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Archive for September 2012

The Spooktacular Paranormal Reading Challenge

Sunday, September 30, 2012 § 0 Comments


This month, I'll be participating in the 2nd Annual Spooktacular Paranormal Reading Challenge, hosted by Marie at Ramblings of a Daydream. The purpose of this reading challenge is to read and review a minimum of three paranormal books between October 1st and 31st.
I can't believe it's October already tomorrow. But October means Halloween! One of my favourite times of the year. That reminds me, I need to plan what I'm going to carve into a jack-o-lantern this year. Last year was Voldemort and Thriller!Michael Jackson -- I got an amazing response from people, so this year needs to top it. I'm open to ideas!

Check out details on this challenge, taken from Marie's blog post:
  • Read and review a minimum of three (3) paranormal** books. Reviews must be posted for the first time between October 1st and 31st, 2012. You don’t have to have a blog to participate, as long as you can post your reviews somewhere (GoodReads, Amazon, etc) and share them.
  • For every paranormal book you read, review, and link up in the month of October, you’ll be entered in a giveaway to win one of the paranormal books below. To be eligible for the giveaway, you must complete the minimum of three books.
  • The link-up in this post is just for sign ups. I’ll be posting a separate link-up for reviews on the 1st of October.
  • Ebooks and audiobooks count. Adult and young adult books count. If this challenge crosses over into other challenges you're doing, that’s fine with me.
**PARANORMAL: Same as last year, I’m using a very loose interpretation of ‘paranormal’. It can be paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy - basically any ‘creature’ or ‘otherworldly’ book counts - vampires, werewolves, faeries, shape shifters, zombies, angels, demons, mermaids, dragons, witches/wizards/sorcerers, trolls, sirens, banshees, etc.
Now, paranormal YA? My favorite kind. So it was hard trying to decide which 3 I'll read. Since my blog is new, I'll re-read a book and post a review of it for the first time. Plus I'm planing on re-reading the entire series to prepare for the movie release next year anyway (alksdjhf!). Another one will be a book that I just heard about yesterday, plus its sequel, which just came out.

  1. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare: Nephelim, demons, warlocks, vampires
    [✓ Review]
  2. Sweet Venom (Medusa Girls #1) by Tera Lynn Childs: Gorgons, Greek mythological creatures
    [✓ Review]
  3. Sweet Shadows (Medusa Girls, #2) by Tera Lynn Childs: Gorgons, Greek mythological creatures
    [✓ Review]

There is also a paranormal book giveaway going on with this challenge, so if you'd like to sign up, do so right here.

The Sunday Post: 2nd Edition

§ 23 Comments


Hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer:
It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
Where has the week gone? This past Friday marked my first week with this blog, and wow, what an experience. I'm loving it, learning a lot of new things and reading, reading, reading. Definitely a good time. I started my part time job again earlier this week; I was out for 2 weeks due to school starting and switching supervisors, but now I'm back and catching up on all the work I left behind. I missed my little cubicle and all the hustle and bustle of the office. It's just been non-stop work and school; I have a number of assignments due in the next 2-3 weeks, including a shot-by-shot report on the film, The Ghost Writer (oh look, it's kind of book-related, too) for my film class, and finding perspectives in photos for my art class. Some definite long lengths of time will be put into those starting this week. Later during the day though, I'll be continuing work on prepping stuff for my godson's 7th birthday party. Excited! Oh, and Once Upon a Time starts later tonight, but I'll be at the spa sitting in on an information session on skin care products and eating free food... not to mention grabbing myself some free samples. Thank goodness for PVR.

Last week:
  • It's still on-going (last day is today!), but I participated in Bloggiesta, hosted by There's A Book and It's All About Books. I've made some great progress on the blog and reading-wise, scheduling and listing a lot of stuff. I definitely feel more organized and ready to take on some new challenges within the book blogging community. I followed a lot of new people on Twitter and through GFC. *waves*
  • Posted a review for It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
  • Posted a review for Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
  • My giveaway for The Perks of Being a Wallflower closed on Friday. The winner is: Gabe. Congrats! I've got in touch with Gabe and will be shipping out the book and soundtrack on Monday. A huge thank you goes out to the lot of you who entered and made my first giveaway a success!

This week:
  • I'll be posting some reviews, including Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly.
  • I'm adding my blog to different directories to get the word out.
  • The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan comes out on Tuesday! I will definitely be buying it. I'm hoping to finish up The Son of Neptune soon so I can start reading.
  • I have a lot on my plate both reading-wise and offline, but I do want to do something for Banned Books Week, even though I'm in Canada and our Freedom to Read Week was in February/March. So I'll be re-reading Impulse by Ellen Hopkins, an often challenged author, and one of my favorites. Love her and this book to pieces.
  • I'm continuing to jump around and follow/comment on different book blogs. There are so many great ones out there and I love seeing what people are reading.
  • I signed up for the 2nd Annual Spooktacular Paranormal Reading Challenge hosted by Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. This is right up my alley and it's my first time participating, so I'm super stoked. I'll be making a separate post about it on Monday with the books I'm planning to take on, and will be tracking my progress with the handy widget on my sidebar.

New bookshelf additions:
  • Cinder by Marissa Meyer
  • The Selection by Kiera Cass

Now I'm off to watch Robert Sheehan and Aidan Gillen be all kinds of badass in Love/Hate before bed. I haven't been able to pop in my DVD for weeks now. Did you enjoy your weekend? Have anything special going on? Let me know!

Review: Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Saturday, September 29, 2012 § 4 Comments

Title: Please Ignore Vera Dietz
Author: A.S. King
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release date: October 12, 2010
ISBN-10: 0375865861
ISBN-13: 9780375865862
Format: ePub
Source: Purchased
Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?



My Review:
This is the story of Vera Dietz, an 18-year-old high school student who works at a pizza parlour whose best friend died recently. The story starts off at Charlie's funeral, and following this, the book jumps back and forth between flashbacks and the present. Vera is a responsible, smart student who would rather fade into the back of huge crowds; another invisible face. This is thanks to her mother, who had abandoned her a few years back and the fear of growing up and essentially becoming her. Charlie, on the other hand, had a rough family life and began slipping away from her as they grew. He fell into a crowd made up of burnouts and "detentionheads", as they were called, eventually leaving Vera behind. As different as they were, both kids have been through so much crap that the outpouring of sympathy I felt for them went through the roof.I really didn't know what to expect when I first started reading this book. There was so much going on in the first chapter already, I was kind of thrown off. One thing is for sure, though: Vera's voice was really engaging and was the sole thing that kept me reading. King did an amazing job with Vera's personality and putting it into words; she's incredibly genuine and relatable. The way she describes the people and situations around her, and just the way she talks is funny, witty, and so the way a teenager would.

There's also the complication of her relationship with Charlie. They were on the outs when he died, and the cause of his death stays a mystery throughout the first part of the book. Knowing this and reading her memories with Charlie during their better times was absolutely heartbreaking. There were times where I was frustrated with the way Vera acted, and times where I detested Charlie. But then it turns around and I like them both, or one more than the other. I wanted their friendship to be mended, then there were moments where I was hoping Vera would get him back for some of the stuff he did. This book was just a rollercoaster, and I loved it.

Another reason I really liked this was Vera's relationship with her dad. They're both clearly suffering the aftermath of her mom leaving, albeit in different ways. Her father, Ken, is doing his absolute best to keep Vera from making the same mistakes he did when he was younger, and even though Vera is doing the same in terms of her mother, they both clash horribly. Ken's got these flow charts going on in the book that I found hilarious. Plus, a pagoda gets its own POV, which is absolutely ingenious. Another thing that I learned from this book is that we should definitely appreciate our pizza delivery person technician more.

Be warned that this book has a lot of themes better suited for an older YA audience. There's swearing, drug use, abuse, and even a smidge of unbelievably creepy paedophilia. That's probably where it lost that half star for me. Not that I'm uncomfortable reading about all of it -- it was just one after the other. At times I was a little incredulous that one person could go through all of that before they even hit the legal age. But who am I to judge? Overlooking that, though, it's a book about relationships: Love, friendship, family, schoolmates, and work all wrapped up in this little gem of a book.

My rating:

Visit the author:
Official website | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy this book:
IndieBound.org | Amazon.com | Indigo.ca

Bloggiesta: Day 2 [Goals & Updates]

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Bloggiesta is hosted by There's A Book and It's All About Books, and runs from September 28-30.
It's day 2 of #bloggiesta, and I've been getting a lot done, surprisingly. I've got a spiffy new layout (well, header)... which I've went back and edited about 12 times. Let me know what you think in the comments!

I've updated my to-do list and will work on more mini-challenges today. I'm not sure how much time I'll have to update tomorrow, since it's a full day of working on my godson's birthday party again, and a product presentation at my favorite spa. Cheers to free samples.

Click here to see what others are doing in this year's Bloggiesta, hosted by There's A Book and It's All About Books.

List of Goals
  • Write up a review for "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King (will post it in a bit!)
  • Improve on my layout
  • Add to my sidebars
  • Reorganize/update my Goodreads shelves
  • Follow more book bloggers Twitter accounts (still on-going even after Bloggiesta)

Mini-challenges
  • [x] Create a blog schedule, make monthly blog lists, create templates ✓
    • Template: Work on improving my links section for purchasing the books (adding Goodreads, author website/twitter, etc.)
    • Template: Also come up with a solid format for the body of my review
  • [x] Learn how to use Pocket
  • [x] Learn how to use Evernote ✓
  • [x] Continue jotting down my thoughts in a journal while reading books, and write more lists of to-reads, possible giveaways, author names, etc. Lists, lists, and more lists!
  • [x] Organize my books using Microsoft Access
  • [x] Visit, follow, and comment on at least 20 Bloggiesta participants' blogs
  • [x] Update my "About Me" page to incorporate more of my reading life ✓
  • [x] Update my policy and procedures
  • [x] Read up on the differences between Blogger and Wordpress
  • [x] Come up with a list of possible discussion posts
It's not too late: Click to join in!

Completed Mini-Challenges, September 29
  • Changed up my layout.
  • Fixed up my review templates and applied it to my past reviews. Added a Goodreads widget that allows visitors to add the reviewed book to their shelves with the click of a button. I love this little thing!
  • I'm further utilizing Evernote by saving my template codes, different HTML, and image URLs into notes.
  • Used my journal to make lists: What I'm reading next, authors with upcoming releases to look out for, and giveaway ideas.

I'll be tackling the Microsoft Access challenge later tonight! Wish me luck!

Bloggiesta: And so it begins! [Goals & Updates]

Friday, September 28, 2012 § 8 Comments


Bloggiesta is hosted by There's A Book and It's All About Books, and runs from September 28-30.
Here we go! It'll be my first time participating and I'm super pumped about this.

I spent some time at work putting together my to-do list (on my break, don't worry), and this post is subject to change any time, as I may add more items and/or do more mini-challenges as I go along. Eee, I'm already itching to start!

Click here to see what others are doing in this year's Bloggiesta, hosted by There's A Book and It's All About Books.

List of Goals:
  • Write up a review for "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King
  • Improve on my layout
  • Add to my sidebars
  • Reorganize/update my Goodreads shelves
  • Follow more book bloggers Twitter accounts

Mini-challenges:
  • [x] Create a blog schedule, make monthly blog lists, create templates
    • Template: Work on improving my links section for purchasing the books (adding Goodreads, author website/twitter, etc.)
    • Template: Also come up with a solid format for the body of my review
  • [x] Learn how to use Pocket
  • [x] Learn how to use Evernote ✓
  • [x] Continue jotting down my thoughts in a journal while reading books, and write more lists of to-reads, possible giveaways, author names, etc. Lists, lists, and more lists!
  • [x] Organize my books using Microsoft Access
  • [x] Visit, follow, and comment on at least 20 Bloggiesta participants' blogs
  • [x] Update my "About Me" page to incorporate more of my reading life ✓
  • [x] Update my policy and procedures
  • [x] Read up on the differences between Blogger and Wordpress
  • [x] Come up with a list of possible discussion posts
  • [x] Try reading a YA book focusing on fae
Click to join in!


Completed Mini-Challenges, September 28
  • Just used Pocket to save the mini-challenges for this weekend, that way they'll be easily accessible on the go. I've also added some book reviews for new releases that I want to check out. This is such a handy app!
  • Read up on Blogger vs. Wordpress. This is something that I was debating over before starting my blog. Who knows, maybe as I get used to running this blog, I might want to make the switch. Definitely not ruling it out, especially after reading the post at Books, Biscuits, and Tea.
  • Evernote is an app that I downloaded about 2 years ago, but I really had no idea what to use it for or even how to use it. Now I have a reason to!
  • Updated my "About Me" page with more info about yours truly, as well as a list of some of my favourite books.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: 1st Edition

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 § 12 Comments


Hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine:
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
There are quite a few upcoming releases that I'm looking forward to, but one that I can't wait to get my hands on because it's so close that I can almost smell it?
The Mark of Athena
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: The Heroes of Olympus (Book #3)
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Pages: 580 (Hardback)
Release date: October 2, 2012
In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?

The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophecy remains a mystery....

With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.


6 more days! I'll probably end up re-reading the whole Percy Jackson series, plus the Heroes of Olympus. It'll be nice to revisit. They'll also help tide me over while waiting for the next Percy Jackson movie, which I'm also waiting quite impatiently for.

What are you looking forward to?

Review: It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Monday, September 24, 2012 § 7 Comments

Title: It's Kind of a Funny Story
Author: Ned Vizzini
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Humour
Publisher: Miramax Books
Release date: April 3, 2007
ISBN-10: 0786851961
ISBN-13: 978-0786851966
Format: Hardcopy
Source: Purchased
Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life--which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job--Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy.

At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids; he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping--until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness. For a novel about depression, it's definitely a funny story.



My Review:
I have to admit: I watched the movie before reading the book, so I wasn't really able to picture the characters in my head as anyone else but the actors while I was reading. But that doesn't even matter, because the story in the book itself surpassed the movie by miles (it was still a good movie, though).

Craig's story wasn't your typical "good-hearted kid from the wrong side of the tracks" deal; he was normal. A little bit of an over-achiever, but who doesn't wish that for themselves sometimes, right? He grew up with a good, supportive family, got good grades, and hung out with this friends. To me, the book portrayed mental illness as something that could have been present in anyone. Because in reality, it can. I'm not saying everyone goes through exactly what Craig did, but there are a lot of people who may go through bouts of stress and anxiety to the point where they're on the verge of a downward spiral asking, "what's the point?". Someone can appear to be alright on the outside, but no one knows what's really going on except that person. I adored reading from Craig's point of view. The way his brain worked was so amazingly unique... brain maps? I loved that. He basically is in conflict with himself through the book, and I couldn't help but get into it and hope that Craig would find his happiness through this whole ordeal. The reader can see themselves in a part of Craig, whatever that part may be. I know I did, because of him working so hard in high school in hopes of landing a career that made him a lot of money as opposed to something he could really enjoy. That was me: working hard to become a pharmacist in high school (with a still-lingering dream to become a graphic designer instead), then finding out I didn't have the science chops during my first year of university, and what I really wanted to do was something art or arts related. I basically had this whole un-classy breakdown, dropped about half of my classes, and basically had to start all over. But I figured, what the hell, so what if I won't make as much money? I wouldn't be happy, it wouldn't be worth it. My first year of university was my kind of funny story.

The other characters in the book were likeable; I don't think there were any that I disliked throughout the entire story. Sure, Aaron was a tool sometimes and I wanted Nia to sit herself in a corner and be quiet for about 1/3 of the book, but they all had their moments. My favorites were the friends that Craig met in the psychiatric ward. They were all so colourful and different in their own ways. At the same time, a lot of the other patients are going through things worse than Craig, and that kind of makes you re-evaluate and ask, "so then, is my life really that bad?"

There seems to be this standard that comes with writing contemporary YA novels. There's sex, drugs, depression, love triangles... you all know what I mean. It's Kind of a Funny Story definitely fits the mold, but for a lot of YA authors, it requires some extensive research to write these kinds of novels. But with Ned Vizzini, he himself was clinically depressed as a teen and actually spent some time in a psychiatric hospital. There's a touch of authenticity that came through while I was reading because of this. As he described the settings and the different kinds of people in the hospital, I was able to picture it all, and it all fit. The book holds this quality that can only come from someone with first-hand experience. Vizzini can take these depressing situations and not turn around to make them funny in an obnoxious 'hey, that's offensive' way, but he finds in them a sense of humour made up of three parts witty charm, two parts complexity, and a sprinkling of adorable, which kind of says a lot since it's a book about a kid checking himself into a psychiatric hospital.

I definitely recommend this book to, well, anyone. Teens in particular. It's a light, humorous read for something with this subject matter, and there are aspects in psychology that I found interesting. Maybe it'll make you think about the little things that you already have in your life that you might be taking for granted. Who knows, maybe you'll see a little bit of yourself in Craig, past or present.

My rating:

Visit the author:
Official website | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy this book:
BookDepository.com | Amazon.com | Indigo.ca

Bloggiesta: I'm in!

§ 1 Comment


Bloggiesta is hosted by There's A Book and It's All About Books, and runs from September 28-30.
Thanks to a suggestion by Judith at Leeswammes' Blog, I've decided to take part in Bloggiesta this fall. This will be my first time participating, obviously, and I'm really excited!

You can find more information at this post, and also sign up if you're interested.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?: 1st Edition

§ 10 Comments


Hosted Sheila at Book Journey:
This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!
Just a quick thank you to all those who have followed, liked, and commented in the last 2 days! Such a warm welcome into the book blogging community already; I can tell I'm going to love being a part of it. Virtual chocolate chip cookies for all. :)

In between studying for a film class and an art class (with a little bit of math *insert obligatory groan of disdain here*), here are the books that I'm currently reading this week:
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
The Heroes of Olympus series, Book #2

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery - although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely - enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Eighteen-year-old Vera's spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she's kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, or even the police. But will she emerge and clear his name? Does she even want to?
I've actually started The Son of Neptune over the summer right after I finished the first book, but unfortunately work and other summer activities made me put it on hold for a while. Plus, I kind of wanted to drag out the reading process for it because I know when I finish, I'll want to delve right into The Mark of Athena, and that's not out for another week -- finally. Not too long of a wait anymore!

What are you reading this week?

The Sunday Post: 1st Edition

Sunday, September 23, 2012 § 8 Comments


Hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer:
It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
It's been a busy week, with school kicking off earlier this month (can you believe October is already just around the corner?!). Seems everyone's settled in enough for the profs to start handing out assignments and projects. When I'm not reading, studying, or working, I'm helping my cousin plan my godson's 7th birthday party for November. My favourite little guy is growing up so quickly! This is going to be a fun party. Also, I love this time of year because the fall television season has officially started. I'm trying to get back into Glee, and I'm waiting for my CW shows to start. I've also discovered Once Upon a Time over the summer (I know, how late to the party am I?)... that's probably the show I'm most looking forward to this season!

Last week:

This week:
  • Will be reviewing It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
  • The 'Perks' giveaway closes this Friday, September 28. I'll announce the winner within 48 hours from then!
  • Memes, memes, and memes! I'm currently continuing to try and get this blog on its feet, so you may see me all over the place. 
  • I've gotten a bunch of books for upcoming giveaways. Some of them include:
    • The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
    • Someone Like You and Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
    • The Curse Workers trilogy by Holly Black
    • Glow (Sky Chasers #1) by Amy Kathleen Ryan

New bookshelf additions:
  • Jane by April Lindner
  • Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Looks like it's shaping up to be a good week so far!

Giveaway: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Movie Tie-in Edition) +Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Saturday, September 22, 2012 § 16 Comments


Nothing makes me more ecstatic than seeing my favorite book come to life on the big screen. Check out the trailer for the movie here, directed by the author himself, Stephen Chbosky:


Amazing, yes?

To celebrate the release of the film, I'm giving away a "Perks of Being a Wallflower" prize pack.
It includes:
To enter, simply fill out the entry form located below. The winner will be contacted through e-mail within 48 hours after the close date.

It opens in limited theatres today, with a wider release on September 28. Check your local movie listings to see if it's showing in your area!


Deadline: Friday, September 28, 2012
This contest is open worldwide.

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

Friday, September 21, 2012 § 0 Comments

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimée Carter
Series: The Goddess Test (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release date: April 19, 2011
ISBN-10: 0373210264
ISBN-13: 978-0373210268
Format: Hardcopy
Source: Purchased
EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.

NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS...



My Review:
When I read the blurb for this book, I got really excited for several reasons: 1) Greek mythology is possibly one of my favourite things to read about, and modern takes of them always pique my interest. 2) The myth of Hades and Persephone is one of my favorites in particular. 3) The whole "seven tests" idea is original and made for some serious potential.

I haven't seen many YA novels about Greek mythology, so this got instant points for it solely being the first one of its kind to catch my attention. I found Kate insufferable in the beginning, but she grew on me slightly by the end of it. I couldn't get into her as much as the minor characters, though. I liked James and Ava, and even Calliope had more likeability than the main characters even though she was a spiteful bitch and the reasonings behind her actions were kind of... ehh. The relationship between Kate and her mother was really sweet and I was rooting for Kate to pull through with the entire thing to save her.

There were some weak spots in the book. The accuracy in terms of mythology is kind of (I'm being nice, here) off, and the tests I felt were pretty underwhelming. Doing little tasks in exchange for immortality just isn't enough. It's immortality. I was expecting some Hercules-like stuff, which might have been a bit presumptuous of me because it's pretty obvious that this is a romance novel above all else. When it comes to YA, I usually find myself more in favour of the male lead, and the heroine is the one that gets on my nerves. But in this case, the character of Henry was someone that I just couldn't find appealing; did he love her? Did he not? Was he confused? Or just very angsty? He wasn't very likeable to me. The story was quite rushed, and Kate was swayed pretty easily when it came to forgiveness and believing that the gods existed.

The concept itself is fantastic. But when I was reading, I kept waiting for something. It just felt like something was missing under all that potential. I found myself looking forward to the reveals of who was who, and that's what motivated me to finish the book. I have to say, the pay-off was pretty awesome in therms of that. Plus, the cover is pretty. I really love the text, the whole ethereal and greenery feel, and the dress that the model is wearing is just gorgeous.

If you're looking for a quick, light read about fantasy mixed with romance, then consider this book. If you're looking for some complexity, hard-driven character development, mythological accuracy and a male lead who doesn't give you Edward Cullen vibes, then maybe skip out on it. You shouldn't go into this book expecting a lot of the original myth to be incorporated. For me personally, I liked it enough to buy the second book, Goddess Interrupted. But if I'm being honest, I haven't read it yet.

My rating:

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Hey there! :) Thanks for stopping by. I've been reading many, many Young Adult novels since I can remember, and I thought this blog would be a good way for me to share my thoughts, as well as get input on other YA books to read.

As you can tell, this blog is still in its very, very beginning stages. I'll be adding more content and more reviews in the coming weeks. My first review, which I'm writing up now, will be on "The Goddess Test" by Aimée Carter.

If you'd like to get in contact with me or follow my progress, my e-mail is herfictionfix (at) gmail (dot) com. I'm also on twitter at @HerFictionFix.