of mystery, then I'd definitely recommend checking out the series! The first book is called A Spy in the House.

Reasons to Be Happy by Katrina Kittle

Title: Reasons to Be Happy
Author: Katrina Kittle
Release Date: September 6, 2011 (paperback)
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pages: 288
Source: Copy provided by publisher 

Overall: 3 Stars

Summary: 

REASONS TO BE HAPPY

21. Cat purr vibrating through your skin
22. Jumping on a trampoline in the rain
23. Raw cookie dough
24. Getting yourself all freaked out after a scary movie
25. Dancing like an idiot when no one is watching

What happened to the girl who wrote those things? I miss that girl. She used to be bold and fun. Now she’s a big chicken loser.
 
How could so much change so fast?
 
Let’s see, you could be the plain Jane daughter of two gorgeous famous people, move to a new school, have no real friends, and your mom could get sick, and, oh yeah, you could have the most embarrassing secret in the world. Yep, that about does it.
 
So, the real question is, how do I get that girl back? 

My Thoughts:
Katrina Kittle's Reasons to Be Happy is directed to the perfect audience of young teenage girls who are just beginning to discover their changing bodies as they grow up. In our world today, there are so many ideals of what constitutes beauty and the perfect body type... but are we ever truly comfortable with our body images? I don't think so, and it's novels like this one which can educate its audiences for the better.

Reasons to Be Happy focuses on Hannah, the only daughter of two famous Hollywood celebrities, and her struggles with bulimia to deal with a life that quickly seems to be spiraling out of control. Compared to her beautiful parents, she feels fat, awkward and not pretty... and bulimia becomes a poor solution to her problems, especially when she falls under the negative influence of a group of girls at her school who practically encourage her to do so. Perhaps because the novel moved at such a fast pace, it wasn't always easy for me to relate with Hannah. The book would swiftly move onto the next event before I could emotionally invest myself more in the story... 

There are a lot of sudden changes in Hannah's life and she certainly has a lot on her plate, but at the same time, my own personality is so completely different from hers that it was difficult for me to understand her actions. If a group of girls were treating me that badly, I wouldn't have wasted my time with them, preferring solitude if need be. I guess, I wanted her to stick up for herself more! The novel later takes a surprising turn by transporting readers to Africa where Hannah's aunt is working on a documentary... and I was glad Hannah was finally able to gain more perspective and grasp how truly privileged she was. But most of all, I was glad that Hannah was able to finally accept that she was beautiful just the way she was.

Katrina Kittle's middle grade debut novel Reasons to Be Happy should be commended for showing readers the importance of accepting ourselves for the people we are and how we're all beautiful in our own ways. It's not as hard-hitting for a novel that deals with a social issue, but then again, I wouldn't expect it be considering the age group it is geared more towards. (Not that older audiences wouldn't also enjoy reading the novel too!) And as you continue to read along, you'll be supporting Hanna in rediscovering her reasons to be happy!

Thanks so much to Sourcebooks for providing this review copy!

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Title: Virtuosity
Author: Jessica Martinez
Release Date: October 18, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 304
Source: ARC provided by publisher 

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen’s whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn’t just hot...what if Jeremy is better?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can’t end well, but she just can’t stay away. Nobody else understands her—and riles her up—like he does. Still, she can’t trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes antianxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what’s expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall.... 

My Thoughts:
I've been very excited to read Virtuosity ever since I first glanced at its bold, pretty cover... but it also doesn't hurt that its plot description immediately appealed to me as well! Jessica Martinez welcomes readers into the dark side of the classical music world with her debut novel! At the heart of Virtuosity is a coming-of-age story about a teenage girl just trying to break free onto her own path.

Virtuosity has a wonderful, quiet intensity that continues to build as you progress through the novel. There's a lot at stake for both Jeremy and Carmen's futures with the approaching Guarneri competition, but of course, only one of them can win. They're the best violinists of their generation and everyone is watching– and waiting– to see who will come out on top. But while their musical talents are practically utter perfection, what their stage presence hides are their complicated relationships with their families. In particular, Carmen's mother is controlling and conniving to the point where you're left wondering just far she'll go to ensure that her daughter wins. And there's more to Jeremy's background than first meets the eye as well, lending more depth to his character.

There's an enticing edge to the romance which develops between Carmen and Jeremy. They're both highly competitive and driven to win, yet they share an undeniable connection with their love of music and playing the violin that no one else can truly understand. But with the pressure of the competition on their shoulders, there's a certain tension in their words which leaps off the pages. I was left suspicious and weary of Jeremy initially... but mostly because I wasn't all too sure if I could trust that he wasn't trying to use Carmen's feelings against her. I loved how Jessica Martinez left her readers on edge, wondering what would happen next!

The ending of the novel is left rather open-ended without too much closure, but there's a hopeful tone to it that suggests everything will work itself out in the end... even if we don't actually get to read it. Jessica Martinez's debut novel Virtuosity is one of those hidden gems you stumble across and immediately wish you had read sooner! I can't wait to see what kind of novel the author will write next in the future! 

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing this review copy!

In My Mailbox (48)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.

This week I got...

Received for Review:

• The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner
• Mastiff (Beka Cooper #3) by Tamora Pierce
• Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
• Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant
• The Watch That Ends The Night: Voices From The Titanic by Allan Wolf

Thanks so much to Random House Canada and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending these novels for review! 

I was expecting Sing You Home to Arrive, but I was completely surprised to find the other novels in my mailbox. The Steampunk! anthology novel is really pretty in person and has some of the smoothest paper I've seen in a book. (And is it weird that I'm gushing about the quality of the paper?) 

And to my fellow Canadians, don't forget to enter Simon & Schusters Jodi Picoult Sweekstakes! They're giving away 14 books to someone! You can find the details on a previous post of mine here.

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy reading! 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: October 4, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 338
Source: Bought

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Summary:  

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My Thoughts:
Why can't all romantic contemporary novels be just like one written by Stephanie Perkins? With such ease, she seems to effortlessly weave swooning romantic tales that melt your heart while still tackling family issues in a coming-of-age story. And even without hearing all the amazing praise for Lola and the Boy Next Door, I already knew I would be falling in love with the novel because I completely adored Anna and the French Kiss! 

As soon as I began reading Lola and the Boy Next Door, I knew there was no way I would be putting it back down. My eyes were instantly glued to the page, drawn in by Lola's bright personality and the eccentric creativity she poured into her outfits. On the outside, she comes across as very confident and sure of herself, but on the inside, she still has her doubts and insecurities. Cricket was sweet and kind, but he's also rather shy and slow in making decisions as he puts a lot of thought into his actions first. He has his own cool sense style that totally complements Lola's... and it was also definitely one of the signs that meant they should be with together! 

But these two also have a complicated history filled with misunderstandings that have kept them apart, adding tension to their once tight friendship. There was a certain vulnerability in Lola and Cricket which appeared whenever they were together, so I really enjoyed seeing them offer support to each other when it was much needed. I loved how Cricket was trying to make up for what he done in the past by not letting the girl of his dreams get away again, but it took awhile for Lola to finally come to her senses....

I was ridiculously happy whenever Anna and Étienne appeared in the novel! I just love those two so much... and as soon as they were first mentioned, a smile lit my face. Perhaps because the novel lacked the magic of a Paris setting this time around, but there was still something missing about the novel I can't quite put my finger on... So, I'm still favouring Anna and the French Kiss more than Lola and the Boy Next Door! While Lola and Cricket are an adorable couple, I still loved seeing Anna and Étienne finally be together more, I guess.

Stephanie Perkins sure knows how to write perfect love stories that absolutely leave you swooning! Lola and the Boy Next Door was an awesome companion to one of my absolute favourite novels and I loved how the characters seemed to once again leap right off the pages! I can't wait to read the final companion novel, Isla and the Happily Ever After, when it's released next year!

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Title: How to Save a Life
Author: Sara Zarr
Release Date: October 18, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Jill MacSweeney just wants everything to go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. You can't lose one family member and simply replace him with a new one, and when her mom decides to adopt a baby, that's exactly what it feels like she's trying to do. And that's decidedly not normal. With her world crumbling around her, can Jill come to embrace a new member of the family?

Mandy Kalinowski knows what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, she knows she wants a better life for her baby. But can giving up a child be as easy as it seems? And will she ever be able to find someone to care for her, too?

Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about what it means to be a family and the many roads we can take to become one.

My Thoughts:
How to Save a Life marks the first time I've ever read a novel by Sara Zarr, but it most certainly won't be the last after reading her latest release! It's a coming-of-age story filled with hope and overcoming grief, but it also places value on the bonds and love that tie a family together. Sara Zarr has truly written a wonderfully compelling novel!

I'll admit, I have a tendency to shy away from stories involving pregnancies, but there was something so emotionally-charged about How to Save a Life that I found myself immediately drawn in and curious to learn more. Jill and Mandy are two completely opposite girls... and their outlooks on life are so very different from each other. It offered a wonderful contrasting view on how Mandy's unborn child would forever change both of their lives. For Mandy, it's a chance to give her child the happy childhood she always wanted... and for Jill, she sees it as her mother trying to replace her beloved father who passed away almost a year ago.

Mandy is a well-intentioned, if not naive, girl who's trying to do the right thing for everyone... even if that means her future beyond giving birth is still uncertain. Despite having a negligent mother who dismissed her worth, there's a certain sweetness to Mandy that I'm glad never hardened. And then there's Jill, who's angry and bitter that her father could be taken away so soon. For months, she's been pushing everyone away, including her boyfriend and friends, unable to face their consolations... and she doesn't see how her mother adopting a baby is going to solve anything. Not when it isn't going to bring her father back.

You would think that with alternating viewpoints, it may have been difficult to get into the story... but Sara Zarr made it so easy to slip right into both of their emotions. If you're looking for a strong, character-driven contemporary novel that will touch your heart, then I'm sure How to Save a Life may just be a perfect novel to read next. The ending may have been pieced together a little too conveniently... but then again, I don't think I would have wanted it any other way. There's nothing more satisfying in a novel than seeing characters you care about finding the happiness they deserve.

Thanks so much to Hachette Book Group Canada for providing this review copy! You can learn more about Sara Zarr's How to Save a Life on Hachette's website, and if you're not already doing so, don't forget to follow them on Twitter and "like" their Facebook page!

Waiting on Wednesday (68) - The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: April 10, 2012
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary (from Goodreads):

It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora's best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

I'm absolutely loving the sound of Robin Wasserman's The Book of Blood and Shadow! Mysterious secret societies, centuries-old texts filled with powerful words, murder, lies, romance... Do I really need to say more to convince you why I really want to read this book? The Book of Blood and Shadow sounds awesome and oh so thrilling!

2012 OLA Forest of Reading Nominees Announced!

The 2012 nominations for the Ontario Library Association's Forest of Reading were announced yesterday morning... and I've been ever so excited to see which books will be nominated this year!

If you're not quite aware of what I'm really talking about, the Forest of Reading program celebrates the best of Canadian fiction, especially those for children and teens. All of the nominees are by CANADIAN authors! Those who participate through their schools or libraries simply have to read at least 5 of the 10 nominated novels in a program by the end of April 2012, which then culminates into an event called the Festival of Trees in May which takes place in Toronto. The winners are announced there... and readers can ever meet the authors too!

The two programs I pay extra attention to are the Red Maple and White Pine categories, seeing as these novels are YA. So, without further ado, here are the 2012 nominees (links lead to Goodreads):
 

2012 Red Maple Award Nominees (Aimed Towards Grades 7-8)

• Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom - Susin Neilsen (Tundra Books)
• Dust City - Robert Paul Westen (Puffin Canada / Penguin Group Canada)
• Fanatics - William Bell (Random House Canada / Doubleday Canada)
• Fly Boy - Eric Walters (Puffin Canada / Penguin Group Canada)
• Half Brother - Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada)
• Haunting Violet - Alyxandra Harvey (Walker & Company)
• Home Truths - Jill MacLean (Dancing Cat Books / Cormorant Books)
• No Safe Place - Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Books)
• Thunder Over Kandahar - Sharon E. McKay (Annick Press)
• Torn From Troy: Odyssey of a Slave - Patrick Bowman (Ronsdale Press)

 2012 White Pine Fiction Award Nominees (Aimed Towards Grades 9-12)

• Ashes, Ashes - Jo Treggiari (Scholastic Canada)
• Beat The Band - Don Calame (Candlewick Press)
• Blood Red Road - Moira Young (Random House Canada / Doubleday Canada)
• Chance to Dance for You - Gail Sidonie Sobat (Great Plains Publications)
• Death Benefits - Sarah N. Harvey (Orca Book Publishers)
• The Fifth Rule - Don Aker (Harper Trophy Canada / HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Gathering - Kelley Armstrong (Random House Canada / Doubleday Canada)
• Motorcycles & Sweetgrass - Drew Hayden Taylor (Random House Canada / Vintage Canada)
• Something Wicked - Lesley Anne Cowen (Puffin Canada / Penguin Group Canada)
• The Way It Is - Donalda Reid (Second Story Press)

What's nice about the program is that it recognizes Canadian novels which I may never have heard about otherwise! There's usually a wide variety in the genres selected, so it's also a nice way to broaden your reading tastes.

From the Red Maple selections, I've only read Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom... but I've read three of the White Pine picks: Ashes, Ashes, Blood Red Road, and The Gathering. It's going to be a tough choice for voters this year to pick their favourites books to deserve the award!

To learn more about the Forest of Reading Program or see the rest of the 2012 nominations in the other age groups, you can find it on the Ontario Library Association's website.

Enter Simon & Schuster Canada's Jodi Picoult Sweepstakes!

Simon & Schuster Canada is hosting another awesome sweepstakes giveaway! This time, Canadians have the chance to win a whole library of novels by Jodi Picoult!

I've never actually read a novel by the author but I've, of course, heard about her. I remember seeing the film version of her novel, My Sister's Keeper, and crying my heart out... And if you're a fan of the author, then I'm sure you already know that Jodi's next novel, Lone Wolf, will be releasing February 28, 2012. I read the plot summary and it sounds like it will be another emotional read! You can find out more information on the novel on the publisher's website or at Jodi Picoult's website. 

The contest kicks off October 18 (today!) and ends on November 8, 2011. To enter and learn more details about the contest, you can click on the image below to take you directly to Simon & Schuster's website. Good luck!

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Title: Carrier of the Mark (Carrier Trilogy #1)
Author: Leigh Fallon
Release Date: October 4, 2011 (paperback)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
Source: Bought 

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.  

My Thoughts:

When I first heard that Leigh Fallon's Carrier of the Mark would have the honour of being the first novel published after being found on HarperTeen's inkpop website, I immediately added it to my must-have list! I actually didn't read the novel when it was on the website, so I really had no idea what to expect when I eagerly began to read the novel. In any case, I easily found myself flipping through the pages quickly as the story progressed! 

When Megan moves to Kinsale, Ireland, she figures the latest move with her father for his new job will be just like the others. What’s waiting for her in this foreign country though is more than new friendships forged; it’s a dangerous destiny that she never knew she had… one that ties her to handsome Adam DeRίs and his mysterious family. And no matter how hard she tries, Megan can’t deny her strong feelings for Adam despite the short amount of time they’ve known each other. Initially, I kind of groaned at how quickly Adam and Megan were throwing themselves at each other, but it was so much easier to simply roll with it than really question it too much. (And, honestly, you can kind of already gather this would happen just by reading the plot description.) 

What Carrier of the Mark perhaps lacks in developing the romance between Megan and Adam, it more than makes up for it with its beautiful descriptions of its setting in Ireland and the paranormal aspects Leigh Fallon introduces to her readers. I did feel that some of the explanations of the special abilities which the DeRίs’ family possess could have been eased more gently onto readers in some fashion, but similarly to Megan, everything did soon become much clearer for me. Megan is a very likable and easy-going main character, but her quick acceptance of her newfound gifts left me raising an eyebrow. It was rather unsettling how little hesitation and fear she showed, but maybe I’m just not as courageous as she is… 

Leigh Fallon’s debut novel Carrier of the Mark is a fast-paced tale filled with suspense and swooning romance that will lift you off your feet! The trilogy has great potential to lead into more complications further along the line, so I’ll definitely be looking forward to seeing what will happen next when Dawn of the Knights is released next year! If you’re looking for a fresh paranormal novel, I’m sure you won’t want to miss out on reading Carrier of the Mark!

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Title: The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3)
Author: James Dashner
Release Date: October 11, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Source: Copy provided by publisher 

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.
 

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.
 

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
 

Will anyone survive the Death Cure?  

My Thoughts:
James Dashner has never failed to take me completely by surprise. I don't think I ever could have imagined the epic scale of this frightening dystopian world back when I first began reading The Maze Runner long ago. And yet, the stakes have never been higher for the series! So many possible events were already being foreshadowed in my mind trying to think of what could possibly happen in the final novel... but I don't think I ever could have been ready for The Death Cure!

The time for playing along with WICKED is over and Thomas is ready to fight back. With endless resources, escaping WICKED's clutches isn't going to be easy for Thomas and his friends, but they need to try anyways. And even though Teresa says WICKED is good, Thomas isn't quite ready to believe her words... not after what she did to him during the Scorch Trials. I literally couldn't put down The Death Cure until I was finished! In between all the thrilling and suspenseful events, there's a sense of urgency in Dashner's words as he led readers to the novel's inevitable conclusion.

I've always admired Thomas for his courage and his ability to think straight in dire situations. He's tired of the lies and manipulation which WICKED always seems to spin, and wants to forget he ever had a role in helping them before... even if it was for the greater good of finding a cure to the Flare. In a world gone mad like his, there are difficult decisions needed to be made in order to survive, but Thomas also understood the importance of loyal friends and teamwork too. It's another reason why I was filled with trepidation as I read along because no one is safe from death in these books... and I was scared to find out who I would have to say goodbye to next.

Heart-pounding and ever so exciting, you'll be holding your breath as you reach the final pages of The Death Cure. As for sighing in relief afterwards though? Well, you'll just have to discover that on your own. Let's just say I was left in a state of shock, blinking in disbelief as I was left reeling from all the events which had passed... Just like its predecessors, The Death Cure is intense until the very end!

You escaped the Maze. You completed the Scorch Trials. It's now time for... The Death Cure.

Thanks so much to Random House Canada for providing this review copy!

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Title: The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner #2)
Author: James Dashner
Release Date: October 12, 2010 (hardcover)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 368 
Source: Bought 

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED? 

My Thoughts:
In anticipation for The Death Cure, I thought I would finally share my thoughts on The Scorch Trials! Unlike with The Maze Runner, as soon as The Scorch Trials was released, I just had to get my hands on a copy of the novel right away to learn what would happen next to Thomas and his friends!

Once again, James Dashner delivers another wild adventure filled with shocking surprises which will leave you gasping and eager to flip to the next page. Just when you thought the Gladers were finally safe after escaping from the Maze, complete chaos resumes... and the Gladers will have to complete the dangerous Scorch Trials if they wish to receive a cure to the Flare. And just like with The Maze Runner, not everyone is going to make it... If you thought The Maze Runner was more on the slow side, I have a feeling you won't be able to say the same for this one because once the action begins, it really doesn't pause to take a breather.

As more of Thomas' memories begin to surface, he begins to have doubts about himself, and how he and Teresa are connected to WICKED. Actually, James Dashner adds so many new twists in the novel that as a reader, I was beginning to doubt myself! It's not exactly crossing into being confusing territory, but there's definitely a suspenseful edge to The Scorch Trials that leaves you desperate to try and learn the truth. Everyone is a possible suspect... and it's not exactly an easy feat for Thomas to sift through all the lies to learn who can be trusted.

The ending of The Scorch Trials leaves off on a cliffhanger note... and it was definitely one which left me dearly wishing the final novel was already out. And you would think that with the sequel, you would get some more answers... but nope, if anything, I have even more questions to be solved! I can't wait to see how James Dashner will finish the trilogy when The Death Cure is released!

Waiting on Wednesday (67) - First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Summary (from Goodreads):

Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what's next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they're going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you're sorry.

I'm always on the lookout for romantic contemporary novels because in a sea of paranormal and dystopian novels, they're not always so easy to find anymore. When I first heard about First Comes Love, I just knew I had to add to my always growing plan-to-read list! By the sounds of it, the novel seems sort of dark and bittersweet, but I'm sure it will be a love story I'll enjoy seeing unfold too. 

In an author interview I had with Katie Kavinsky back in March, she described the novel as being more of a "kind of a teen angst coming-of-age story," so I think it should be good! And First Comes Love sounds so different from her dystopian novel Awaken... can't wait to read it!

Book Trailer! - The Death Cure by James Dashner

The book trailer for The Death Cure, the third and final novel in James Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy, was revealed yesterday evening on his blog!  

I read The Death Cure in one sitting on Saturday night, completing it at around 3 a.m. And what a finish to the trilogy, I must say! My review of the novel should be up later in the week. The Death Cure really got into my head! I couldn't stop thinking about it when I fell asleep and I end up dreaming about it... Everyone I knew- including my friends and family- had the Flare except me, so not only was I running away from Cranks... but WICKED was trying to hunt me down too. It was kind of scary...

Anyways, the book trailer captures the novel really well with its heart-pounding and exciting feel! Enjoy!

Release Date: October 11, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.
 

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.
 

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
 

Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1)
Author: James Dashner
Release Date: October 6, 2009 (hardcover)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 384
Source: Won at Indigo Teen Read Awards

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

My Thoughts:
I remember when I first heard of The Maze Runner, I wasn't actually too excited to read the novel right away. I may have judged the book by its cover a bit because it lacks the beautiful touch I'm always more drawn towards. But you know how the saying goes... and with The Maze Runner, I'm glad I finally caved into the praise and read it, even if it was a while after it was first released. The first time I read it, the second novel was about to be released, and a part of me is glad I didn't read it right away because it wouldn't have been fun waiting for the next book!

Like I was saying, I definitely should have listened to the recommendations sooner! The Maze Runner is like one crazy and thrilling roller coaster ride, filled with plenty of twists and turns to keep your heart pounding as you read. The beginning starts off slow as we learn more about the mysteries and dangers outside of the Glade... but the intrigue steadily builds up as the Gladers tried to solve all the riddles. And when we reached the climax of the novel, James Dashner couldn't have added any more suspense if he tried!

I liked the cast of characters, I really did... but most of all, I really liked Thomas. He has no recollection of his past, so he's sort of stumbling to connect all the lost pieces. The lost memories are locked away and the more Thomas tries to access them, the more he feels that they're slipping from his grasp. He's unlike the other Gladers in a certain way, and he's sure there's a way to escape the giant Maze that encloses the Glade... but he's just not sure how. Thomas does, of course, have his moments of weakness, but I liked how he tried to lead the boys into not accepting their fates of remaining forever in the Maze.

James Dashner's The Maze Runner has a perfect appeal for both boys and girls! And if you haven't read the novel yet, make you sure you also have the The Scorch Trials to read right afterwards because the ending leaves off on a cliffhanger note. I'm sure you'll be wanting to read what happens next to Thomas and his friends right away!

And this is just for fun, but if you have some free time, you should check out The Maze Runner game on James Dashner's website. You're a Glader and have to try to escape from the Maze! Will you succeed?

In My Mailbox (47)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week.

This week I got... 

Won:

• Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick 

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for having a giveaway for Canadian bloggers! I'm not used to really winning anything, so it was such a sweet surprise to find in the mail.  

Received for Review:

• ARC of Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
• The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner
• ARC of How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
• The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson
• Reasons to Be Happy by Katrina Kittle

Thanks so much to Hachette Book Group Canada, Penguin Canada, Random House Canada, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Sourcebooks for sending these novels for review! (I was so shocked to find an ARC of Clockwork Angel in my mailbox. I'm such a fan-girl for Cassandra Clare's novels!)  

Bought:

• Carrier of the Mark (Carrier #1) by Leigh Fallon
• Daughter to Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor 
• Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins 

I was so happy to finally pick up a copy of Lola and the Boy Next Door! I loved Anna and the French Kiss and everyone seems to be raving about the companion novel, so I've been so excited to read it! 

I probably won't have as much time to read the next few weeks because of essays and midterms to write, but I'm definitely squeezing in reading when I can.... And if you're a fellow Canadian, I hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! 

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy reading!

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Title: The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1)
Author: Rae Carson
Release Date: September 20, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 432
Source: ARC provided by publisher 

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do. 

My Thoughts:
For some reason, I was rather hesitant to read The Girl of Fire and Thorns when I first heard about the novel... but after hearing tons of praise for it, I was eager to read it for myself too! I'm glad the publisher decided to change the cover because the original just doesn't capture the novel like the new one does. When I look at this cover, I can tell at glance that I'm in store for a fantasy adventure... and that's exactly what Rae Carson delivers in her debut novel!

Rae Carson has truly created another world with The Girl of Fire and Thorns! The descriptions of the setting are rich and detailed... and to say a lot of thought has been placed in carefully outlining the political aspects and traditions of each country would probably be an understatement. It's been awhile since I last read a fantasy novel such as this one, so I'll admit, I did feel a little overwhelmed sometimes by all the information which was suddenly flooding in.

While there is certainly some romance in the novel, it didn't play a central part. The Girl of Fire and Thorns focuses on Elisa as she grows into a powerful young woman who has more confidence in herself as an individual... and as someone who must lead a great nation of people. Although she is bound for a great destiny, she has doubts about her body-image and how she can possibly live up to everyone's expectations. It was refreshing to see Elisa begin to take charge as gained more self-esteem! (Also, on the topic on characters, I must mention that I have a soft spot for Lord Hector!)

I was also surprised by how much religion is involved in The Girl of Fire and Thorns as it has an integral part of the story. Elisa has been marked with a Godstone, something that only occurs once a century, and it makes her feel more connected with God than anyone else. In addition to always being concerned about the well-being of those around her, Elisa's beliefs and faith are constantly in the foreground of her decisions.  While there is definitely magic involved to give the novel a fantasy edge, The Girl of Fire and Thorns also explores how religion and power can influence a person's actions in the midst of so much turmoil.

The first in a trilogy, The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a well-executed YA fantasy that you'll be sure to enjoy! I honestly had no idea what to expect as I read along because as soon as I thought the novel would lead one way, it would completely twist in another direction. It certainly kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out what would happen next to the characters! Danger is still lurking around the corner for Elisa and company... and I can't wait to see what will happen in Crown of Embers when it's released next year!

Thanks so much to HarperCollins Canada for providing this review copy!