Fiction State Of Mind

REVIEW : Whisper by Alyson Noel

2012-02-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

STATS:

RILEY BLOOM BOOK 4

PUBLISHER:

SOURCE:

A new Riley Bloom book is always a joy to behold! Alyson has created a series that has become like home to me. After the events in Dreamland Riley is looking for a little redemption. Her muted glow is a source of concern and her wish to turn 13 seems further and further away.

One bright spot in her life or afterlife, is the chance to Soul Catch a very difficult spirit, a Roman gladiator named Theocoles. More importantly Riley gets a chance to complete this job alone. This suits her just fine since she is experiencing a myriad of difficult feelings towards her Guide Bodhi.

Riley storms into the coliseum full of confidence and drive to succeed , but the souls in the Coliseum are so deeply locked into their memories they fail to even acknowledge her presence. Riley quickly becomes frustrated and then despondent until she meets the spirit Messalina.

Messalina is everything Riley aspires to be: beautiful, graceful and more importantly grownup! Messalina has an attachment to Theocoles as well and offers to help Riley.

Messalina's help however is not what it seems. She weaves an illusion around Riley that fulfills all her deeply held dreams and distracts her from her mission. Now Riley has a grown- up look, gorgeous clothes and a very handsome admirer.

Yet there is a small voice in the back of her mind, a Whisper . One that holds the key to her freedom and the freedom of all those around her.

I usually find myself teary eyed at the end of Riley's adventures and this one is no different. Riley's journey's often reflect a lot of the challenges we all face in life. Riley's strength to persevere is one of her greatest strengths. Riley fights, she blunders , she falls and yet she always gets back up and though her lessons are hard won she grows and thrives.

This series is an utter joy and can be read by all ages. I'm so looking forward to seeing what Riley gets up to next!

FEBRUARY EVENTS

2012-01-31T23:36:00.000-08:00

HAPPY FEBRUARY! There are some wonderful events going on this month that I'm signed up for:

This is my second year doing the Ultimate Reviewers Challenge I'm excited to catch up on some reviews :)

READATHON!!!

I really love readathons so i was excited to find this one: Wicked Winter

I'll be reading an assortment of Zombie Books, my goal is 8 books:

Speaking of ZOMBIES, I'm going to be reviewing a lot of books for my ZOMBIE LOVE Event 2/14-2/21

Look at these cute valentines you can get from the Orbit website. So what are you guys up to this month?

REVIEW: LIES BENEATH by Anne Greenwood Brown

2012-01-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

STATS:

PUBLISHER:

RANDOM HOUSE/ DELACORTE

RELEASE DATE:
6/12/2012

SOURCE
NETGALLEY
Murderous Mermaids Make Mayhem! Well sort of :) Lies Beneath is my first 2012 Debut and I have to say this was a great book to start with. The main focus of the story is Calder. Calder is a creature of myth, he is a Merman.

For several months Calder has lived against his nature, he has refused to kill. For a mermaid to exist they need the energy of humans. Its a compulsion and a desire Calder has resisted . Calder seems to be in a strange state, resisting the lure of human energy and living a solitary life. Things get more complicated when Calder's sister Maris calls him and demands he return to their childhood home.

The four siblings couldn't be more different. Maris is the Alpha of the group and has a charismatic hold on the group. Tallulah and Pavati his other two siblings defer to Maris as well. The three girls are comfortable in their roles, the feel no guilt in taking the lives of humans or using their attractiveness to manipulate them.

Calder really fascinated me, his life would be so much easier if he just succumbed to his nature but he doesn't. Calder does however possess the coldness of heart when something he desires is at stake.

Maris offers him a deal he cant resist: his freedom from the family in exchange for seducing one of the daughters of Jason Hancock.

Hancock is responsible for the death of the siblings mother, and Maris wants revenge. In exchange for seducing one of the girls, and leading Jason himself into the water Maris promises to release Calder from his familial bonds.

A very calculating Calder watches the girls and decides to target young Sophie. His plan is to become her friend and hero by setting up a senario will he will rescue her.

Just one thing blocks Calder's plans. Lily, Jason's older daughter and the one human who is able to reist Calder's attractiveness.

I really enjoyed this book. I was always intrigued by each scene and kept turning the pages. Calder and his sisters are very intriguing and I felt that Anne could have easily told this story through any of these characters eyes. I did however wish that the book would had enhanced the horror elements and had less of a YA romance subplot. Lily and Calder are a great couple and they dont have the typical fall in love at first sight situation that seems to happen in a lot of series books.

It's just that Anne is SO GOOD at creepy suspense I wanted the book to have strange creepy twists and more horror. Definetly an author to watch out for. A very solid debut.

Sunday Salon : Readathons & The Solace of Books

2012-01-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

This past week was really difficult for me. I had very little work which opened up a whole range of financial worries for me. It's interesting how easy it is for us to be derailed from positivity. What really helped me this week was this:

Having Monday completely free, I dove into reading! I sorted through my books made a stack and just let myself relax and read. After the first day I found my spirits lifting. I finished three books on Monday and had some great online conversations with some other readathon participants.

On Tuesday I also didn't have any work scheduled so I continued my reading binge. As I lost myself in the pages of Long Gone by Alafair Burke and Passing Strange by Daniel Waters, I found my stress melting away. Books are the one thing in my life that has always made sense. Engrossed in a really good read I found my emotional stress fade away. I really let go, and remarkable things began to happen. My phone began to ring, email appointments began to pour in as I write this I'm conscious of the fact that I only have a few hours before I have to go see some clients.

Last Sunday I watched an interview Oprah had with George Lucas ( I'm a huge Star Wars geek ) In one of the segments Oprah was taking to George and his girlfriend Melanie. Oprah asked each of the couple what the other had taught them in their relationship. Melanie described how before she met George her life was mainly focused on her work. Melanie is a financial whiz, I'm not sure exactly what she does but I know its in finance and we all know the energy that's prevalent in the financial world right now!

What stuck with me most though is what she said after. She said George had really taught her to accept what the universe was giving her "to not push against it". I realised that a lot of my stress this week was the side affect of "pushing" against what my work week had become. Nothing changed until I stopped pushing and just accepted my unexpected time off. I now feel grateful for time I had off and the opportunity to rest and read. Oh and I finished 10 books!

Hope you all had a great week, I'm off to catch a movie before my afternoon clients.

REVIEW: PRINCELESS 4

2012-01-24T21:07:00.000-08:00

STATS:

PUBLISHER:

ACTION LAB

FORMAT:

FOUR ISSUE MINI-SERIES

Here we are at issue four and Princess Adrienne is fully prepared for all her quests to come. She has a functional set of armor and a new companion in the armorer Bedelia. Now there is just the slight problem of a few guardsmen keeping her from her mission.

This is a very action packed issue. Adrienne and Bedelia manage to have a little fun in spite of the attacking guardsmen at their door. Things turn dangerous really quickly however when the guardsmen set the Blacksmiths house on fire.

This issue moved really quickly, lots of action! I enjoyed watching the companionship between the two girls. It's not often that you get to see such bonding between women in a comic book.

There is such a wonderful accessibility to this story and the characters. These are the stories for every little girl that's picked up a sword as well as a Barbie doll. It is a testament to the talents of Whitley, Goodwin and Dwonch that they can effortlessly create a fun comic with wonderfully diverse characters.

Now that we have a full blown origin story for Adrienne I'm really looking forward to her beginning her quest to rescue her sisters. There is also a great teaser ending that gives us a glimpse

of things to come.

My Reading Week 4

2012-01-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! I've been doing great with reading this month, I've finished over 25 books! This week my goal is to finish A game of Thrones (I'm behind ) and also to get a lot of reading done for A Winter's Respite Readathon hosted by TRUE BOOK ADDICT My goal is 12 books, which averages to about 2 books a day.

So what about you? What are your reading goals for this week? Leave me a comment!

Game of Thrones Readalong Update 3

2012-01-24T08:06:00.000-08:00

I'm a little behind on my reading but I'm thoroughly enjoying this book! For this third part I've been thinking a lot about Shakespeare. More to the point Shakespeare's tragedies. As Eddard continues to gather all the pieces to a deadly puzzle, the reader can start to feel a sense of doom surrounding the Stark family. The omen of the Stag piercing the Direwolf echoed through my mind as the Starks faced ordeal after ordeal.

I also found myself feeling equally frustrated and angry at King Robert. The waste he has allowed to grow in his kingdom, his repeated abuse of his body, and his fickle moods test Eddard's loyalties, and highlighted the awful situation Eddard has lead his family into.

Yet I also feel a little sad for Robert. He is a warrior, but with no battle to fight he easily slid into excess: drink, women, food. It is clear that all those years ago the wrong man took the throne. Then there are the Lannisters!! My hate for Jamie and Cersi is equal to my love for Tyrion.

Tyrion's trials at the Eyrie were the highlight of this section. The description of the Eyrie and the madness of Lysa Arryn were wonderfully illustrated by Martin.
I will be catching up this week as we head onward the end, it's gone so fast! I'm looking forward to everyone else's thoughts .

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon Final Wrapup

2012-01-23T00:39:00.000-08:00

TRUE BOOK ADDICT is hosting a readathon , and I'm signed up :) I did really well on my last readathon, for this one my goal is 12 Books. I have a mix of genres and some books I've had on my shelf for awhile. Here is my list, and a pic for the first Mini- Challenge

FINAL UPDATE!

Great reading week! my total was 10 books :) Hope you all did well .
~~Echos: GN~~

~~9th Grade slays~~

~~Star Wars Red Harvest~~
~~Zombie in Love~~
~~Danger Girl GN~~
~~passing strange~~
~~Long Gone~~
~~Lies Beneath~~

~~Alien Tango~~

~~Fire~~

I'm looking forward to clearing my bookshelves and connecting with other readers :)

Sunday Salon: The Great Book Purge of 2012

2012-01-22T13:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday everyone! This is my first Sunday Salon. Over the last couple of weeks I've enacted some tremendous changes in my living space. I've felt a strong need to clear clutter, and to have space in my home. I did a major clutter clearing ! Every cabinet checked and double checked for unused and neglected items.

The last step was attacking my TBR pile. Last year I read 302 books. I surprised myself with this number having challenged myself to only read 200 books. Despite that amazing number my bookshelf still teemed with unread books.

So I made a decision. I got rid of over 120 books. I had accumulated these books over the past 3 years. the majority of them from Paperback Swap, used book stores and library sales. I'm aware that some of these books may have been fantastic, but I just couldn't bear to start another year with so many unread books . So I released them ! I'm confident that they will find good homes. My physical TBR pile now stands at 47 books. My goal is to finish all of these books by March 15th.

I will be attending several fun events through out the summer including ALA National in Anaheim. I know I will come home with a ton of books but that's OK. Now that I have a firm grasp on bookshelves I'll be able to manage these books without a limited amount of stress.

I remember in years past how all the books on my shelves were read. When I walked into a bookstore because I had read everything at home. I want that feeling once more. I never again want to look at my bookshelves and feel overwhelmed, instead I want the pride of achievement, to know that all the books I'm looking at have been read.

Happy reading to you all!

Nook Buddy 3: Free Classics! Jane Eyre,Wuthering Heights and more!

2012-01-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

I found two great freebies this week through Books Buddy:

This free novella sounded really great

Free Zombie fiction? Yes Please!

Barnes & Nobel is in a classical mood! Several amazing classics are free! Here is what I got:

Wuthering Heights

Jane Eyre

A Portrait of The Artist As a Young Man

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

A tale of Two Cities

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Scarlet Letter

So what did you guys download this week? Any great deals ?

Happy Reading :)

Review: Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

2012-01-19T15:27:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite movies is The Neverending Story. I love the scene where Bastian is secluded in his room opening that huge book and then magically becomes transported into the world of the book. That's the feeling I had while experiencing Silver Phoenix. I deliberately say experience instead of read because its really difficult for me to describe in words how wonderfully enveloping this book is. The story centers around Ai Ling who is stepping into womanhood and all that entails. After a failed marriage meeting Ai finds herself wondering what will become of her, since her failed meeting makes her a less than desired partner.

When her father is called away to the Emperor's court she focuses on being a help to her mother while they wait for her Father's return. Two women on their own in Ai's world can face many dangers, so when an oily merchant shows up claiming a debt is owed to him, the women are shocked. Ai is also suspicious especially since the merchant will conveniently forgive the debt if Ai Ling agrees to marry him.

Knowing she could never embrace that fate Ai Ling sets out to the Emperor's Palace to bring her father home. She is armed only with her wits and a fantastic power to read others minds, and sometimes step into their spirits. On the path she meets Chen Yong, a young man on a quest to find his birth father. These two find themselves immediately drawn to each other and share an adventure together they couldn't possibly imagine.

I adored this book!!! I devoured it in one sitting and will be buying the sequel immediately. I love learning about different cultures and this book really gives you a glimpse of Chinese mythology. Full of action and adventure along with as a touch of romance, this book is a wonderful read.

Ai Ling is such a great character. I love her strength and her appreciation of a good meal :) I also like how she keeps her head about her as she draws closer to Chen Yong. I love how they build a friendship and are mutually supportive of each other. It also takes a brave woman to let a man go no matter how much she would like him to stay. I'm so looking forward to the sequel Fury of the Phoenix!

Tandem Review: What a Wonderful World/ I'll Give It My All Tomorrow

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Books that take me on a journey are a passion of mine. Since I first discovered Manga I have been impressed with the sheer variety of material available. I chose these two manga to review together because they give the reader an insight to Japanese society,but also because at their heart they show us how similar our cultures are. All of us are human and thus are suspect to the myriad highs, lows , successes and failures that are part of the human condition.

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!

Story & Art by Inio Asano

This first volume of an ongoing manga has 9 interconnected stories. I was a little confused at first by some of

the stories and the characters relationships,but overall this was a highly enjoyable read. The first story revolves around Toga, a 23 year old college dropout . She spends her days in a crummy apartment unsure of what direction to take in life. An evening spent with a college buddy and a terrible fire leave her with a new found sense of purpose for the future.

Another standout story is called A Town of Many Hills. It centers around a young girl who is the victim of intense bullying. She moves through her days seemingly oblivious to their torments. The only sign of her inner turmoil is her crow companion, Whether its her imagination or a true supernatural manifestation

the crow talks to her, encouraging her to express the despair she hides,encouraging her to die. A wonderful story about the decision to persevere and how it can only come from within ourselves.

My third favorite store in this volume is called Syrup. It's about a group of students in cram school trying to pass entrance exams into various schools. A small group of them are consistently failing at their lessons including syrup, nicknamed due to his addiction to drinking cough syrup.

The boys move through an endless cycle of failure and guilt, worried about their futures and their careers yet unable to commit to their studies. This was such a bittersweet story. So much pressure to preform is the norm for the typical Japanese student. It takes a special sort of bravery to get off that track.

An amazing volume, I definitely will be following this series.

I'll Give It My All Tomorrow

Art & Story by Shunju Aono

In this series Shizuzo, a 40 year old business man quits his job and decides to "find " himself. This originally involves several months of lounging at home in his underwear playing Nintendo. His father Constantly badgers Shizuzo, telling him what a disappointment he is, and nagging him to do something with his life. His daughter Suzuko seems to serenely accept his decision though her feelings are nearly identical to her Grandfathers. While flipping through a magazine Shizuzo makes an epic decision: he will become a manga artist.

The rest of this volume is a series of funny yet often sad trial and errors on Shizuzo's part. He ends up taking a job at a fast food restaurant to have some income while working towards his Manga goals. On the surface Shizuzo seem to be a loser but he also has a gentle innocence that effects those around him. It's interesting to see a character experience a midlife crisis in a different culture. Everyone seems against Shizuzo's dreams, even he often stands in his own way. Overall though the reader gets very involved in Shizuzo's life and wants him to succeed.

It's rare that I read manga with contemporary themes but these two are definitely on my wish list. Thanks to Viz Media's contract with the nook, both of these series are available on the nook color and nook tablet at the great price of $5.99 for World, and $4.99 for I'll give It My All.

REVIEW: Faking Faith by Josie Bloss

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

STATS:

PUBLISHER:
FLUX

SOURCE:

REVIEW BOOK

I rarely read contemporary YA but this book really intrigued me, especially because of the blogging aspect to the story :) Dylan Mahoney is an outcast at school. After spending years having two close friends everything goes awry when Blake Compton comes up to Dylan at a party. Dylan is on cloud nine when the two start dating. Her friends Amanda and Kelsey however aren't that happy. Blake has a bad reputation and when her friends try to tell that to Dylan she freaks out and drives them away.

For two month Dylan is part of the popular crowd Along with losing her virginity she gets talked into sending Dylan a topless photo of herself that soon circulates around the school ,and gets her suspended. Oh and Blake dumps her as well.

Now when Dylan isn't being ignored she's being called demeaning names and laughed at.

Her home situation isn't much better, her parents are swamped with work and barely have time for more then general platitudes and lax monitoring of her life.

It is online that Dylan finds solace. She stumbles across a group of Christian bloggers and though at first she mocks them, over time however she finds herself drawn to their seemingly uncomplicated, faith filled life.

Dylan is especially drawn to Abigail, one of the most popular Christian bloggers. She so much wants to be a part of these girls world that she invents her own blog and the online persona Faith.

Now Dylan's days are filled with a new purpose and a social circle. She even finds a way to get her parents to fund a trip to meet Abigail in person. For two weeks Dylan steps into Abigail's world and finds out its not as perfect as she thought.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read but shed some important light on some teen issues like sexting and friendship. I also enjoyed how Josie portrayed the Christian families. To someone on the outside their treatment of women and ideas of a faith filled life would be laughable. Some of tthe characters behaviors were stereotypical but overall I enjoyed both girls journeys.

Game of Thrones Read-a-long Update 2

2012-01-16T22:53:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about people who read this book in 1996. As a viewer of the show, knowing the final outcome, I can see so clearly the intricacies of Martins plot and where the book is headed. The truth behind Robert's kingdom is unsettling. The politcal games, the liars and schemers and at the heart of it an honest man: Ned Stark.

Stark is woefully unprepared for the intricacies of the court. I felt so bad for him as he faces disappointment after disppointment. I also loved his decision to get Arya a "dancing "teacher. Arya suffers just as much as her father in this new environment, while Sensa seems to be easily adapting.

I also enjoyed Jon and Tyrion's relationship at the Night's Watch headquarters. I've developed quite an affection for Tyrion. His relationship with Jon and the wonderous gift he gives Bran shows his sharp, clever mind. I wonder what kind of man he would have been if he had the height and good looks of his brother. It's also quite sad how he is made to suffer due to the actions of his siblings. It will be interesting to see if his family loyality will last in the midst of all that is to come.

I'm Really enjoying the pace of the novel. I was originally overwhelmed by the size of the books but once you start them its nearly impossible to put them down. Looking forward to hearing what you guys thought :)

Review: Princeless issue 3

2012-01-16T12:43:00.000-08:00

STATS :

PUBLISHER:

ACTION LAB COMICS

FORMAT:

4 ISSUE MINI SERIES

In the past two issues of this series we have watched Princess Adrienne progress on her Hero's journey. She has made a decision ( To free herself and other's from enforced tower occupation ), found her weapon ( A well placed sword under her bed) , and recruited her first ally ( Her dragon guardian). Now after escaping capture in her own kingdom, Adrienne realises her next priority must be proper attire.

After dropping into a local blacksmith shop Adrienne meets Bedelia Smith. Bedelia pretends to be an assistant to her father the blacksmith, but she actually has been doing all the work. When she discovers Adrienne is a girl she lets he get a glimpse at her secret armor project: the Women Warriors line.

Over the years I've gotten used to the skimpy outfits of female heroes. Some I've tolerated but some portrayals of females have made me stop reading the books entirely. I've come to expect these portrayals of females as "status quo" in the comic world.

It was wonderful to see Jeremy address female attire in the story. As Bedelia proudly shows off her line Adrienne isn't really inspired by them. From the chain mail bikini , to the short skirted "Diana", Adrienne begins questioning her on the merits of the outfits.

Summing up her opinions with the fantastic line" Why should a woman's armor have to show cleavage or stomach?" Adrienne inspires Bedelia to think outside the norm and create warriors armor for her.

This was another great issue. Though not overly preachy I enjoyed Jeremy taking time to ask some serious questions about how women are portrayed in the comic world. I also enjoyed the reveal of Adrienne's new outfit. Artists Goodwin and Dwonch continue to illustrate the book beautifully.

Really looking forward to the next issue, now fully prepared I'm hoping she now can start her quest to rescue her sisters.

My Reading Week 3

2012-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

I just finished a readathon where I completed 12 books and cleared out a few I wasn't really in to. So this week I'm going to to set my goals low so I can complete them :) Along with continuing reading game of Thrones I'm hoping to read these:

So what are your reading goals for this week?

In My Mailbox 33

2012-01-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

For Review

Science Fiction story that ties into modern day Egypt.

Purchased

This three were only .99cents on my nook :)

Free Another nook book

So what did you guys get this week?

On My Wishlist 20

2012-01-14T15:53:00.000-08:00

On my Wishlist is hosted by the lovely BOOK CHICK CITY Here are some books that I'm wishing for:

I love Lisa's books! She is a master at creepy YA, I really want this one!

I just finished the Seer series by Linda and I'm missing her writing already. This series about a young teen who can "hop" from body to body looks good.

I'm in love with this cover, and it's about Mermaids ! Double Win :)

So what are You guys wishing for?

Watching Shakespeare

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

A Literary Odyssey is hosting a Shakespeare month and I've decided to join her. My love of Shakespeare began with this:

In sixth grade my class read Romeo & Juliet. It was a struggle. I was fascinated by the history of the Globe Theater and Shakespeare's life but the play just didn't engage me. It especially didn't help that our teacher had us read portions out loud, leading to endless eye rolling and giggling from the entire class. Then midway through our reading our class went on a field trip. We went to the theater and saw Franco Zeffirelli's version of this timeless romance. From the first scene I was entranced. All the lessons from our teacher, the endless readings all came together to create a wonderful experience. I hung on every word, felt my heart swell with emotions. Our entire class was riveted and midway thru the movie all chatter and giggling had ceased, even from the boys in our class!

Since that day I've sought out live action and celluloid expressions of Shakespeare's works. I've seen Glenn Close give a chilling performance of Lady Macbeth, A Midsummer's Night Dream preformed by the drama department at Yale college, and a staging of Twelfth Night with 5 actors and a coat rack! I credit these plays and movies for lighting a passionate love for Shakespeare that continue to this day. If you've never been able to really connect with Shakespeare's works I heartily suggest seeing a live play or theatrical rendition of one of his works.

Nook Buddy 2: Deals and Steals from the Nook World

2012-01-13T22:15:00.000-08:00

Here are some great deals I found with my favorite app on my nook color: Books Buddy!

FREE

Every since I discovered Edith Hamilton's book: Mythology, I've been fascinated with the genre. This book looks fascinating because it seems to blend fact with fantasy, plus it's free!

.99 cents

I've heard some positive buzz about this series so for a buck I thought I'd give book one a chance :)

I love this cover and the historical time period, it's about a young werewolf hunter.

So how about you guy's have you found any nook goodies I've missed?

My Reading Week: 2

2012-01-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

I did really well with my reading goals last week. I read 6 graphic Novels and 1 manga. I also read 190 pages in A Game of Thrones. This week I'm participating in the Bout of Books readathon, I hope to finish 14 books :) So whats your reading week look like ?

Game of Thrones Read-a-Long update 1

2012-01-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

Here we are ! My first update for Baffled Books Game of Thrones readalong. What stood out the most to me during this first part of the book was how much HBO stayed true to the events of the book in season one.

I've really enjoyed this book so far. Martin has a wonderful narrative style and I loved the switches of narrative from character to character. My favorite so far has been Lord Snow :) I've also enjoyed Arya and Sensa. They are such different girls, they really reminded me of the relationship my sister and I growing up . Of course I was the fierce, mouthy tomboy Arya .

Catelyn also has been quite a revelation to me in the books so far. She is a woman of many emotions. I despised her for her treatment of Jon, but found her fierce devotion to protecting Bran and her family commendable.

So looking forward to the next part of the book :)

Bout of Books Readathon Day 6

2012-01-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

Here we are at day 6! I had two rocky days but now I'm back on track! hope to finish two more books today, I'm on my twelfth book now which is my goal , but I'm going to veg the rest of today and see how much more I can read. Hope you all are doing well.

Hello fellow readers! This picture represents my reading stack for the first challenge. I searched around the other entrants and no one really matched with me! I did however find 2 bloggers who had pandemonium on their lists, a book I reallly want!my Update is below. My goal was 2 books a day so I'm on track! :)

Day 2 completed! I had a lot of free time and finished 3 books today, it feels good to get some books of my shelf :) Happy Reading

My Goals

Books To Read

~~Fatal Charm~~
~~Magician's Muse~~
~~Faking Faith~~
~~Desires of the Dead~~
~~Silver Phoenix~~
Hero
Behemoth
~~Deathnote: Another Note~~
~~saturn apartments 2~~
~~saturn apartments 3~~
~~saturn apartments4~~
~~blacbird 5~~
~~blackbird6~~

Updates

1/9

Number of books I’ve read today: 3

Total number of books I’ve read: 3

Books:
Silver Phoenix
Fatal Charm
Faking Faith

1/10

Number of books I’ve read today: 3

Total number of books I’ve read: 6

Books:
Deathnote : Another Note
Saturn Apartments issue 2
Desires of the Dead

1/11

Number of books I’ve read today: 2

Total number of books I’ve read:8

Books:
Magician's Muse
saturn apartments 3

1/12

Number of books I’ve read today:0

Total number of books I’ve read:8

Books:

1/13

Number of books I’ve read today:1

Total number of books I’ve read: 9

Books:
saturns apartment 4

1/14

Number of books I’ve read today:2

Total number of books I’ve read:11

Books:
Blackbird 5
Blackbird 6

1/15

Number of books I've read today:

Total number of books I've read:

Books:

REVIEW: SATURN APARTMENTS by Hisae Iwadka

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

STATS:
ON GOING MANGA

FORMAT:
NOOK E-BOOK

PRICE:
4.99

One of the amazing things Science Fiction stories can accomplish, is to shine a light on the human condition. Saturn Apartments is a futuristic tale about humans who no longer live on Earth. After the planet is turned into a nature preserve and forbidden to humans, they all move to an intricate orbiting satellite 35,000 miles above the Earth,

This three tiered structure also enforces a caste system of sorts. The rich and important people live on the upper levels. The middle class and the education centers for all the citizens are on the middle levels, and the lower levels house families and lower income residents.

It is the lower levels where Mitsu lives.A recent school graduate, Mitsu is now following in the footsteps of his deceased Father and has become a window washer. This dangerous job requires workers to suit up and walk outside the apartments, cleaning the various windows on the structure.

Through Mitsu's jobs we get a look at the life and emotions of the apartment residents. I really loved these stories. Mitsu is struggling so hard to be independent and live up to his fathers legacy. On his very first job he finds himself in the very same area his father died years ago, an area that know other cleaner has visited before.

Hisae is a gifted Manga artist and writer, these interconnecting stories really tug at your heart and engage you in the characters lives. I've had this book on my wish list for a while and now that its on the nook color its both affordable and convenient to collect. Highly recommend this series!!

New Feature: My Reading Week 1

2012-01-02T11:22:00.000-08:00

My GoodReads reading Challenge Goal is 250 books so I need to get going! Here is what I'm working on this week:

Starting Game of Thrones

Reading a stack of graphic novels and manga

reading A Winters Tale by Shakespeare

Reading Dearly Departed for RED HOUSE BOOKS Net Galley Mont. Sign up!

So What are you guys reading this week?

My Events/Reading Challenges For Jan 2012

2012-01-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! Time to make reading goals and blogging resolutions :) I entered a lot of challenges last year and finished most of them. I'm doing a lot less this year and picked some challenges I know I can finish:

CHUNKSTER CHALLANGE

I'm committing to : Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big ? level. Here are my books:

Clockwork Prince

Gone

Game of Thrones

The Desert Spear

Clash of Kings

Drood

BOOK CHICK CITY has two great challenges I'm participating in this year:

This is my second year doing the DAC, looking forward to it

MY READERS BLOCK has this great challenge to tackle your tbr pile. I signed up for the El Toro level with a goal of 75 books

EVENTS

I've wanted to read Game of Thrones since watching Season 1 on HBO. Now I can read it with a group!

Check out BAFFLED BOOKS to join us

SHAKESPEARE MONTH

A LITERARY ODYSSEY is hosting a Shakespeare month. I thought it would be great to read outside my regular genres.

READATHONS

ON A BOOK BENDER is hosting this great readathon for the third time. I'm looking forward to it.

Another great readathon hosted by TRUE BOOK ADDICT

What challenges are you guys signed up for ?

2011 Reading Wrap up!

2012-01-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

302 Books! I didn't think it was possible, but that was my total amount of books, graphic novels and manga that I read in 2011. Blogging has really increased my reading stats, also last January I attended ALA midwinter and came home with a TON of Arcs! Here are some of my favorite books of 2011. Happy New Year!

REVIEW: DREAMLAND by Alyson Noel

2011-12-31T03:00:00.000-08:00

Several years ago some friends and I attended an event hosted by our New Age bookstore. The event was with a medium named Patrick. The evening consisted of Patrick talking a bit about his work,and his experiences with spirits. I really felt a connection with Patrick but wasn't a 100% convinced he was genuine. Each attendee received a raffle ticket and he would pick a few people for complementary readings. I wasn't picked that night but my best friend was. Patrick told her things about her deceased brother he couldn't possibly know!

At the end of the event I walked up to Patrick to say hello. He asked me who in my family I had lost. I told him my mother. He closed is eyes for a few seconds and then gently took my hand. He told me he sensed a lot of pain and heavy emotions where present in my mother's life, as well as some addictions. I nodded confirming his words. Then he said this: "You know our work isn't finished when we leave this world. For some souls there are still lessons to learn and healing to take place."

I thought of this encounter while reading Dreamland. Riley has to face some really hard truths about her self in this book as well as facing some unexpected repercussions from her actions. After her latest, unsanctioned soul retrieval in the last book, Riley now finds herself before the Council. She is very nervous, Despite having a very prominent glow, she still might be in trouble. Worse she may get her guide Bodhi in trouble, just when they were starting to get along.

The council is impressed with Riley's accomplishments but suggest that she take a break. Bodhi is thrilled with the idea of some time off but Riley is disgruntled. She is so anxious to keep progressing, to finally reach 13!

She decides she needs to get some advice from her sister Ever, The quest to communicate with Ever on the earth plane leads Riley to Dreamland.

The workers in Dreamland are architects at communication. Like exquisite movie sets each Dream is crafted with the intention of bringing the deceased and their loved ones into a peaceful state of communication.

But there are darker forces in play at Dreamland as well and of course our Riley is in the thick of it!

I love Alyson's vision of the afterlife. Riley has such a special place in my heart. Each of the slim volumes in this series are quick reads but they linger with you in the most delightful ways.

I felt so much for Riley as she struggled in this book with insecurity and impatience. Such a beautiful read and as always, wonderful messages for readers of all ages.

Book Analysis: What Your "TEAM" Choices May Say About You

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

"KNOW THYSELF"

Personal Growth has been at the forefront of my life for the past two years. Part of personal growth is looking at the habits and routines we carry with us in our daily lives. How much of who we are is truly "us"? Many of our choices come from both Nature and Nurture. Pretty deep stuff :)

What applies in life can also apply to our reading choices. I first became aware of the concept of "Teams" when I entered the blogging world. It all started with The Hunger Games:

Can you guess what Team I'm on :) I learned a lot about myself with the Hunger Games:

1) I make my Team choices quite early and rarely change my mind.

2) I become quite annoyed with the other guy and want him to go away!

3) The wait until the final decision consumes me.

But why Peeta? Peeta has a lot of the qualities I prefer in my own partners. There is a solid stillness to him. He is masculine but not overly aggressive. He is willing to take risks for those he loves ,and willing to speak his feelings.

Though I respected Gale, and all he did for Katniss there was always something a little off with him in my eyes. There is an anger there, barely concealed. He also displays a viciousness and hunger for revenge that is able to overshadow his feelings for Katniss. It was a nail biter to the end but I was pleased with the ending!

Now I'm caught up in the world of Clockwork Angel and the second book Clockwork Prince:

Ah Jem! I picked him immediately, and it's breaking my heart! See there is also Will. Oh, how I want to hate Will! To make matters worse these two very different men are equally devoted to each other and Tessa!

I don't dislike Will too much, he is just an example of what I don't immediately find attractive in men:

1) He is loud and cocky.

2) He sometimes lashes out at the people he really cares for.

3) He has a demanding personality.

Oh but that Cassandra Clare! As we learn more about Will, he is starting to grow on me and I hate it! My heart has chosen and it's Jem. His calm exotic nature. The tug my heart feels at his illness. The obvious love he feels for Will and his desire not to hurt him. This is going to be another nail biter! I know Cassandra will make her choice and I will accept it but for now there is the sweet torture of waiting!

How about you guys, do you choose your Teams instantly? What qualities do you see in your fictional men that relate to your real world romances? I'd love to know. Now I'm off to read more about my precious Jem ;)

REVIEW: SPECIFIC IMPULSE by Charles Justiz

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Part Mystery and part Science Fiction thriller, this book deals with the explosion of a meteor crater and how it transforms two men's lives. Witnesses of the explosion develop a strange virus that quickly destroys them. For Carin and Jake however they develop strange changes too their senses. The also seem to be immune to the infection.

The action in this story comes from the two men being pursued by the government. Some want to study them, others want them to just hurry up and die.

There is a definite fast paced feel to the book, Justiz's experiences in the military also lend the book an authentic feel. A very absorbing read.

REVIEW : The DragonFly Prophecy by Jacquelyn Castle

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

PUBLISHER:

CLASS ACT BOOKS

SOURCE:

REVIEW COPY

There are some promising story elements in this book, but overall I struggled with it. Seventeen year old Lexi Blane has a perfect boyfriend and loving parents. She feels a bit stifled by, well everything. I really didn't like Lexi. I know that teens go through difficult phases, after all I was one :) The problem with Lexi is she is a brat. She snaps at her parent's and her boyfriend for the slightest things. When Lexi starts having strange visions and experiences connected to others, I really couldn't sympathize with her.

Even when she is given info from a Gypsy about the circumstances surrounding her strange powers, she lashes out at her families attempt to help.

There is an interesting explanation for Lexi's growing powers as she meets other gifted people and learns about her heritage. Interesting concepts but a main character that really turned me off so I really couldn't connect with the book.

REVIEW: SPARKS by S.J. Adams

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

When I was 10, I was playing at a friends house. Let's call her Sally :) Sally was on the fringe of our social group. Many called her "weird". I however enjoyed her company. She liked to play with other toys besides Barbies ,and she liked the same cartoons as I did.

One day while playing in her room the following discussion happened:

Sally: Kai, have you ever kissed a girl?

Me: My Mom.

Sally: (laughs) Any other girl?

Me: EWW NO!

Sally: Have you ever wanted to?

I got quiet after she said this, and felt really strange. After a few awkward moments I stood up and said I had to go. I never played with Sally again. I never returned her calls or told anyone what happened until this post.

I also started to go along with everyone else and started thinking she was weird.

I wish I would have had a book like Sparks growing up. I wish I could have read this wonderful fictional account of a young girl finding out about her self with the help of some unique cohorts.

In Sparks we meet Debbie Woodland who has had a secret crush on her best friend Lisa for years. The two have until recently, been inseparable. Now however Lisa's going out with a boy named Norman. Debbie is convinced Norman is all wrong for Lisa . She also is afraid that Lisa won't figure it out until it's two late. She also has no idea how to tell Lisa how she feels.

Fate intervenes however in the form of a note passed to Debbie during detention. She discovers The Church of Blue through two fellow students Emma and Tim. and thus a spiritual quest to rescue Lisa begins!

I really loved this book! It's full of realistic teens, laughter and a bit of heartache that is a prerequisite for wisdom.

Adams has a great feel for the way teens think, talk and feel. We all know these types of kids, we probably were them to some extent. What I love most about this book is the exploration of sexuality. There isn't any overt preaching or homophobia, just a realistic exploration of one girls feelings.

I've never known the confusion or intense feelings Debbie goes through but I know people who have. I've been thinking about my friend Sally since I finished this book. I hope she found the support I couldn't provide, the answers to her feelings and questions. I wish this book to find a wide audience and hope that all the other "Debbie's " in the world find the same peace as the character in this book.

A great read!

On My Wishlist Holiday Edition

2011-12-24T18:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone! This week Viz Media announced it's partnership with Barnes & Noble! That means nook color and nook Tablet owners now get access to some great manga at a really reduced price and easy storage :) Here are some manga I'm hoping to get soon:

Kekkaishi

Paranormal action series

Saturn apartments

Explores the nature of being human while living on a space station 35,000 miles above Earth

Here is one from Yen Press:

Happy Holidays! Hope all your book dreams come true!

Wrapping Up 2011 Readathon Update 2

2011-12-23T22:24:00.001-08:00

REMARKABLE READS

Hope you guys are doing well here is what I've read so far:

Manga:

~~Saturn Apartments Volume 1~~
~~Blackbird vol 4~~

Books
~~Dreamland by Alyson Noel~~

Graphic Novels
~~lil Depressed boy vol 0~~
~~Batman Black Mirror~~
~~New Avengers: The Trust~~
~~Doctor Who: The Forgotten~~

Happy Reading!

Nook Buddy 1: Freebies & Deals for nook Owners

2011-12-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I found this great app called Books Buddy on my nook color. Its an app that lists free books, and specially priced ones as well. Here is what I got this week:

FREE

I've heard great things about this book, such a nice treat to get it for free.

This is a free novella and a prelude to the book Goblin King. Niccce cover ;)

99 cents I heard good buzz about both of these and for a short time they are less than a buck! Snatch them up.

$1.99

Remember him? ;) This book promises to change the way you see goblins forever! Sexy Times!

SAMPLE OF THE WEEK

I love manga! This week Viz Media made a deal with nook to make a large amount of their manga digital. Ive already bought 3 volumes. The manga below is a great example of the variety of manga available. Saturn apartments is set in a future in which the Earth has been declared a nature preserve. Humanity now lives in satellites orbiting the earth. Download a free sample and you will love this series as much as I do:

Open Your Heart to Mr. Toast!

2011-12-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

STATS :
INDEPENDENT COMIC

BUY HERE

What I love about comics is the variety of books available. I'm also a huge fan of independent comic artists and publishers. Recently I found this delightful little comic by Dan Goodsell: Mr. Toast. Its possible you've seen Mr. Toast before, his T-shirts, buttons, art prints and many other goodies are available online and in select retailers.

This is a wonderful series full of fun and adventure. The first story in this book is called Hide & Seek. It has the whole cast: Mr. Toast, Shaky Bacon, Joe the Egg, Lil Leif , and others deciding to have a game and Mr. Toast is it! Artist Todd Webb assists in the art duties for this story as Toast goes through out the neighborhood and across the globe to find his friends.

It's a joy to read such a sweet, all ages read. This is a perfect book for families to read together and for all of us are young at heart :) Just visit the link above and I'm sure you will fall as much in love with Mr. Toast as I have

Here are a few cartoons from Dan's website:

Also check out TODDBOT for some cool art as well:

REVIEW : Midnight Magic by Nancy DI Fabbio

2011-12-19T06:05:00.000-08:00

PUBLISHER:
IUNIVERSE

Midnight Magic is a very accessible read. The main character Mattie is fourteen years old and enamored with horses. When she has the opportunity to stay with her Grandmother, and begin some horse training she is ecstatic. What intrigues her most about her Grandmother's house besides the opportunity to ride, is the painting of a beautiful horse she finds in the attic. The painting seems to communicate with her deeply. The reader is privy to the thoughts of the painting, which is actually the essence of a man that has been trapped for centuries. The portrait needs the soul of the right soul to set him free and he is stirred to a frenzy by the appearance of Mattie.

Enraptured by the painting, Mattie watches it intently. She is only drawn away by the appearance of another mysterious house around her family's property. She begins to sneak out of her house to spend time with the horse that looks a lot like the painting. As Mattie becomes more enamored with both the painting and the horse from the woods, she edges closer to losing her life and her soul.

All the characters in this story were fully realised, but I couldn't fully connect with them emotionally. The narrative is very straight forward and easy to follow but there wasn't a huge emotional journey on behalf of the main character.

I was still intrigued enough to watch the plot develop as the story built towards its conclusion and the premise of the novel was enjoyable.

REVIEW: ARCHIE #627: ARCHIE MEETS KISS

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

STATS:

ARCHIE

4 PART STORY ARC

STARTS IN ARCHIE #627

PRICE:

$2.99 NEWSSTAND

$1.99 NOOK COLOR/ TABLET

When I heard there was going to be an Archie/ Kiss crossover it made me smile. I have wonderful childhood memories about the Archie comics group. They were the first comics I ever read ,and I spent years enjoying their adventures. I just recently welcomed Archie and his gang back into my life, and I'm really enjoying the gang's modern day adventures.

This first issue opens with the band Kiss dominating the frame asking the gang "Where Did The Go ?!" Through a flashback we learn that Sabrina had convinced the gang to help her place a protection spell around Riverdale. Sabrina doesn't include Veronica and Reggie in the group since they haven't been dedicated to their magic lessons and might cause the spell to go awry.

Will two of Riverdale's biggest troublemakers take this lightly? Of course not! They get a spell book of their own and eavesdrop on the gang and accidentally cause the spell to go haywire.

The result is four monsters arrive on the scene and quickly escape to cause mayhem in the town. Seconds later Kiss appears as well and we figure out who they were asking about. Who knew that are favorite metal band also takes down monsters ?? Alex Segura does! :)

This was such a fun read! I wasn't a huge music fan growing up but I really loved Kiss, to see them with another of my childhood faves was really cool. Dan Parent and Rich Koslowski are a marvelous art team. They do a great job visually with all the band members and the Archie gang. I'm looking forward to see what other surprises Alex Segura has coming in the next 3 issues.

I highly recommend this book, so much fun and it looks fantastic on the nook color

600 FOLLOWERS CONTEST! WINNER!

2011-12-17T17:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks Everyone! The winner is : NAKOYA

Thank Goodness for Rafflecopter! I accidently deleted this post! so once agian thanks for all the followers! Just leave a comment to enter. All previous entries are safe so you dont need to enter again :) One Lucky follower will win a $10.00 Gift Card or book of choice from Book Depository!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Murder in the 11th House by Mitchell Scott Lewis

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm very interested in Astrology and even studied it for awhile, so I was very intrigued by this mystery. David Lowell is a very successful astrologer who is drawn into his daughter Miranda's current court case.

Armed with his charts and a a little help from his friends David is able to weed out the motives and possible culpability of a variety of suspects. A quick fun read.
I also really enjoyed seeing Astrological techniques being explained correctly. A really good education for the readers, dramatic twists and turns, and of course the revelation of the true criminal!

REVIEW: AWAKENINGS by Edward Lazellari

2011-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

This is a great blend of magical and contemporary fiction. I also enjoyed the fact that there were two protagonists. Cal is a happily married New York cop. Seth is a self absorbed photographer. They are two very different men with a similar condition: Retrograde Amnesia. Now they are both being stalked by strange creatures and the key to their pasts comes closer and closer.

A great mystery with supernatural elements. It really kept me guessing and the revelations were very unique.

REVIEW; BATMAN NOEL by Lee Bermejo

2011-12-13T22:03:00.000-08:00

STATS:

FORMAT:

HC GRAPHIC NOVEL

PUBLISHER:

DC COMICS

PRICE: $22.99

A Christmas Carol doesn't really work for me as a novel. It never has. Something about the story only engages me visually. I've watched every version of A Christmas Carol I could find: animated, live action even a version with the Muppet's!

Now there is Batman : Noel, which has quickly become my favorite adaption of Dickens holiday classic and a book that is definitely going to be a yearly read. Lets start with the Art. The words Visual Feast barely communicate the beauty of this book. Every panel is filled with vibrant colors and exquisite detail. You could read this entire story with out one word balloon and still have a rich emotional experience.

The story opens with a narrative look into the life of Bob Cratchit. Bob is a desperate man. Desperate to make some extra money for his sick son Tim. He makes a bad decision to take a job from the Joker.

The Dark Knight isn't very far behind. However Batman seems unusually vicious in this encounter. He decides to make Bob bait in order to catch the Joker.

There is a darkness in Bruce Wayne. The death of his partner Robin has left a coldness in him that seems impenetrable. But this is Christmas Eve, and three visitations will let the Dark Knight experience his past and give him a glimpse of Gotham's possible future.

This is a wonderful read and a joy for Batman fans. Even if your history with Batman is limited to his movie adventures you can easily follow along with the story. Highly recommend this!

REVIEW: Darkness Falling by Peter Crowther

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Darkness Falling is an atmospheric slice of atmospheric tension in a small town with a YA slant. First a flash of light and then the Earth goes completely black. Dealing with survival issues the residents also have to deal with the sudden disappearance of their friends who then return utterly changed.

I really enjoyed the zombie like aspect of the story as the teens fight to survive. There is wonderful tension and action. All the characters are very well realised and have an authentic voice. Looking forward to seeing how this series progresses.

12 Day's Book Acessories + Giftcard Winner

2011-12-12T22:43:00.001-08:00

Thanks for all the entries everyone! The gift card winner is Vera N. Today I want to share some great bookmarks I found on AMAZON and a great Star Wars Journal. Happy Reading!

12 DAY'S DAY 11: Capstone Books Gift Guide w/Review

2011-12-11T13:12:00.001-08:00

CAPSTONE Has a wonderful line of young readers books featuring the pets of your favorite DC superheroes:

The books combine prose stories with gorgeous four color illustrations. I thoroughly enjoy the whole line. They also focus on themes of friendship and cooperation. Here is a review of Backward BowWow that is available on NETGALLEY

Krypto is one of my favorite Super pets. In this adventure he is pitted against his opposite: Bizarro Krypto! Bizarro Krypto has crash landed on our planet and decides to be helpful. Unfortunately his way of helping is the opposite of normal! He becomes obsessed with breaking apart the dinosaur bones at a local museum and burying them! Luckily Ace the Batdog and Krypto are here to save the day! With some help from Batman's butler Alfred, they are able to get this backwards pup back home.

This is a really fun read. I love the look of this book, its so vibrant with smooth artistic lines. A quick but enjoyable read. I highly recommend this series!

12 DAY'S Day 10: Stuff Your Stocking With DC Comics New 52

2011-12-10T21:14:00.001-08:00

If you follow me on Twitter you know I'm a huge comic book fan. A few months ago DC comics revamped their line under the NEW 52 banner. They started with a clean slate (mostly) and restarted their entire line at issue one. There was grumbling! I wasn't excited with the change, but in the last four months I've been genuinely surprised and entertained by the new direction. One reason DC gave for the new numbering was for new readers to have the opportunity to "jump in". So I thought I'd make a list of the top 10 comics that new readers would enjoy. If your interested in picking up any of these books look HERE for a comic book shop near you.

ACTION COMICS

With Action Comics new readers get a chance to meet a slightly different Man of Steel. Set 5 years before the events playing out in Superman #1, we get to see a different side of Clark. He is a little edgier, a lot less forgiving of criminals and then there is the whole jeans and boots wardrobe :) Grant Morrison and Rags Morales are an amazing team and this book if full of action. This book is perfect for teens and Adults.

ANIMAL MAN

With Animal Man we get an existing DC with a rich heritage, packaged into a new reader friendly horror and suspense tale. Buddy Baker has spent many years dabbling in and out of the Superhero lifestyle. His powers enable him to connect with and emulate the abilities of animals. Lately however he has been focused on being a husband and father. When he intervenes in what looks like a simple hostage situation , he taps into an energy that will transform his life and the lives of his family. Perfect book for fans of horror and suspense. Lemire and Forman have created an amazing book!

AQUAMAN

Aquaman was always one of my favorite Superfriends. Now Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis have elevated him to the top tier of Superheroes! Amazing art and story and a strong female lead in the character of Mera as well. Everything I love about comic books in one glorious package.

BATGIRL

A controversial reboot, returning Barbara Gordon to the role of Batgirl. Previously the character of Barbara Gordon was confined to a wheelchair and working as the information specialist Oracle. The best thing about this book is, well the book itself. Any female centered book is a step in the right direction. This book is enjoyable and perfect for teen boys and girls.

BATMAN

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are creating classics monthly with this title! Everything Batman fans love and crave more of. Very new reader friendly, fans of the Batman movies will really enjoy these stories.

GREEN LANTERN

Yes the movie had some issues , but with the amazing Green Lantern animated series premiering in 2012 there are going to be a lot of new Green Lantern fans. Helmed by the great duo Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke, the G L franchise will definitely be on the rise.

I VAMPIRE

No sparkly vampires here! This is Vampire horror at it's best, complemented with a tragic love story . Vampires Andrew and Mary have lived and loved together. Now Mary is on a quest to release vampires from skulking in the shadows. Instead she is organizing a coup, one against the superpowers of the DC Universe! Andrew vows to stop her and a trail of bodies human and vampire begins to pile up. Vampire fans will love this book! Not for the squeamish !

MISTER TERRIFIC

A wonderful blend of Superhero action and scientific exploration, with the occasional Alien visitation! I also like the diversity in this title. Dc really has made an effort at diversity with this title. A great read

SWAMP THING

I wouldn't be steering you wrong if I just told you to buy every comic book Scott Snyder writes :) This is another book horror and suspense fans will enjoy.

WONDER WOMAN

Fans of Mythology will really enjoy this book. A great exploration of myth and magic with a strong female lead. Azzarello & Chiang are creating monthly magic with this book

I hope I peaked your interest enough to place some of these great books in your stockings this year :)

12 DAYS DAY 9: Have Yourself an Origami Christmas!

2011-12-10T20:03:00.001-08:00

STATS:

PUBLISHER:
AMULET BOOKS

It's a wonderful feeling to find a middle grade read that is also a treat for adults . In the Origami Yoda series, Angleberger infuses Star Wars fandom into a novel about a group of middle grade friends. The group finds an unexpected ally in their powerful friend: Origami Yoda.

Origami Yoda is a finger puppet carried by Dwight. Dwight is a very unique young boy. He is a bit of a loner and doesn't seem that bright. Yet when he pulls out Origami Yoda to answer his fellow students questions, he channels and intelligence that is eerily accurate.

The books take the form of case files, with recollections by a variety of students on how Yoda has helped them. Book 1 is told mostly from Tommy's perspective, Dwight's friend with some negative snippets of comments from Harvey, a non believer and soon to be creator of Darth Paper! Tommy is desperate to know if he can trust Yoda. Especially since he wants to ask his fellow classmate Sara for a dance!

Wonderful illustrations and an enveloping read that Star Wars fans of all generations will love.

12 Days Day 8: Holiday Gift Guide: FLUX Books

2011-12-09T15:47:00.001-08:00

FLUX Books has a wonderful variety of YA reads in a variety of genres. From contemporary Young Adult books to: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Speculative Fiction . Here are some of their recent and popular releases:

INDIGO BLUES IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME THRU AMAZON!

12 Days Day7: Shopping guide: Quirk Books

2011-12-07T20:04:00.001-08:00

QUIRK books has been a favorite publisher of mine since the Quirk Literary mash up Pride & Prejudice with Zombies. Quirk has a variety books sure to please many people on your gift list, here are some of my favorite Quirk books:

12 Days Day 6: Merry Sithmas! W/Giveaway

2011-12-06T09:24:00.001-08:00

I'm a huge Star Wars Fan! It's been amazing seeing how the fandom has grown through the years as well as cool merchandise and books. Here are some great products any Jedi or Sith in your family would love :)

These middle grade books are a joy for all ages. The stories center around Dwight a unique young boy who channels wisdom beyond his years with a Yoda finger puppet. wonderful art and story

Timothy Zahn is my favorite Star wars Writer, his book Heir to the Empire recently celebrated it's 20th anniversary, it's set several years after the events in Return of the Jedi. Red Harvest is a combination of two of my favorite things : Star Wars and Zombies! The Jedi Path is a manual on the training and belief systems of the Jedi path.

Star Wars and Lego are a beautiful partnership! This 2011 Advent Calendar has been a lot of fun to assemble. Every day leading up to December 25th there is a special Lego figure to assemble. These sets sold out really quickly at local targets and Toys R Us I'd recommend trying amazon if you want it in time for Christmas.

GIVEAWAY

I have one copy of Star Wars Tales 5 to giveaway

12 Days Review: Nicholas St North by Joyce & Geringer

2011-12-05T23:04:00.001-08:00

Nicholas St North : Brigand , Adventurer and Thief. Not the origin you would expect from Santa Claus right? St. North is a stand alone middle grade read that connects with Joyce's book Man in the Moon. A great darkness has once again been awakened into the world. Pitch, the Nightmare king is free. He has set his sights on the town of Santoff Clauseen, especially it's children.

Santoff is a magical village that attracts seekers of knowledge. Through magic and study of the natural world the residents of this town create marvelous inventions and commune with nature. The children of this village are under the protection of the wizard Ombric Shalazar. Under the tutelage of Ombric the children lead peaceful magical lives. All this ends when the monstrous Pitch begins to attack the village children in their dreams. Fate brings and unlikely hero to the village in the form of Nicholas. Drawn by a powerful dream of treasure Nicholas arrives at Santoff Claussen. Instead of the treasure he craves he finds a town under siege.The choices he makes lead to the awakening of his inner hero.

This is a wonderful read! Full of magic and adventure. We follow Nicholas on an amazing magical and emotional journey. Nicholas is used to only looking out for himself. Now he finds himself drawn to protect a village and a people he hardly knows. I was quite surprised at this origin story. Seeing a different version of the Santa Claus mythos was very enjoyable. One of my favorites characters in this book was Katherine. She is a brave and intelligent heroine. She is the inspiration for the man Nicholas will become and a strong magical user.

There is also an appearance by MIM or The Man in the moon that ties all of the books together. I'm really looking forward to more volumes in this series.

12 Days Shopping Guide: SCHOLASTIC

2011-12-05T12:01:00.001-08:00

When you think of SCHOLASTIC the first thing that comes to mind is possibly Harry Potter the franchise that inspired a generation of readers. This holiday season Scholastic has a wide range of books for all ages. So give the gift of reading this year!

For Young Readers and the Young at Heart:

A gifted Artist and Author, Brian Selznick has created two soon to be classics! The movie Hugo is also a visual treat.

Two of the most popular series running right now have new releases just in time for the holiday's

Scholastic has an abundance of Star Wars Books, this is one of my favorite:

Just a few of the great choices for your holiday gift giving. Happy Shopping & Happy Reading!

12 Days: Day 5: Trees w/Giveaway

2011-12-05T10:29:00.001-08:00

I got the idea for this tree from Real Simple Magazine: Take a bunch of colorful books, possible holiday themed and make a tree by stacking on e book on top of another :)

Hee is my tree for this year

Origami Yoda

Darth Paper Strikes Back

The Natural History of Love

The Natural History of the Senses

The Winter Solstice

Anchored with Beautiful Creatures :)

This is last Years tree!

Hope you give it a try it's really fun. Today's giveaway is an Arc of Vanish, also a bag stuffed with bookmarks, buttons and other great swag, enjoy!

12 Days, Day 4:Review & Giveaway Yule Be Mine by Lori Foster

2011-12-03T22:43:00.001-08:00

Romance novels aren't usually at the top of my reading pile, but I love holiday themed romances. In Yule Be Mine Lori Foster really captures the magic of the holiday season with some really hot romance! What impressed me most about this anthology is the difference between the stories. All of the stories are authored by Lori but each have a different narrative voice and interesting characters. These are my favorite 2:

He Sees You When Your Sleeping

Booker Dean is on a quest to turn friendship into romance with his next door neighbor Frances. He just needs to get out of his current relationship and convince Francis she isn't just a rebound! Booker is a very well rounded character and sooo sexy! Lot's of blush worthy scenes ;)

White Knight Christmas

Officer Parker Ross hates Christmas. His neighbor Lily Donaldson loves everything about the holiday and everything about Parker. Will her loving spirit melt his heart ? Lori has a gift for showing us the romantic story through her male characters perspective along with her female leads. More great sexy scenes and a very sweet ending.

A very enjoyable read for those precious moments of downtime during the holidays:

GIVEAWAY

Today's prize is a slightly loved copy of Yule Be Mine and a tin of tea from The Coffee Bean:

12 Days Day 3: MAKE MERRY W/Giveaway

2011-12-02T22:36:00.001-08:00

Today's tip is about being Merry! Often the holidays become about obligations instead of enjoyments. It doesn't have to be that way though. I always find my holiday cheer by embracing my inner child. I buy a fun toy for myself, make cookies and watch holiday cartoons. So today's prize pack is all about fun:

Naughty and nice caps Jingle bells necklace and bracelets. A inflatable guitar A looney toons Rubik cube and a voice recorder for reviews or belting out your favorite songs! Enjoy! Remember you only have to enter once:

HOLIDAY READATHON:Winner!

2011-12-02T06:00:00.001-08:00

HI EVERYONE THE WINNER IS KAYLA! THANKS FOR THE ENTRIES

Hello Everyone! So excited to get some reading done this weekend :) I'm also hosting a giveaway for all participants. Here is my reading list for the event:

Desires of the Dead
Behemoth
Super Gods
The Future of Us
Finder Library Vol 2
Specific Impulse
The Dragonfly Prophecy

Looking forward to connecting with everyone. Now, to the Rafflecopter!

Have Your Self A Zombie Little Christmas

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Have a Zombie fan on your shopping list? Or just want to supplement your personal Zombie Collection?

Here are some great items from THINK GEEK :

Slippers!

Zombie Car Decals!

Here are some really cool books and comics :

It's a great time to love Braiiiiins!

12 Days Day 2 Shop Off The List

2011-12-01T23:11:00.001-08:00

This is the time of year for making lists and checking them twice! Lists in general are very helpful, but when it comes to Christmas shopping, the list can be overwhelming. Today's tip from Collin's book is not about the people you know you are going to buy for, but about adding a person or organization to it. This can be done in a variety of ways. Food Drives, Church Donations, Goodwill etc. I'm doing several this year, most of them tied to places I frequent: Starbucks, My local Supermarket, Toys for Tots, and my new favorite: Wear Star Wars and Share Star Wars Day.

These little additions to my normal gift giving really enhance a sense of gratitude for my life as well as helping others. So In the spirit of giving here are two more Items for the Box of Cheer:

Issue 1 of The House of Night Comic Book Series

An Arc of The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill

Check in tomorrow for prize 3! You only need to enter once to qualify for all 7 prizes :)

12 Days:Box of Cheer Winner

2011-12-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

WINNER OF THE BOX OF CHEER IS: LIEDER MADCHEN: THANKS FOR ALL THE ENTRIES EVERY ONE !

Welcome to my second year of 12 Days, a celebration of the Holiday season! I have some really fun things to share with you guys and some cool prizes. My guide for this event is this wonderful book:

I received this book for free last year as an e-book from Barnes & Noble. The holiday season always seems to go by so quickly! The tips in this book really help you to slow down and enjoy the spirit of the season. This is a faith based book, but I didn't find it overly preachy. I incorporate a lot of Winter Solstice activities into my Winter celebrations but I still found some meaningful passages and insights in this book that will appeal to everyone that celebrates the season :)

Today's tip is to add the ritual of ADVENT into your celebrations. As children time seemed to move so SLOW during December, I could remember marking little X's on the calendar and well WAITING! As adults stopping each day for a bit of meditation or even a bit of chocolate from a calender can bring a sense of calm and balance to the season.

This year I'm marking the Advent a little differently:

I'm a huge Star Wars fan, so when I heard about this Lego Advent Calendar I was so excited. I'll confess I've already opened one or two of the little squares but I wont be putting any of the toys together till the first. This small little ritual everyday is sure to be a nice break from the hectic season and a lot of fun. Hope you find a way to mark the Advent in your own special way :)

GIVEAWAYS

Be sure to click on the link above to win a $30.00 Gift Card or Up to $30.00 in Books

Also today marks the start of the 7 day long Box of Cheer. Here is today's prize:

A Disney Tote Bag

and

This Book:

There is a different prize everyday but you only need to sign into the Rafflecopter once.

To the Rafflecopter!

12 Days Review: Wish Upon A Star by Sarah Morgan

2011-12-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

STATS:
FORMAT: E-BOOK
SOURCE:NETGALLEY

This was a wonderful romantic book containing two Holiday themed novellas's set in England. First we meet Christy who has recently seperated from her husband. Due to the machinations of two very determined children they return home and Christy must find a way to cross the distance between Allesandro and herself.

This was a fun read on many levels. I really enjoyed learning a bit about the Lake District where the story takes place and also seeing a brief insight into the British medical system. Alessandro is very sexy! The couple are dealing with a lot of issues that face many couples today: Balancing work, careers and family.

I was really rooting for these two and loved the sizzling romantic tension between them.:)

The second novella centers around Miranda, she is a young pregneant woman on her own who is rescued by Dr. Jake Blackwell on Christmas night. There is an immediate attraction between the two but Miranda's past stops her from truly opening up ti Jake. More sweet than sizzling but a nice read. I really enjoyed the holiday theme and Sarah's solid writing style. A wonderful read for a snowy afternoon.

Thanks to Netgalley for making an e-galley of this book available.

Review: 8 by Michael Mullin & John Skewes

2011-11-30T23:19:00.001-08:00

Remember when Fairy Tales were creepy? No singing in the woods and handsome princes, things were kind of Grimm :)

8 really captures the feeling of those classic tales. Told in prose format, we learn about an 8th Dwarf. Due to some strange behaviors by 8, he is literally swept under the floor by his brothers. From his vantage point below the house 8 has a unique view and of the events that unfold after a mysterious young woman " breaks' into their home.

The prose really flows in this story and keeps you engaged. 8 even emerges as a hero of sorts. There are some really nice illustrations by Skewes as well.

Look for the 8 crew on FACEBOOK

REVIEW: PRINCELESS ISSUE 2

2011-11-30T21:27:00.001-08:00

I was so happy to get the opportunity to read an advanced PDF of Princeless issue 2. This series has so many wonderful elements that I really want to spread the word about it. Princeless is the story of Lady Adrienne who has fallen into one of the worst situations a young independent young woman can experience: She has been placed in a tower guarded by a fierce Dragon.

Lime many a Princess before her and also a fate she shares with her sisters , Adrienne spends her days watching rescuers fail and her and moaning the loss of her independence.

The discovery of a sword under her bed and some negotiating with her dragon Spark and the two are off to rescue her sisters and possibly other trapped princesses.

We also get to see the other side of the Princess rescue operations through the eyes of Prince Devin Adrienne's twin brother. He has been unsuccessfully training in swordplay and other Price like occupations while wondering why his very qualified sister Adrienne isn't allowed to rule.

Great swordplay and action this issue as Adrienne shows up at home disguised as a warrior. She hopes to rescue her sister Appolonia only to find her gone.

Another great issue that really moves the plot forward. I'm looking forward to the next stage of Adrienne's quest.Adrienne is such a great role model for young girls. I love her quick wit and desire to not settle for the limited options her status and sex demand. I also really enjoyed learning more about Devin. His love and respect for his sister is really evident in this issue. It is ironic how there personalities and desires don't match with the roles their father and their kingdom demands.

To learn more about this book and how to order visit Action Lab Comics

GUEST POST: NIGHTSPELL BEGINNINGS by Leah Cypess

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm so pleased to have this opportunity to kick off Leah's NIGHTSPELL Blog Tour. If you haven't read these two fine books I highly suggest them:

Now Here is Leah with some words on writing Nightspell:

“Beginnings are hard” – so I hear – but when it comes to writing books, I find beginnings fun and exciting. In fact, I come up with beginnings – first lines, ideas, characters – all the time. The challenge, for me, is coming up with the middles and endings.

So to start off the Nightspell Blog TOUR I thought I’d show you the original beginning of Nightspell. This was what the beginning looked like for most of the book’s creation. But when I sent my final draft around to critique partners, one of them mentioned that it was a bit passive. Sometimes, a comment just hits you right; by the time I had finished reading that critiquer’s email, I had thought of a new way to start the book and written it down.

          Curious about the beginning that hit the dust? Here it is:

                                                                                  #

The ghost was watching them from behind a tree.

Darri started to tighten the reins, then thought better of it and forced her hands to relax. Her horse, not fooled, snorted nervously and tossed its head. Darri stared straight ahead and thought, as hard as she could, of sunlight and blue sky and empty plains. The mental image had worked until now, keeping her just at the edge of panic. But the farther they rode into the tangled trees that towered over them in the darkness, the more difficult it was to pretend she was riding through her father’s lands, where the dead were safely hidden beneath the earth and you could see an enemy coming for miles.

No one else had noticed the ghost. Even Varis had passed it right by, wearing his habitual focused expression and scanning the ground and the trees. True, none of them was used to riding at night or among trees, and the torches cast flickering shadows that made it difficult to see anything. Still, their lack of attention was testimony to the general quality of the men who had been willing to ride with them into Ghostland.

Despite herself, Darri looked back. Beyond the pale glow of the last torch, the forest was so dark there could have been a thousand ghosts there – or none at all. Or just the one she had seen, the tall girl in a tattered gown, with her long hair twisting around her shoulders and a tree branch clearly visible through her translucent torso.

Here be ghosts the maps said, and that was all they had to say about the kingdom known as Ghostland. There would be more than a thousand ghosts where she was going. There would, the legends whispered, be as many ghosts as there were people. Each ghost looking for vengeance, and each unkillable. You couldn’t kill the dead, but they could kill you.

Varis glanced over at her swiftly, frowned – at what, she couldn’t imagine – and went back to scanning the shadows between the thick tree trunks, as if expecting a ghost to leap out from between them.

She tried to feel scornful, but in truth she was no better. She had reached for her dagger a dozen times since they crossed the border. In her case, though, her tension was only partly because of where they were. It was mostly because of where they were going, and who she was going to see there.

“Don’t be nervous,” Varis said, making her almost jump out of her saddle. She turned and glared at him. “We’re almost there.”

                                                                                     #

(If you want to compare it to the original beginning, it’s available for free at HARPER TEEN)

What do you think? Which of the two beginnings do you like better? Are beginnings easy or hard for you? Let us know in the comments, and be entered to win a one-of-a-kind annotated copy of Mistwood!

Thanks so much Leah!

In My Mailbox 32

2011-11-26T20:54:00.001-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by the lovely THE STORY SIREN Here is what I got this week:

PURCHASED

Leah is a guest on my blog Monday so I wanted to get caught up on her 2nd book. I'm really loving this one :)

I have a confession. My new Nook Color is verrry sensitive! I meant to add this to my wishlist but my finger slipped and I bought it instead :) Cant' go wrong with Zombies though.

I was fortunate to get a copy of the book Man in The Moon by William Joyce at Comic-Con. This is the second book in the Guardians of Childhood Series, this one is the history of Santa Claus! I love reading Holiday themed books I'm excited to read this :)

So What Did You Guys Get?

On My Wishlist 30

2011-11-26T11:09:00.001-08:00

On My Wishlist is hosted by the lovely BOOK CHICK CITY I'm in the mood for some Horror! Maybe it's the dark nights and chilly weather :) Nothing beats a warm bed, some tea and a good chiller! Here is what I'm wishing for this week :

An Anthology of Horror at work!

Have heard people buzzing about this one! Great creepy cover

Another Horror anthology

Looking forward to this comic book! An undead warrior, lot's of Sword & Sorcery!

This story is also an amazing Audio Book, looking forward to seeing it in Comic Book form

So what are you wishing for?

REVIEW:MISTWOOD by Leah Cypess

2011-11-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

A Prince in desperate need, A creature bound to his kingdom and deadly court politics are the key story elements in this lovely atmospheric read from Leah Cypess.

Everything in this novel is intriguing. A prince comes to a dark and mysterious woods. The object of his search is the Shifter. The Shifter is the defender of the royal line and the current prince and heir to the throne is in danger. Once found and bound we learn the Shifters name is Isabel and she has been absent from the kingdom for many years, every since the prior King was murdered.

Prince Rokan brings Isabel back to the castle and her new duties : to protect his life at all costs. This book is a wondeful read! It has a lot of elements found in traditional fairy tales with a different slant. Isabel is a very interesting character. There is a great mystery surrounding her as she discovers her powers are not up to par with what Rokan and the other castle residents expect. She is dealing with gaps in her memory and her feelings towards Rokan.

There is a stilness in the narative that is broken up by periods of action and a little romance. There were many twists and turns and suprising revelations.

I'm looking forward to steeping back into Leah's narrative world in the companion novel to the Mistwood world Nightspell.

REVIEW: CHALICE by Robin Mckinley

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Chalice is a gorgeously rich fantasy narrative about a kingdom trying to find balance. Mirasol, a young beekeeper who has been chosen as Chalice for her village. Chalice is a symbolic and magical job that requires her to provide a variety of emotional balance to the earth itself as well as her individual village residents.

Every land however needs a circle to keep balance, a Master the land a circle of support.The Master and Chalice of Mirasol's kingdom died in an unbalanced quest for power. Now the younger brother oft the Master has been summoned from his meditations with the Fire priests, to come and take stewardship of this land.

This is such an amazing story! Marisol is a fantasy heroine that yo will love and admire. She accepts the title of Chalice and with little training makes the title her own. Her resonance with bees and honey adds rejuvenation properties to her land and the Master. The circle however isn't strong, so when an usurper seeks to come and take control it will take all of Mirasol's faith in herself and her innate power to save them all.

A satisfying read that will want you to seek out more of McKinley's work.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2011-11-24T09:40:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone! Hope you are having a wonderful day no matter how you celebrate. I'm grateful for many things in my life but the one thing that has stood out the past several of years is the Blogging community. Thank you so much for welcoming me, supporting my events and your comments which I treasure more than any other gift!

Best to you all.

REVIEW: HEXED by Kevin Hearne

2011-11-24T06:00:00.001-08:00

Witches most foul come up against my favorite Druid (and the last !) in the second of Kevin Hearnes's Iron Druid Chronicles. Barely recovering from the events in Hounded. Atticus is dealing with the repercussions of being a God Killer. A constant parade of deities trying to form alliances and figure out if he is willing to take out the Thunder God Thor.

It's a vicious magical attack however that gets his attention. He escapes death only to find himself in an uneasy alliance with a local coven to discover the hexers. Then there is that group of Bacchanals headed Atticus's way bringing lust and destruction with them. Did I mention the two Goddesses vying for Atticus' alchemical skills and his body?

It was so wonderful to step in Kevin's world for the second time. Atticus is such a well realised character. One page into Hexed and I sighed with enjoyment upon hearing his narrative voice again. Then there is Oberon , Kevin's faithful hound and the source of wonderful comedic elements. The action is more actiony, the witches gorgeous and hexy and it all culminates in an epic battle that leaves you wanting more of well EVERYTHING! Now onto Hammered, I can't imagine what wonders are up next.

Speculative Fiction fans will love this ! So find time to step into this wonderful series .

REVIEW: LOST VOICES by Sarah Porter

2011-11-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

I've always had a fascination with mermaids. My favorite story is The little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson. Their is a sadness to the original version of that tale that really connects with the melancholy of these sirens of the sea. In Sarah's novel we get a modern day interpretation of the mermaid myth. Fourteen year old Luce moves through her life like a sleepwalker. Since her Father's disappearance at sea she has lived a desolate life with an alcoholic uncle. After a vicious rape attempt by her Uncle she tumbles into the ocean and expects to finally have her pain end. Instead she undergoes a surprising transformation. Now a mermaid Luce is found by another group of young girls. All beautiful and gifted mermaids, all transformed by painful experiences.

There was a lot of promise with the story in the beginning but the novel seemed to lose focus mid way. The girls she has joined spend their time viciously attacking any ships that come their way. Luce desperate to fit in goes along with them discovering that she has a powerful enthralling voice.

The darkness she had in her above life continues to cling to Luce in her new one. I really couldn't connect with he other girls in the story and found that Luce took a back seat to them and had little character growth afterwards. It's possible that more of her story will be revealed in the upcoming sequels but this one left me unsatisfied.

SAVE THAT PRINCE!, KISS THAT FROG! IT'S FAIRYTALE SPOTLIGHT TIME!

2011-11-23T08:31:00.001-08:00

I really enjoy Fairy Tales, they remind me of my childhood days and of course Disney Princess movies which I'm a huge fan of . Now more than ever it seems like a great resurgence is occurring in fairy tale themed fiction though often with a twist!

So over the next few day's I'll be sharing some of my favorite reads that have fairytale elements along with some comic book reviews.

I'm also excited to have a guest post with Mistwood & Nightspell author Leah Cypess on 11/28/11.

I also have two sets of signed bookmarks to give away! So to the RaffleCopter!

Review:The unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-11-21T22:25:00.001-08:00

Mara Dyer is the YA equivalent of the movie Black Swan. Truly! It's hard to know what's real and what isn't. We meet Mara on one of the darkest days of her life. She awakes with know short term memory and the news that three of her friends are dead. She has been rescued from a destroyed building but her friends were not so lucky.Now eight weeks later her whole family has relocated to Miami, Florida.

A new school where mara just wants to go unnoticed and deal with the strange echos in her memory and the fact that she keeps seeing her dead friends in mirrors, on the street and in the darkest recesses of her mind.

That's hard to do as she catches the notice of Noah, a sexy young Brit with a reputation and a fixation on the one girl who isn't falling at his feet.

I really don't want to say two much about this book because it is definitely a read that is experiential.I will warn you that it may surprise you. Michelle is a wonderful writer who lays out the book pretty much like a mystery. The tantalizing glimpses of Mara's past combined with the mysterious deaths and strange visions she experiences make this a book you can't put down! I really wasn't expecting where she was going and I loved every minute of it! The main story elements are resolved in this first book but there is a shocking twist ending that leaves you wanting book 2 ASAP!

A really great read and a promising author I definitely will be following.

REVIEW: THE PRINCESS CURSE by MERRIE HASKELL

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Fairy tales were the fuel that fed my childhood imagination and put me on the path to be an avid consumer of books. In this debut novel Merrie takes all the wonderful elements of your favorite fairy tales and imbues them with a unique twist and a wonderful female lead. Young Reveka is 13 and obsessed with the cursed princesses. There are twelve of them, all half sisiters of a kingdom that has failed to produce an heir and needs strong political marriages to keep them safe.

However this proves impossible as the sisters are under a strange curse that leaves them exhausted in the morning with their shoes torn to shreds. Those that get close to the princess get infected with a strange sleeping disease. Reveka however is not intimidated! She has a plan: cure the princesses and use the reward to buy her way into a nunnery and spend her remaining days as a herbalist.

Reveka is a joy to read.I loved everything about her. She finds a way to follow the sisters and discovers that they are the architects of their own curse. She discovers their captor is a zmeu a fearsome dragon like beast. To save her father and the young girls she makes a choice that severs her completely from the world above.

Now mistress of an underworld kingdom she uses her herbalists skill to bring new life to a kingdom that thrives on death and decay.

A magical adventure with a wonderful sweetness between Reveka and Dragos. Only her innocence can see through the monstrous visage others cringe from. Such a wonderful read, I really like when a book leaves you wanting to stay in the narrative world ,while wrapping up the main story elements .

IN MY MAILBOX 31 NOOK COLOR EDITION

2011-11-20T13:38:00.001-08:00

In my Mailbox is hosted by the lovely The STORYSIREN Here is what I got this week:

Merry Christmas TO ME!! I GOT MY NOOK COLOR!!!

I thought I was going to get the nook tablet but stacking the two up against each other there wasn't a huge difference and with a pending upgrade its only getting better. I'm so in love with this! Love the good reads app and the fact that I can post the books I'm browsing and reading directly to twitter with my thoughts. Highly recommend this !!

PURCHASED

I discovered a great new Blogger DOGEARED & BOOKMARKED She is doing a Christmas Carol read-a-long. I love reading with other bloggers so I'm excited for this.

So what did you guys get?

Debut Author Challenge 2012

2011-11-18T23:47:00.001-08:00

It's time! This is my second year participating int THE STORYSIREN'S Debut Author Challenge.

So far I have these books picked out:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Katana by Cole Gibsen

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Etiquette &Espionage by Gail Carriger

The PDF list of DEBUTS for 2012 is insane!! I'm sure ill find more than 8 more books to add. Looking forward to it :)

Thankfully Reading Day Wrap Up

2011-11-18T09:16:00.001-08:00

Well no books finished today! But for a holiday weekend 7 books isn't bad :) Hope you all did well also

~~I'm starting with The Body Finder~~
Nightspell
~~Batman Noel~~
~~Mystery In space vol 1 GN~~
~~New Teen Titans Games GN~~
~~Backyard bowwow-DC SuperPets~~
Yule Be Mine
Dead City Joe Mckinney
A Touch Mortal
~~Remind~~
~~Saga of The Swamp Thing vol 5~~

REVIEW: Brains a zombie memoir by Robin Becker

2011-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what a Zombie thinks?Yes there is the primal quest for Braiiiins, the tender flesh of humans, but what of their own brains? In this memoir we meet Jack Barnes, a college professor who finds himself greatly changed after a zombie bite. Trapped in the typical zombie mold with typical cravings Jack is also surprised to find his thought processes fully intact. Barely able to get more than a gargled groan out verbally, Jack still sets out to create a nuclear family in a zombified world. First up this brave new Adam Zombie needs an Eve. He finds it in a terrified young pregnant woman at a diner whom he quickly bites.

Like a rag tag troop more and more zombies form around his band: two former soldiers, a teen aged gunslinger, a young African American boy with incredible speed and a hankering for meaty ankles.

Jack is the star of this novel though. His self absorption in life has turned into a strong survival instinct. Yes he cares as much as he can for those around him but his loyalties are mainly towards himself. I read this book in a few hours and really enjoyed it. It was an interesting balance seeing Jacks intellect pitted against his ever growing hunger.

Humor, some good Zombie action and a satisfying ending. Really all I crave in my zombie fiction :)

REVIEW: HOUSE OF NIGHT COMIC ISSUE #1

2011-11-17T12:02:00.001-08:00

The House of Night Novel series is one of those catch 22 situations. On the one hand it has a lot of elements I enjoy: YA series, Strong female lead, paranormal elements. On the other hand it is also an established series with several volumes already released and more to come it would take an extensive time and monetary sacrifice to jump in . So though I've been intrigued by the series I haven't made the leap to purchase them.

Now here is Dark Horse with a 5 issue miniseries set in the world of the House of Night Universe. Also with the first issue having a special price point of $1.00 there really is NO excuse for paranormal fans of books and comics to give this book a try.

What I enjoyed most about this book is hop easily writer Kent Dalian brings us up to speed in this new world. We meet Zoe Redbird who is a Marked Vampyre. Marked's are marked by the Goddess in Zoey's case it's the Goddess Nyx. Once marked the hard part begins: Training as a fledgling. They learn a variety of magical arts and skills leading up to their Change, the time when their tattoo's fill in completely.

Zoe is in the unique position of being the only fledgling that has completely filled marks and has been granted leadership of a group of fledgelings called The Dark Daughters.

It's an honor she doesn't want and more importantly one she doesn't think she deserves.

With the help of her friends and the Fledgling handbook she explores the story of Freya and the path she took to establish a House of Night in Norway in the year 1270. Through the story she finds the clues to put herself on the path that has been prepare for this.

Great storytelling and wonderful art by Jones & Kerschl. There is also creative input by P.C & Kristin Cast writers of the Novel series.

Current fans of the House series will love this miniseries that takes place between certain scenes in Betrayed and new fans like myself will be on board for all 5 issues and possibly pick up the first book in the series Marked :) Definitely check this out! Available at your local Comic shop or for Digital Download at DarkHorse

Happy Hauliday's Giveaway: WIN $500.00 IN BOOKS

2011-11-14T08:49:00.000-08:00

CHRONICLE BOOKS is once again hosting it's Haul -Idays event! For those not familiar with the event here is how it works:

I as a participating Blogger get to go on a fantasy shopping spree, deciding what books I would pick if Chronicle declared me the winner of $500.00 in books.

ONE LUCKY COMMENTER on this post ALSO WINS $500.00 dollars worth of books and a Charity of my choosing!

I pick The Boys & Girls Club of America

Here Is My Wish list! Very Star Wars influenced:)

Instant Iron-Ons

Obsessed with Star Trek

Treasured Classics

How to Speak Wookiee

The Sounds of Star Wars

The Jedi Path

Star Wars Chronicles

Wookiee Cookies( Star Wars Cookbook)

The Boy who loved Batman

Olive The Other Reindeer Note Card Set

Whoopie Pies

Fairy Parties

I'm So Happy It's Happy Hour

Dead Inside(Zombies)

Big Vegan

The Art Of DC Vintage Postcards

Chronicle Tote Bag

Be sure to check out the Chronicle link, they have great books and are one of my favorite publishers for geeky books

So Leave a COMMENT (ONLY ONE) and keep your fingers crossed that we both win big!