In My Mailbox (66)

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 For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund
• A Hero For Wondla (Wondla #2) by Tony DiTerlizzi
• Hooked by Catherine Greenman
• Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman
• Passion (Fallen #3) by Lauren Kate
• Railsea by China Miéville
• ARC of Spark (Sky Chasers #2) by Amy Kathleen Ryan 
• The Unbearable Book Club for Unsinkable Girls by Julie Schumacher 
• ARC of Wake (Watersong #1) by Amanda Hocking

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

Gifted:

• Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows 
• Chapters/Indigo gift cards 

On Friday night, I met up with some blogger friends to chat about books as well as celebrate a belated birthday! It was so much fun! Thanks so much to Sara (Geek Girl's Book Blog) for giving me a copy of Incarnate, and to Nicole (Nicole About Town....) and Jen (Misbehavin' Librarian) for the gift cards! Also, tons of thanks to Michele (Just A Lil' Lost) and Jenn (Lost in a Great Book) for their gifts as well, which I didn't include in the picture above.    

Bought:

• The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa 

I'm a huge fan of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, so I cannot wait to see what The Immortal Rules will be like. I've only heard glowing thoughts so far!

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

And as always... Happy Reading!   

Waiting on Wednesday (94) - Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

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

Release Date: July 3, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Add to Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads): 

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved the story of Peter Pan, whether it was the Disney-type versions or J.M. Barrie's classic novel. As soon as I first heard about Tiger Lily, I instantly added it to my TBR shelf and I haven't been able to contain my excitement ever since. When I was younger, if I wasn't waiting for an owl to arrive with my invitation to attend Hogwarts, I was definitely daydreaming that Peter Pan would arrive at my window to whisk me away to Neverland...

I cannot wait to see what kind of spin Jodi Lynn Anderson will bring to the well-known tale and how she'll portray Tiger Lily's side of the story!

Book Trailer! - Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

The book trailer for Jennifer Bosworth's debut novel Struck was officially unveiled earlier today on RT Book Reviews!

I hope you enjoy watching the electrifying book trailer for Struck! With a very cinematic feel, it's probably one of the best ones I've seen in a while... and it definitely has me more interested in checking out the book!

Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR

Summary (from Goodreads):

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She's survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

In My Mailbox (65)

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 Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer
• ARC of Changeling (The Order of Darkness #1) by Philippa Gregory
• The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes To Their Younger Selves edited by Sarah Moon & James Lecesne
• Purity by Jackson Pearce 
• A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

Thanks so much to Hachette Book Group Canada, Penguin Canada, Scholastic Canada and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending these novels for review!

Bought:

• The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief #3) by Megan Whalen Turner
• Perception (Clarity #2) by Kim Harrington 

I've been waiting forever for Chapters/Indigo to get Perception into their stores, to no avail, so I remembered to just order a copy the last time I was at their store. I read it last night and absolutely loved it! It was a great sequel to Clarity. I also ordered myself a copy of The King of Attolia after really enjoying the previous two novels in the series not too long ago.

And my last exam of the semester is this Tuesday! YAY!

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

And as always... Happy Reading!

Book Trailer! - City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

The book trailer for City of Lost Souls, the fifth book in Cassandra Clare's extremely popular Mortal Instruments series, was officially unveiled on EW's Shelf Life yesterday!

I've been a fan of the Mortal Instruments series from the very beginning and City of Lost Souls is easily one of my most anticipated books of the year! The action, the romance, the angst... I love everything about these novels. I cannot wait to see what kind of torture Cassandra Clare will inflict on her characters (and readers!) in City of Lost Souls. 

Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Summary (from Goodreads):

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

Title: Illuminate (Gilded Wings #1)
Author: Aimee Agresti
Release Date: March 6, 2012 (hardcover)
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Pages: 528
Source: Copy provided by publisher

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Summary:

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit. 

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel? 

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.  

My Thoughts: 
When I first held a copy of Illuminate in my hands, the thought of reading the book suddenly became rather daunting. Over 500 pages long and a font that's rather on the small side, I knew I was going to be in for quite an adventure alongside Haven. Nevertheless, after a bit of slow start, the pacing picked up and I found myself captivated by Aimee Agresti's Illuminate.

I loved the not-so-typical approach to the paranormal that has Aimee Agresti has taken in her debut novel. The romance could have easily overshadowed the storyline, but instead, the plot stays very faithful to Haven trying to discover the dark secrets her new boss, Aurelia, is hiding at the swanky Lexington Hotel. Because when Haven and her two classmates, Lance and Dante, are selected for a prestigious internship at a hotel that has quickly risen to become the belle of Chicago's business world, she can't shake the feeling that something isn't right.

What I really liked about Haven's character is that she's not afraid to trust her instincts. When she first sees Lucian, like any girl, she's drawn to his handsome features... but she still keeps her wits about her when she attracts his attention. Even when she begins to suspect things are not all what they appear to be at the hotel, she keeps her opinions to herself and doesn't raise any suspicion. She continues to do her photography job well and tries to keep a low profile, all the while trying to find out what Aurelia is really up to. The steady friendship she forms with Lance is also a very sweet one, with a natural chemistry that left me slowly falling for him more and more as the story carried on...

The novel may draw inspiration from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, but Aimee Agresti has given her own spin to the tale in a completely original way. I'm already eagerly anticipating the next novel in the Gilded Wings series and learning more about Haven's abilities as she continues to save souls from evil. Illuminate is a perfect read for those who enjoy well-drawn out romance, glamour, and the supernatural!

Thanks so much to Thomas Allen & Son for providing this review copy! I've also included the book trailer for the novel below. Enjoy!

Waiting on Wednesday (93) - The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

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

Release Date: September 18, 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Add to Goodreads

Summary (from Goodreads): 

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

I easily consider Maggie Stiefvater among my favourite authors, so it should come as no surprise that I'm highly anticipating the release of The Raven Boys, the first novel in The Raven Cycle. I can't wait to learn more about the new paranormal world she will introduce to her readers... and I have no doubts it will be another absolutely brilliant, gorgeously written novel. If you still haven't read a novel by Maggie Stiefvater, then you are seriously missing out!

Starters by Lissa Price (& Giveaway!)

Title: Starters (Starters #1)
Author: Lissa Price
Release Date: March 13, 2012 (hardcover)
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Source: Copy provided by publisher

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Summary:

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER. 

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined....  

My Thoughts:
The cover for Lissa Price's Starters seriously freaks me out. There's something about the stark white and metallic grey cover, and the girl's unnatural eyes that makes me want to look away, only to stare right back at it again. With so many dystopian novels being unleashed onto shelves lately, I was rather weary at first about reading Starters, but its fresh concept and science fiction influence still managed to spark my curiosity!

Lissa Price has envisioned a terrifying world in her debut novel where a deadly weaponized spore has wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty... and forced Starters, young teenagers, to rent out their bodies to the wealthy seniors called Enders who wish to recapture the feeling of youth. When Callie first walks through the doors of Prime Destinations, she only has the desperate intention of getting enough money to help her younger brother Tyler, their friend Michael, and herself, lead a better life. But everything goes wrong on what should have been Callie's final time giving up her body when her chip malfunctions. Her renter, a rich Ender by the name of Mrs. Winterhill, has been looking into Prime Destinations suspicious dealings... but their plans are more sinister than anyone could have imagined.

While I really liked the premise and how it expands on modern concerns such as the lengths people would go to avoid growing older, I did think there were some inconsistencies with the storytelling. The romance came across as rather weak, and I didn't really understand why Callie would go out on a few dates with a handsome boy named Blake when she had such greater problems resting on her shoulders. While we later realize that Blake being the son of a senator plays an important factor in the novel, the relationship between Callie and him could feel so awkward at times for me.

If you're looking for a fast-paced dystopian novel which ends with a twist, then I'm sure you'll be loving Lissa Price's debut novel Starters! There may have been a few areas that could have been more fleshed out, but I can't deny the novel was quite addicting to read once I began. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this two-book series will conclude when Enders is released later in the year. Callie is not out of danger yet and there are still more questions that need to be answered. 

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

***** 

Giveaway! I have an extra finished copy of Lissa Price's Starters, so I'm going to be giving it away to a lucky follower!

• please fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter
• giveaway is INTERNATIONAL
• giveaway will end at 12:00 a.m. on May 2, 2012
• winner will be contacted by email afterwards
• do not leave your email address in the comments

Giveaway is closed.

Congratulations to Lindsay A.! 

 

Balthazar by Claudia Gray

Title: Balthazar (An Evernight Novel)
Author: Claudia Gray
Release Date: March 6, 2012 (hardcover)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 384
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

For hundreds of years, the vampire Balthazar has been alone—without allies, without love.

When Balthazar agrees to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, he has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s newfound psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel, seductive master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Now Redgrave plans to use Skye’s powers for his own evil purposes.

Balthazar will do whatever it takes to stop Redgrave and exact his long-awaited revenge against his killer. As Skye and Balthazar stand together to fight him, they grow closer—first unwillingly, then undeniably. Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by her. . . .

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart. 

My Thoughts:
Throughout the entire Evernight series, Balthazar always remained as one of my favourite characters. In the beginning, I had this wish that Balthazar and Bianca would be together, but when it became clear that it would always be Lucas, my heart completely went out to him because he deserved someone who loved him back. So when I learned there would be a spin-off novel which centered around him, I was pretty excited!

If you recall the events in Afterlife, you may be able to remember that it was through Skye's brave actions in allowing Bianca, a wraith, to possess her body which helped Bianca to escape the school. However, in Balthazar, we learn that it has given Skye the ability to see ghosts and their last haunting moments in life. Still adjusting to her new powers and dealing with trying to return to a new normal life in her hometown, Skye unwittingly catches the attention of an old, powerful vampire named Redgrave. And when Balthazar arrives in town, offering his protection and waiting for the opportune moment to finally exact his revenge on his sire, the circumstances bring Skye and himself closer than they ever would have imagined.

Honestly, I never really thought much of Skye in the Evernight novels because she was such a minor character in them. She may have been more of an afterthought before, but in Balthazar, she enters into the spotlight wholeheartedly and takes on a much larger role. Her older brother died in an accident a year ago and since then, she's been relatively on her own as her parents are often away working overtime in their grief. Balthazar understands what it's like to lose someone you love, and in his presence, there are no pretenses she has to keep up, so Skye feels safe to be herself around him.

It wasn't until I began reading the novel that I realized there was still so much we didn't know about Balthazar. He's a very private, centuries-old vampire who wouldn't hesitate to act with chivalry, but his heart-breaking past and complicated relationship with his younger sister Charity has always been kept to the bare essentials. I've always had this sort of perfect image of him before, but with the chance to see events from his perspective, you see how Balthazar's memories of his past continue to torment and weigh him down with guilt in the present.

I would have liked to have seen more of the details of Skye's abilities worked out, but overall, I was more than satisfied with this companion novel to the Evernight series! Claudia Gray has balanced just the right amount of action, romance, and intrigue to make this a novel that's incredibly difficult to set down once you begin. If you're a fan of the Evernight series, Balthazar is definitely a must-read!

Thanks so much to HarperCollins Canada for providing this review copy! To learn more about Balthazar, you can find more information about the book on HarperCollins Canada's website, "like" their Facebook page, and visit The Savvy Reader!
 
 

In My Mailbox (64)

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.

The past two weeks, I've gotten...

Received for Review:

• ARC of Bitterblue (Graceling Realm #3) by Kristin Cashore
• The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks
• ARC of The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead
• Here Comes Hortense! by Heather Hartt-Sussman
• The Last Song by Eva Wiseman
• ARC of The Opposite of Tidy by Carrie Mac
• The Warlock (The Secret of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #5) by Michael Scott
• Welcome to Bordertown edited by Holly Black and Ellen Kushner

Thanks so much to Penguin Canada, Random House Canada and Tundra Books for sending these novels for review!  I was seriously freaking out in a totally excited fan-girl way when I got The Golden Lily! I couldn't resist the temptation of reading it right away and now I already wish I could read book three... If you're a fan of the Bloodlines series, you're going to love the book for sure!

Received from Random House Canada's YA Blogger Event:

• ARC of Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein 
• The Dragon Turn (The Boy Sherlock Holmes #5) by Shane Peacock (signed!)
• The Green Man by Michael Bedard
• Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne (signed!)
• The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters (signed!)
• a Bookurious book bag

On Wednesday night (April 11), I was invited to attend Random House Canada's YA Blogger Event and had an absolutely fantastic time! Authors Shane Peacock, John Boyne, Teresa Toten and Eric Walters were the surprise author guests of the night, and they talked to us about their books before later signing some of the them. Thanks again Random House Canada! 

Gifted/Other:

• ARC of Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood
• swag from Kelley Armstrong signing (read my recap of the event and enter to win a signed copy of The Calling)
• pretty bookmarks with flowers and birds

Nicole from Nicole About Town... gave me her ARC of Born Wicked, which was just so sweet of her! I didn't have a copy before but I had been looking forward to reading it. Thanks Nicole! My best friend also got me a couple bookmarks for my birthday (it was on April 4th) and they're really pretty! Kelley Armstrong was also giving swag to those who attended her signing at Indigo Yorkdale last weekend, so I got a Rafe button, two postcards and some bookmarks! 

Bought:

• Blood on the Bayou (Annabelle Lee #2) by Stacey Jay 
• The List by Siobhan Vivian
• Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg (read my review of the ARC) 

The List and Take A Bow are technically my sister's new books, but I'm including them anyways because we tend to share our books with each other. I surprisingly received an ARC of Take A Bow not long ago and read it right away. I absolutely loved it! If you love reading contemporary YA novels, then you MUST check this one out. 

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

And as always... Happy Reading! 

Black Heart by Holly Black

Title: Black Heart (Curse Workers #3)
Author: Holly Black
Release Date: April 3, 2012 (hardcover)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 304
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.  

My Thoughts:
When White Cat was first released, I didn't jump at the first chance to read it. It wasn't until Red Glove was soon coming out that I finally began reading the novels... and realized I'd made a huge mistake by not getting to them sooner! I've fallen completely in love with the Curse Workers series and if you're still hesitant to read them, I can only hope you take my advice and give them a try!

I don't think I could choose a particular favourite novel within the series because each of the books have just been so equally well-written and engaging, but I'm quite sure I finished reading Black Heart the fastest. With the Feds trying to get Cassel to join their side and Lila now a member of her father's crime syndicate, Cassel is caught between two opposing worlds. The stakes are higher than ever before for Cassel as he tries to do the right thing, even though he's not all too sure what "right" really is anymore.

I was anxious when I reached the final pages of Black Heart, partly because I didn't want to the book to ever end, and also since I still had no idea to expect! Just like the previous novels in the series, Black Heart kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading. Holly Black knows exactly how to keep readers enough in the dark that the suspense never fades away, throwing in twists and turns that keep your mind sharp as you try to figure out what's going to happen next. And once again, I was amazed by how all the little details fall into place to help solve Cassel's problems.

You definitely won't be able to easily find another series like the Curse Workers one. Holly Black's clever writing style shines through her characters and gives the entire trilogy a completely original feel. While the ending of the book leaves the doors open for a possible return to the dark world of curse workers in the future, there's no denying that Black Heart is an absolutely fantastic finish to the trilogy.

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing this review copy! If you missed it before, you can read my Q&A with Holly Black on the the Canadian Blog Tour for Black Heart. You can also read my reviews of White Cat and Red Glove.

Book Trailer! - Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Wendy Higgins unveiled the book trailer for her debut novel, Sweet Evil, this afternoon through Twitter!

I'm really excited to get my hands on a finished copy of Sweet Evil! The writing and storyline is pure addiction, and you'll be crushing on Kaidan Rowe in no time at all. If you're a fan of the supernatural and angels, then you definitely have to read this book once it's released!

I hope you enjoy watching the book trailer! It was kind of weird hearing the narrator have a Southern accent because while I was reading the book, Anna didn't really have one in my head... 

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary (from HarperTeen):

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

 

Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

Title: Take A Bow
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Release Date: April 1, 2012 (hardcover)
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Pages: 288
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

Chasing Fame.

Chasing Love.
Chasing a Future.

EMME has long lived in her best friend Sophie's shadow. She writes songs, and Sophie sings them. It's always been like this, and feels like it always will be.

SOPHIE will stop at nothing to be a star. Even if it means using her best friend and picking up a trophy boyfriend, Carter.

CARTER is a victim of a particular Hollywood curse: He's a former child star. Now all he wants is a normal life. But being normal is about as hard for him as being famous.

ETHAN has his own issues -- a darkness in his head that he just can't shake. He's managed to sabotage every relationship he's even been in. Emme's the only girl he's ever really respected... but he's not sure what to do about that.

Emme, Sophie, Carter, and Ethan are all students at a performing arts high school, where talent is the normal and fame is the goal. But sometimes, being in the spotlight isn't as important as the people you're sharing it with -- as the four of them are going to find out in Take a Bow, which is about the auditions life puts us through every day, both big and small. 

My Thoughts: 
Elizabeth Eulberg's Take A Bow has instantly become a new favourite novel of mine to read... especially when I'm in the mood for a contemporary tale filled with moments of self-discovery, good friends and a dash of romance to sweeten the deal. I literally have to tear my eyes away from its absolutely gorgeous cover to stop myself from admiring it for too long as well! 

To be honest, a tiny part of me did worry that all of the characters would be selfish and self-centered snobs in pursuit of their dreams at their performance arts high school... but I quickly breathed a sigh of relief within the first few pages. Take A Bow is truly a story about friendships, and how a competitive environment can shape and mold them for better or worse. There are the friends who will let you down, those who will surprise you, the supportive kind who will always have your back... and the friends you just have to let go and walk away from at the end of the day.

The story switches between the perspectives of four characters – Emme, Ethan, Carter and Sophie – and follows through their senior year as they feel the pressure of performing at their Senior Showcase recital and applying to colleges to continue reaching their dreams in the show business. It could have been confusing with this many perspectives, but with Elizabeth Eulberg's extraordinary storytelling, it completely worked for the novel and I wouldn't have imagined it any other way. While I did think Emme and Ethan had the strongest storylines (and I rooted for them to be together from the very start!), nonetheless, all of the major and minor characters played an essential part in bringing the novel to life.

I had a feeling I would love Take A Bow because I've definitely enjoyed reading Eulberg's previous two novels, yet I still wasn't prepared to be so completely blown away. It's a book with a lot of heart and emotional times that will leave readers laughing, frustrated and hopeful along with the characters. And when I reached the final pages, I found myself wishing the story wouldn't end because I wanted to keep following the characters into the next chapter of their lives. A standing ovation is in order for Elizabeth Eulberg's best novel yet!  

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

Waiting on Wednesday (92) - Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

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

 

Release Date: May 22, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

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Summary (from author's website):  

I don’t do dangerous.

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha – that’s me. But I just couldn’t pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me – something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It’s like part of me is missing – and I don’t know if I can get it back. 

Then there’s Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he’s keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he’s what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me. 

I'm really excited for the release of Dark Kiss, the first novel in the Nightwatchers series by Canadian author Michelle Rowen! I enjoyed reading her two Demon Princess novels, but if the gorgeous cover of Dark Kiss is any indication, her new series will have a much darker feel. I cannot wait to discover this new world of angels and demons that Michelle Rowen has created!

Book Trailer! - The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Kimberly Derting unveiled the book trailer for The Last Echo, the third novel in the Body Finder series, on her blog yesterday!

For some reason, the title keeps throwing me off because it makes me think it's the last book in the series, when I know that's not true. In any case, my sister and I are both very eager to see what's going to happen in The Last Echo! I hope you enjoy watching the chilling book trailer.

Release Date: April 17, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins

Summary (from HarperTeen):

In the end, all that's left is an Echo.

Before, Violet's morbid ability to sense the dead led her to uncover dark murders and long-buried secrets in her small town. Now that she's working with a special investigative team, Violet hopes she can help even more people—whether by saving a life or catching a killer.

Although she's relieved to finally be honest about what she can do, her instant connection with her mysterious partner, Rafe, is both confusing and unsettling, and their unique bond creates tension with her boyfriend, Jay. When she discovers the body of a college student murdered by "the collector," Violet refuses to give up on the case. With her own relationship on the line, Violet doesn't realize that the serial killer is looking to add to his collection and that she may have caught his eye. Will the life Violet has to save be her own?

 

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Calling (Darkness Rising #2)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Release Date: April 10, 2012 (hardcover)
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Pages: 336
Source: Copy provided by publisher

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

On the heels of the wildly popular The Gathering comes the second in the "Darkness Rising" YA trilogy from NYT bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is--a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now, Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.  

My Thoughts:
After I finished reading The Gathering, I had no doubts that the continuation in the Darkness Rising series would only get better from there... and I was right! Picking up directly where the cliffhanger ending left off on previously, Kelley Armstrong doesn't miss a beat as she torments her characters and pushes them to their limits. 

Maya's courage and leadership has never shined more bright than in this book! She's only just beginning to discover her true potential as a skin-walker, but there are still so many answers she wishes to seek about her heritage. And she's not the only with special abilities – the St. Cloud Corporation has made sure of that. Maya, Sam and Daniel have their suspicions, but with their kidnappers in hot pursuit trying to capture them again, it's going to take all their wits and skills to outrun them. Differences will have to be set aside, and all of the friends will have to work together if they wish to survive and make it out of the wilderness of Vancouver Island.

If you felt The Gathering was rather on the slow side, there's definitely no way you'll be feeling the same way about The Calling. The entire novel was filled with action, suspense, and tons of exciting moments which left you holding your breath. Once I began reading, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages until I finished a few hours later! And, okay, I'm firmly Team Daniel now! I was so proud of the way Maya and Daniel firmly supported each other and took charge in this book to help lead the others.

Kelley Armstrong's The Calling is a pure adrenaline rush that doesn't stop for a breather until the very end! With several allusions to events from the Darkest Powers series throughout the book, I have a very good feeling we'll be seeing characters from both of the series finally meeting in book three. And hopefully, they'll be joining forces! I cannot wait to see what will happen in The Rising!

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

Kelley Armstrong Signing in Toronto & Giveaway!

On Saturday afternoon (April 7), I was able to attend Kelley Armstrong's signing in Toronto at Indigo Yorkdale while she promoted the release of The Calling, the second novel in the Darkness Rising series! I attended her book signing last year for The Gathering, so it was really great having the opportunity to see her once again!

The event didn't start until 2:00 p.m. but I arrived at the bookstore around 11:30 a.m. to see plenty of people already in line for the event, to my surprise! It was a really busy event last year, so I think some of Kelley's more dedicated fans arrived earlier to get a good spot. We found out later that some people had been waiting since the store first opened!

And you know what makes a really long wait so much faster? Getting to spend the time chatting with a fellow book blogger! For the majority of the wait, my sister and I were talking to Angel from Mermaid Vision Books, a fellow Ontario Blog Squad member, talking about our love for Lauren Oliver's Delirium novels, Marissa Meyer's Cinder, and more! And when the DJ started playing songs by One Direction, Carly Rae Jepsen and... okay... Justin Bieber, we just had to sing along as well. It was fun! We also spotted Wendy from A Cupcake and a Latte ahead of us in line too!

Steadily, the line grew longer and longer with tons of fans, and soon enough, the music died down and Kelley Armstrong appeared onstage a little earlier than expected, greeted by everyone's enthusiastic applause! Normally, she would have begun with a reading, but she didn't this time because the beginning of The Calling has spoilers for those who still haven't read The Gathering. Instead, she jumped right ahead to the Q&A and gave away some prizes (USB bracelets, books, a poster, etc.) to those who asked questions.

Before writing YA novels, Kelley Armstrong was already well-known for her adult novels, which includes her Women of the Underworld series. (The final novel, Thirteen, will be released in July, 2012.) However, she decided to write YA books as well because her daughter wanted to read her books but she was too young at the time for the subject matter in Kelley's adult novels.

We learned that Kelley's first YA novels, the Darkest Powers series, were originally going to be set in Toronto, instead of Buffalo. However, the publisher felt that it would be better to set the novels in the U.S. because there are more American readers who read her novels. (The U.S. has a much larger population than Canada, and therefore, a larger readership.) Thanks to the great success of those novels though, when the time came to choose the setting for the Darkness Rising series, Kelley was able to center the events on Vancouver Island. Plus, the area is well known for having tons of bobcats.

And if you're a fan of Chloe and Derek from the Darkest Powers series, they will be appearing in The Rising, the final novel in the Darkness Rising trilogy! I was absolutely thrilled to hear the news and I'm hoping some more characters, like Simon, will also be appearing too! Kelley Armstrong also spoke about her writing process when the subject of writer's block came up too. She told us that she usually has an outline of what she'll write, but that it doesn't necessarily mean she'll stick to it. She usually knows what's going to happen, but when she has difficulty connecting the dots, she puts it aside and does mundane things, like folding the laundry, before approaching it once again.

After the Q&A finished, the book signing began! As I got closer and closer to the front, one of the staff members took some pictures, so if you visit Indigo Yorkdale's facebook page, you'll be able to easily spot me in one of them. When it was my turn to get my books signed, I just had to quickly gush to her how I loved the ending of The Calling and how it was less of a cliff-hanger than the first book. It was nice to hear from her that knowing what note to end a book on isn't always easy!

Thanks so much to Kelley Armstrong for meeting all her fans at Indigo Yorkdale! I had a fun time at the event... and it was so sweet of Random House Canada and Chapters/Indigo to host it! 

*****

Giveaway! I'm giving away one signed copy of Kelley Armstrong's The Calling to a lucky follower!

• please fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter
• giveaway is INTERNATIONAL
• giveaway will end at 12:00 a.m. on April 25, 2012
• winner will be contacted by email afterwards
• do not leave your email address in the comments 

Giveaway is closed.

Congratulations to Alex! 

Spotted! Cover of Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

The book cover for Alice in Zombieland, the first novel in the White Rabbit Chronicles, was revealed today on Harlequin Teen's facebook page!

Release Date: September 25, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

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Summary (from author's website): 

She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever. 

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would changed course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that's all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone. 

Her father was right. The monsters are real. 

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.

I'm seriously in love with this gorgeous cover! I love how it captures the whimsical feel of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland with Alice in her trademark blue dress and the detailing that forms a frame around her. The darker tone they've added to the background gives it such a perfect touch and goes along well with the thought that Alice will be fighting against zombies!

I can't wait to read Gena Showalter's Alice in Zombieland! What about you? 

Book Trailer! - The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze

The book trailer for The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze was recently posted a few days ago on the Poppy facebook page!

I received an advanced copy of this book not too long ago, and what first interested me in wanting to read The Last Princess was the combination of a near-future apocalyptic event with the British monarchy in danger. It seemed thrilling to read!

I'm curious to see what you think about the book trailer and your general impression about the book. The trailer isn't too long, but I think it really gets it point across well to potential readers.  

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Poppy

Summary (from Goodreads):

Happily ever after is a thing of the past.

A series of natural disasters has decimated the earth. Cut off from the rest of the world, England is a dark place. The sun rarely shines, food is scarce, and groups of criminals roam the woods, searching for prey. The people are growing restless.

When a ruthless revolutionary sets out to overthrow the crown, he makes the royal family his first target. Blood is shed in Buckingham Palace, and only sixteen-year-old Princess Eliza manages to escape.

Determined to kill the man who destroyed her family, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. She has nothing left to live for but revenge, until she meets someone who helps her remember how to hope—and to love—once more. Now she must risk everything to ensure that she not become... The Last Princess.