From Book to Hooked

Teaser Tuesday (March 13)

2012-03-13T15:54:00.000-04:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser:

"His hair was still wet, and he was in a black long-sleeved T-shirt and tattered blue jeans. His feet were bare. Casual. Comfortable. Gorgeous."

~pg. 111, "Shattered Souls" by Mary Lindsey

What's your teaser?

Booking Through Thursday: Blogs

2012-02-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

Booking Through Thursday is hosted by Deb. Click the picture above to visit the Booking Through Thursday site.

A while ago, I interviewed my readers for a change, and my final question was, “What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask?” I got some great responses and will be picking out some of the questions from time to time to ask the rest of you. Like now.Yvonne asks:

What do you look for when reading a book blog? Does the blogger have to read the same genre? Do you like reviews? Personal posts? Memes? Giveaways? What attracts you to a book blog?

And–what are your favorite book blogs?

When reading a book blog, I normally look for a combination of things. If I stumble across a blog, either by way of a meme or another blog, I will normally look first to see if the blogger reads the same kind of books I read. Sometimes I'll look for specific books/ series and other times I'll look for similar genres. I'll also look to see how the blogger reviews. That's normally it.

My favorite blogs... Well, I love The YA Sisterhood, Fiktshun, and Brooke Reports, to name a few, but you can pretty much guarantee I love every blog over in the side bar.

What about you? What do you look for in a blog?

Booking Through Thursday: Fan Fiction

2012-02-16T17:24:00.001-05:00

Booking Through Thursday is hosted by Deb. Click the picture above to visit the Booking Through Thursday site.

A while ago, I interviewed my readers for a change, and my final question was, “What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask?” I got some great responses and will be picking out some of the questions from time to time to ask the rest of you. Like now.

Pepca asks

Have you every written any fan-fiction? If yes, why and for which book(s)? If no, would you like to and for which books(s)?

For that matter, do you ever READ fan-fiction??

Why, yes, I have written fan-fiction. I only wrote one story, though. It was for the Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong. Now most of my writing is my own ideas.

Do I ever read fan-fiction? Yes, mostly between books in a series or after the last book in one. That's when I'm missing the characters and the world the most.

What about you? Do you write fan-fiction? Read it?

WWW Wednesday (February 15)

2012-02-15T16:54:00.000-05:00

WWW Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

My Answers:

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa. I've got to say it might take me a while to finish this one. I'm savoring every bit of it. ;)

What did you recently finish reading? The last book I finished reading was Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa. It is the novella that occurs after The Iron Queen.

What do you think you'll read next? Next I will be reading Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick.

I'd love it if you shared you WWW Wednesday post with me, too!

Teaser Tuesday (February 14)

2012-02-14T17:18:00.001-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser in honor of Valentine's Day:

"She trailed her fingers over my bare chest, and I shivered, almost frightened by how much I loved this girl."

~pg. 288, "The Iron Knight" by Julie Kagawa

What's your teaser?

Booking Through Thursday On Friday

2012-02-10T18:37:00.001-05:00

Booking Through Thursday is hosted by Deb. Click the picture above to visit the Booking Through Thursday site.

shelovestoread asks:
If you had to pick only 5 books to read ever again, what would they be and why?’
(Such a cruel question!)

Well, first I'd like to point out that I probably wouldn't survive on only five books for the rest of my life. Is it cheating to use a whole series as one book? Let's pretend it's not...

The Soul Screamers Series by Rachel Vincent

The Darkest Powers Series by Kelley Armstrong

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

What about you? What books... or series... would you read?

Teaser Tuesday (February 7)

2012-02-07T18:26:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teasers:

"Stairs. [...] I swear there must be like some secret code. All mysterious ancient temples must have a minimum of at least seven thousand steps to the front door."

~pg. 187, "The Iron Knight" by Julie Kagawa

What's your teaser?

Cover Crazy: City of Lost Souls

2012-02-06T19:19:00.004-05:00

Cover Crazy is a weekly meme hosted by The Book Worms.

Here is how Cover Crazy works:

Cover Crazy will be posted on Mondays.
Each week I will show a cover that I am completely crazy about.
The point of this meme is to admire the art and beauty of a book’s design, but I will also provide a synopsis along with the title, author, and of course cover picture and what I like about it.
In the comments section below, please feel free to share your thoughts, feelings, inspirations, etc. about the cover (but be respectful about it).
If you decide to start your own Cover Crazy, please give credit to The Book Worms.

My cover this week is:

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

While this cover is a break in consistency, I can't say I'm really complaining. I don't mind seeing their faces. This cover is very romantic, yet at the same time, dark and dangerous. I love the way the sky looks. I think it really adds to the atmosphere of the book. Also, I kind of love their runes.

SYNOPSIS VIA BARNES & NOBLE

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

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

What are your thoughts on this cover?

WWW Wednesday (February 1)

2012-02-01T16:45:00.001-05:00

WWW Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

My Answers:

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa. I am pretty close to being finished!

What did you recently finish reading? The last book I finished reading was The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa. I love this series!

What do you think you'll read next? Next I will be reading The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa. I am very excited for Ash and Meghan to get their happy ending!

I'd love it if you shared you WWW Wednesday post with me, too!

Teaser Tuesday (January 31)

2012-01-31T16:11:00.002-05:00

Wow. I am a terrible blogger. I apoligize for yet another unexplained absense from my poor, abused blog. I finished midterms early last week, and there is a completely logical explanation as to why I have not posted anything since midterms ended... Ok, not really. I don't know what happened, actually, so there is no excuse. However, I am currently in the process of putting together some more book reviews. I am considering doing a combined review for the four books in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa since I've almost read all of them now. Any suggestions?

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teasers:

"Really? How would you prepare for me tossing you into a lake?"

~pg. 138, "The Iron Queen"

"You enjoy making my heart stop, don't you?"

~pg. 178, "The Iron Queen"

What's your teaser?

WWW Wednesday (January 4)

2012-01-04T19:01:00.000-05:00

WWW Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

My Answers:

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. One of my favorite series by far.

What did you recently finish reading? The last book I finished reading was Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Yay for the first book I read in 2012!

What do you think you'll read next? Next I will be reading The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa. I am very eager to see where the series goes!

I'd love it if you shared you WWW Wednesday post with me, too!

Book Report: January

2012-01-04T08:30:00.003-05:00

I'm going to share with you the books releasing this month that I can't wait for. I'll be including the title, author, release date (for the U.S.), links for pre-order, the publisher, series name, my thoughts, and the synopsis. So, let's get into it.

UPDATE: Out Now!

Blood Red Road by Moira Young will be released in the U.S. on January 3, 2012, in paperback. It is available for order online in all forms on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Published by Margaret K. McElderry, the print format has 464 pages.

Blood Red Road is the first installment in the Dust Lands series by Moira Young.

I've become very addicted to dystopian since reading The Hunger Games back in September. Blood Red Road is another book I've been told is amazing. After almost picking it up several times, it is now out in paperback, so I'm really excited to read this great release.

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives bearing four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on a quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

UPDATE: Out Now!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer will be released in the U.S. on January 3, 2012, in hardcover and eBook formats. It is available for order online in both formats on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Published by Feiwel & Friends, the print edition has 387 pages.

Cinder is the first installment in the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer.

Cinderella and dystopian in one? Count me in. This looks like an amazing start to an amazing new series, and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

UPDATE: Out Now!

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand will be released in the U.S. on January 17, 2012, in hardcover and eBook formats. It is available for order online in both formats on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Published by Harper Collins, the print edition has 416 pages.

Hallowed is the second installment in the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand.

I loved Unearthly, the first installment in this fantastic series, and it sounds like Clara's problems were just beginning. I'm definitely looking forward to this one!

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

UPDATE: Out Now!

Destiny and Deception by Shannon Delany will be released in the U.S. on January 31, 2012, in paperback. It is available for order pre-order online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Published by St. Martin's Griffin, the print edition has 356 pages.

Destiny and Deception is the fourth installment in the 13 to Life series by Shannon Delany.

This is a series that I've been reading since it first came out. While I haven't had a chance to read the third book yet, I will still anxiously be awaiting this release.

The sensational fourth novel in the 13 to Life series sees Jessica and the Rusakuvas fighting to overcome one of their biggest challenges yet--the possibility of a cure for lycanthropy. With the threat of the mafia seemingly gone and the company's headquarters in Junction destroyed, Pietr Rusakova is adjusting to being a normal teen and Jess is realizing normalcy may not be what she wanted after all. But both Jess and Cat know the truth--that normal can't be taken for granted. Their precious cure isn't permanent--and when a new danger stalks into their small town, Alexi decides he must overcome his issues with the mother who abandoned him to be raised by wolves and make a brand new deal to save his adopted family.

UPDATE: Out Now!

The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestly will be released in the U.S. on January 31, 2012, in hardcover and e-Book formats. It is available for order pre-order online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Published by Bloomsbury, the print edition has 224 pages.

Honestly, this story just sounds amazing. I've already heard quite a bit about it, and I am beyond excited to see if it lives up to the hype.

Michael Vyner recalls a terrible story, one that happened to him. One that would be unbelievable if it weren't true! Michael's parents are dead and he imagines that he will stay with the kindly lawyer, executor of his parents' will ...Until he is invited to spend Christmas with his guardian in a large and desolate country house. His arrival on the first night suggests something is not quite right when he sees a woman out in the frozen mists, standing alone in the marshes. But little can prepare him for the solitude of the house itself as he is kept from his guardian and finds himself spending the Christmas holiday wandering the silent corridors of the house seeking distraction. But lonely doesn't mean alone, as Michael soon realises that the house and its grounds harbour many secrets, dead and alive, and Michael is set the task of unravelling some of the darkest secrets of all. This is a nail-biting story of hauntings and terror by the master of the genre, Chris Priestley.

Return to Blogdom and a COVER CRAZY

2012-01-02T19:21:00.002-05:00

Well, hello! I think I have officially returned to Blogdom. Now, that's not to say that I'll have all of my posts up on time, but here's hoping. I saw this cover over break and thought "What a great way to celebrate the new year!" So, without further ado, let's start off an excellent 2012 with an excellent cover!

Cover Crazy is a weekly meme hosted by The Book Worms.

Here is how Cover Crazy works:

Cover Crazy will be posted on Mondays.
Each week I will show a cover that I am completely crazy about.
The point of this meme is to admire the art and beauty of a book’s design, but I will also provide a synopsis along with the title, author, and of course cover picture and what I like about it.
In the comments section below, please feel free to share your thoughts, feelings, inspirations, etc. about the cover (but be respectful about it).
If you decide to start your own Cover Crazy, please give credit to The Book Worms.

My cover this week is:

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

In my opinion, the Soul Screamer's series has had pretty amazing covers, and this one just might be my favorite. I love the pink. I think it's a lovely contrast with the black background. It's very bright, which makes it stand out among the others of the series. The font is different as well. Also, I think, given the events of the last book, having Kaylee alone on the cover is an excellent idea.

SYNOPSIS NOT AVAILABLE

What are your thoughts on this cover?

WWW Wednesday (December 14)

2011-12-14T18:22:00.001-05:00

WWW Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

My Answers:

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading Ruined by Paula Morris. It's a little slow right now, but then again I'm only on page 28...

What did you recently finish reading? The last book I finished reading was Legend by Marie Lu. So. FREAKING. AMAZING. Go read it. Seriously.

What do you think you'll read next? Next I think I will be reading Gone by Michael Grant. But I've been saying that for a while now. So...

I'd love it if you shared you WWW Wednesday post with me, too!

Teaser Tuesday (December 13)

2011-12-13T18:52:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser:

"The names of the first two corpses interred in the vault that terrible August are carved onto the tomb's roll call of the dead. The name of the third corpse is not. Only the men who placed the body inside the tomb know of its existence."

~pg. 2, "Ruined" by Paula Morris

What's your teaser?

Cover Crazy: As Dead As It Gets

2011-12-12T18:35:00.002-05:00

Hello, hiatus. I'm really sorry for being so MIA this month. I think it's safe to declare this month as one of few posts. I'm trying to get some posts out, but the most I can do are a few here and there. December is just too busy. At this point I don't think there's a point in posting December's Book Report because a majority of the books in the post already came out. Again, I'm sorry. I'll work on getting some more posts up, but until then, on to Cover Crazy!

Cover Crazy is a weekly meme hosted by The Book Worms.

Here is how Cover Crazy works:

Cover Crazy will be posted on Mondays.
Each week I will show a cover that I am completely crazy about.
The point of this meme is to admire the art and beauty of a book’s design, but I will also provide a synopsis along with the title, author, and of course cover picture and what I like about it.
In the comments section below, please feel free to share your thoughts, feelings, inspirations, etc. about the cover (but be respectful about it).
If you decide to start your own Cover Crazy, please give credit to The Book Worms.

My cover this week is:

As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender

Yay for ghost stories! I absolutely love how creepy this cover is. As the series has gone on, the covers have gotten creepier and creepier. I love the tie in this cover has with the storyline, which is fantastic. If I had to pick something I love most about this cover, I think it would be the yellow roses.

SYNOPSIS VIA GOODREADS

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.

What are your thoughts on this cover?

Teaser Tuesday (December 6)

2011-12-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

Wow, I'm behind on posts. I have had a lot of homework lately, but I'm trying. With small windows of spare time, I've been working on the Book Report for December. It's almost done, so I should have it up soon... Ignore the fact that it's already December 6. Now, onto Teaser Tuesday!

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser:

"I have one more block. I can't hold on any longer. I find a dark spot in the alley and collapse. The last thing I see is the silhouette of a girl off in the distance. Maybe she's walking toward me. I curl up and begin to fade away."

~pg. 34, "Legend" by Marie Lu

What's your teaser?

YA Sisterhood's Heroine Tourney

2011-11-30T17:44:00.007-05:00

Hi, all! I thought I would do something different today. Instead of the usual WWW Wednesday post, I wanted to say something about the:

That's right, after the very successful Crush Tourney over the summer, our favorite heroines are taking the stage. While I'm not an advocate for any of the girls, I will be showing support for my favorite heroines. There are some heroines I haven't yet met, but I suspect this tourney will be even more cut-throat than the Crush Tourney. I mean, look at these awesome competitors and their amazing advocates!

Clary, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare: Valerie @ Stuck In Books

Katniss, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: Penelope @ Reading Fever

Tessa, Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare: Avery @ Avery's Book Nook

Hermione, Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling: Jen @ Unedited

Tris, Divergent Veronica Roth: Julie @ My 5 Monkeys

Izzy, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare: Amanda @ Letters Inside Out

Rose, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead: Jaime and Patricia @ Two Chicks on Books

Meghan, The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa: Anna @ The Bursting Bookshelf

Annabeth, Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan: Krazzyme @ Young Readers

Nora, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick: Kristen @ Strawberry Splash Reviews

Mara, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: Casey @ The Bookish Type

Bella, The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer: Amy J. @ My Overstuffed Bookshelf

Katsa, Graceling by Kristin Cashore: Amber and Stacey @ Pageturners

Aura, Shade by Jeri-Smith Ready: Brooke @ Brooke Reports

Luna, Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling: Cassi @ The Galavanting Girl Scout

Juliette, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: Brenna @ Esther's Ever After

Cammie, Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter: Jen @ Almost Grown Up

Sophie, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins: Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads

Kaylee, Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent: Rachel @ Fiktshun

Emerson, Hourglass by Myra McEntire: Amanda @ Book Love 101

Janie, Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning: Heather @ SupaGurl Books

Karou, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Enna @ Squeaky Books

Alex, Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout: Momo @ Books Over Boys

Kat, Heist Society by Ally Carter: Amy D. @ Bookgoonie

Max, Maximum Ride by James Patterson: Gabbi @ Book Breather

Clara, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand: Amanda @ Stuck in YA Books

Calla, Nightshade by Andrea Cremer: Becky @ Bibliognome

Bryn, Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Emilie @ Emilie's Book World

Claire, Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine: Amber @ Awesome Sauce Book Club

Luce, Fallen by Lauren Kate: Moirae (the fates) Book Reviews

Fire, Fire by Kristin Cashore: Grace @ Words Like Silver

Kate, Die for Me by Amy Plum: Carli B. @ Emberchyld

I'm excited! The tourney will start at 12:01 a.m. EST on December 1st! You can visit The YA-Sisterhood blog for more information about the tourney, and if you want to see who I'm supporting, you can check out the side bar to the right. Now, I will leave you with the tournament bracket.

You can click to make it bigger:

Cover Crazy: Girl of Nightmares

2011-11-28T14:15:00.003-05:00

Cover Crazy is a weekly meme hosted by The Book Worms.

Here is how Cover Crazy works:

Cover Crazy will be posted on Mondays.
Each week I will show a cover that I am completely crazy about.
The point of this meme is to admire the art and beauty of a book’s design, but I will also provide a synopsis along with the title, author, and of course cover picture and what I like about it.
In the comments section below, please feel free to share your thoughts, feelings, inspirations, etc. about the cover (but be respectful about it).
If you decide to start your own Cover Crazy, please give credit to The Book Worms.

My cover this week is:

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

I am speechless... I saw this cover on another blog, and I just had to use it as my cover crazy for this week. I have yet to read Anna Dressed in Blood, the first in the series, but I am so curious to know what happens. I am especially curious seeing how parallel this cover is to that of the first one.

SYNOPSIS VIA GOODREADS

In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

What are your thoughts on this cover?

On My Wishlist (November 25)

2011-11-25T10:41:00.002-05:00

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City. But I deviated a little from the way it's done over there. I will post, every Friday, one to three (because I have to give myself a limit) books that I'd love to get my hands on. They can be old, new, or forthcoming releases.

Click here for previous "On My Wishlist" posts.

My Wishlist:

Never to Sleep: A Soul Screamers Novella by Rachel Vincent

SYNOPSIS VIA GOODREADS

Don’t Close Your Eyes.

Sophie Cavanaugh is not going to let her freak of a cousin’s strange psychiatric condition ruin high school for them both. Not after all the work she’s put into cultivating the right look, and friends, and reputation. But then Sophie sees something so frightening she lets out a blood-curdling scream—and finds herself stuck in a bizarre parallel world where nothing is safe and deadly creatures lurk just out of sight, waiting for her to close her eyes and sleep…forever.

Could this world be real? Or does insanity run in the family…?

As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender

SYNOPSIS VIA GOODREADS

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.

Not even in her worst nightmares.

What do you think of these books?

Booking Through Thursday: Thankful

2011-11-24T11:16:00.000-05:00

Booking Through Thursday is hosted by Deb. Click the picture above to visit the Booking Through Thursday site.

What book or author are you most thankful to have discovered?
Have you read everything they’ve written? Reread them?
Why do you appreciate them so much?

There are quite a few authors I am thankful to have discovered. I don't think I can narrow it down to one author or one book.

First of all, I'm thankful for discovering all of my favorite authors. I'm thankful for Rachel Vincent, Kelley Armstrong, Suzanne Collins, and many more.

I'm also really thankful for discovering Mary Downing Hahn. She's one of the first authors to make me love paranormal fiction. Her writing and her stories made me fall in love with ghost stories that now overpopulate my book shelf.

In general, I'm thankful to every author I've read whose writing has encouraged me, inspired me, and/ or kept me company. I wish I could name every author who has done this, but that would take a very long time.

So, to end this post, I'd like to wish all of you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope you all have a wonderful day and that you have someone or something to be thankful for.

WWW Wednesday (November 23)

2011-11-23T21:13:00.001-05:00

WWW Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

My Answers:

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading Supernaturally by Kiersten White. My only comment at this moment: Lend is not in it enough.

What did you recently finish reading? The last book I finished reading was I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder.

What do you think you'll read next? Next I think I will be reading Gone by Michael Grant.

I'd love it if you shared you WWW Wednesday post with me, too!

Cover Crazy: For Darkness Shows the Stars

2011-11-21T18:13:00.001-05:00

Cover Crazy is a weekly meme hosted by The Book Worms.

Here is how Cover Crazy works:

Cover Crazy will be posted on Mondays.
Each week I will show a cover that I am completely crazy about.
The point of this meme is to admire the art and beauty of a book’s design, but I will also provide a synopsis along with the title, author, and of course cover picture and what I like about it.
In the comments section below, please feel free to share your thoughts, feelings, inspirations, etc. about the cover (but be respectful about it).
If you decide to start your own Cover Crazy, please give credit to The Book Worms.

My cover this week is:

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

I absolutely love this cover! The stars add to the dystopian feel of the book, and I love the contrast between the dark sky/ dress and the orange/ pink color of the title. Also, I think the font used for the title is beautiful. It's simple and elegant at the same time. I love everything!

SYNOPSIS VIA GOODREADS

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.

But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—-one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

What are your thoughts on this cover?

On My Wishlist (November 18)

2011-11-18T18:39:00.002-05:00

Click here for previous "On My Wishlist" posts.

My Wishlist:

Matched by Courtney King Walker

SYNOPSIS VIA GOODREADS

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Legend by Marie Lu

SYNOPSIS VIA GOODREADS

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

What do you think of these books?

WWW Wednesday (November 16)

2011-11-16T15:59:00.001-05:00

WWW Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

My Answers:

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading Supernaturally by Kiersten White.

What did you recently finish reading? I recently finished reading I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder.

What do you think you'll read next? Next I think I will be reading Gone by Michael Grant.

I'd love it if you shared you WWW Wednesday post with me, too!