Title: What's Left of Me
Author: Kat Zhang
Series: The Hybrid Chronicles, Book 1
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release date: September 18, 2012
ISBN-10: 0062114875
ISBN-13: 9780062114877
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t...

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet... for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.



My Review:
Every body begins with two souls. There is a dominant soul and a recessive one. By the time a child reaches a certain age, the recessive soul settles, fading away into non-existence while the dominant soul continues on. Addie and Eva are faced with a problem: They are 15-years-old and Eva, the recessive, hasn't settled. They are a Hybrid, living in a world where they are considered illegal and a threat to society. Eva lives in Addie's head, trapped with only Addie knowing of her lingering existence. Addie keeps up appearances, knowing they'll be products of scientific experiments and get locked up with the other Hybrids to have them "fixed" if anyone finds out her secret. One day, they meet someone who can change both of their lives-- they'll be able to share their body once more. Will they risk it all for Eva to be able to truly live again?

It's not everyday you come across a story like this. Kat Zhang created this world where it's typical for two souls to encompass one body... for a while. If the second soul does not settle, they're in some serious trouble. The plot screams originality, and that's what drew me to this book in leiu of all the current dystopian titles that all seem to follow the same formula in terms of character characteristics and locations. Imagine having to share your thoughts with someone contstantly while living in a world where it was completely forbidden. Then imagine being the one sharing a body but having no control over anything. It's chilling.

Zhang did an amazing job writing two completely different characters who share one body; they were one being on the outside, but inside was a literal back and forth struggle. The relationship between Addie and Eva was written amazingly well. It was obvious through their conversations and thoughts that one couldn't live without the other. To let go of Eva would be the toughest thing for Addie, and it's so heartbreaking to read the story through Eva's perspective, being unable to do anything besides voice her thoughts to no one else but Addie. Having the recessive soul be the narrator for the story was such a nice touch.

While I was completely taken by the originality of it all, there were a few letdowns. As far as dystopians go, I'm personally really big on world-building. The world that Addie and Eva were living in wasn't thoroughly explored, and I wasn't sure how far into the future the story took place. It could have been set in the present, for all I knew. I'm not overly upset with that fact, though, because the story was so character-driven and it was interesting to read about how Addie and Eva worked and struggled together. It is, after all, their story.

Keeping on the topic of characters, I was also hoping for more of the secondary characters. That's especially true for Hally and Devon. The way they were written into the story was so well-done, with Addie and Eva witnessing both of their back-and-forths first-hand. The characters in this book were quite literally doubly more interesting to read about.

I am, however, giving it the benefit of the doubt. The book is the first in a series, and as I expected, this installment was more of an introduction. I'm crossing my fingers that there will be more exposure for the other characters in the coming books. I'm really interested to see how relationships between individual souls will work. More details on this society and how they operate wouldn't hurt, as well. It's just all so fascinating and I felt like there could have been more explanations as to why things were happening.

Overall, I was happy with this book. It's definitely an original in its genre of dystopian YA novels, concentrating more on character-building and their inner self-struggles than the world-building.

My rating:

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Title: Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem
Author: Melissa Lemon
Genre: Young Adult, Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Retelling
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Release date: December 11, 2012
ISBN-10: 1462111459
ISBN-13: 9781462111459
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley

Stuck in her family's apple orchards, Kat's got plenty of work to do and only pesky Jeremy to help. But when Jeremy convinces her to run away, Kat will discover that nothing---and no one---in her life is quite what it seems. Wonderfully reimagined, this is the magical tale of Snow White as you've never read it before!



My Review:
This enchanting re-telling of the timeless classic follows the journey of Kat, Princess of Mayhem, as she is forced out of her own kingdom at a young age. She grows up in an isolated apple orchard with her kind-hearted uncle, forced to stay within for her own safety. As years pass, her destiny catches up with her and things change in ways she never expected. Everything that's ever been familiar to her takes drastic turns and new life-changing encounters bring her closer to the past that was wrongfully and unknowingly taken away from her.

I am such a sucker for fairy tales. I especially love re-tellings of fairy tales that take on their own unique twist, but still retains that familiarity that made it a classic in the first place. This book has it all: the girl with skin as white as snow, the evil queen, the seven dwarves, and the magic mirror. Then there are the original additions, the lovely old-fashioned narrative, and captivating turns in the storyline. There aren't enough adjectives in the world to describe how much I enjoyed this book.

There are similar aspects between the original and Lemon's re-imagining, but she takes it to a whole other level with twists and revelations. One of the changes that I loved the most was that the evil stepmother, hell-bent on killing Snow White, was actually Kat's biological mother in this one. It makes it even more twisted and extreme; a mother wanting her own daughter dead? That has got to be one for the Freudian psychoanalytic theory books. She was actually born into royalty as opposed to being married into it, so she's rightfully allowed to have that kind of power. It's frightening. The dangers were clear and the Queen utilized her mirror to the best of her advantage, which made her the worst kind of villain, always lurking and waiting to exalt her power on those who defied her. Another thing was the choice for the narrator; he couldn't have been more perfect in context. It's narrated in omniscient third person, but in the best way possible: Jasper, the sole narrator, is the Queen's all-seeing mirror; a secondary character. How genius is that? The connections he had to Kat and the Queen made him a sympathetic and compelling character, as he was completely stuck, knowing what hardships lie ahead but being forced to watch from afar. The dwarves were also given a new spin, far from the Doc, Happy, Bashful, Grumpy et al. that we're used to in this day and age. There was much more dimension and realism to every single one of them. The characters that... weren't so likeable, they were still interesting. All in all, this book is filled with captivating characters and they're all intertwined in ways that I never saw coming.

The romance in the book was quite minimal, but it was there and drove much of the story along, especially in Jeremy's case. The other relationships were done very nicely as well, Kat and one of the dwarves named Pokole, in particular. The twists in the story lay more within the relationships than plot, and I found myself gaping at some of the reveals throughout the book.

Sight was an interesting concept in the book. The mirror saw everything while Kat only saw what was within the orchard. Her uncle lost his sight while the Queen never saw how her actions were affecting her reign and the townspeople. Also, the fantasy twist involving the snow fits so well into the story, and it's a creative twist at that.

Personally, neither the original European tale nor the Disney version are my favourites of all the fairy tales. Doesn't even crack the top 5. But this book is probably one of the best retelling's I've read in a long time, and while this is more of a re-imagining, it still made me re-evaluate and love the original tale a little bit more. Lemon gives readers a very original take on one of the most well-known classics. You'll feel the familiarity while being taken on a whole new enchanting ride with this version. It's one to watch for next month; I'd definitely recommend it to any Snow White fan! This is especially the perfect book for the winter season.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Cedar Fort for providing me with the ARC.

My rating:

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Title: City of Ashes
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments, Book 2
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Adventure
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Release date: March 25, 2008
ISBN-10: 1416914293
ISBN-13: 9781416914297
Format: Hardcopy
Source: Purchased

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.



My Review:
First thing's first, I would definitely recommend reading City of Bones before City of Ashes, as the story takes place right after the events of the first book. It might will be confusing if you don't know the entire back story.

In the second installment of the Mortal Instruments, Clary Fray has finally found her mother after the life-changing events in the equally breathtaking predecessor. However, Jocelyn Fray is in a magically induced coma, put on her to avoid revealing deep secrets to her once upon a time husband, Valentine. Valentine, on the other hand, wants to destroy all Downworlders: werewolves, vampires, and faeries. Clary and her friends team up once again with extra help from others to battle against her and Jace's terror of a father, who is after the Mortal Sword this time around to continue his plan to bring down the Clave. With the return of Valentine and the discovery of Jace's identity, the young Shadowhunter is under much scrutiny from the Clave and everyone around him. To make things worse, he and Clary are dealing with the aftermath of the news that they are siblings and being forced to deny their feelings for each other. This leads to a lot of confusion with Simon, Clary's best friend who has been harbouring a secret crush on her. Simon has his own problems -- much bigger problems -- to deal with as a result. Absolutely nothing is easy, everyone is still reeling from previous revelations, and unfortunately for our heroes, this is only the beginning.

This time around, there was more on the Downworlders, which is something that I've been looking forward to since Magnus' party in City of Bones. Clare intertwines between the mystical world of the Shadowhunters and the gritty streets of New York. Everyone is on high alert now that Valentine is on the loose; the Lightwoods are back at the New York Institute to clean up the mess Hodge had left, and Jace's newly-revealed identity also affects his relationship with the family that he's come to know and love as his own. There's more focus on things like Simon's feelings for Clary and vice versa in this book. But I really couldn't stomach Clary and Simon as a couple. Not ashamed to say that I'm too much of a Clace (yes, the portmanteau -- I had to) supporter for that. Plus, I adore Simon and Clary's friendship, nothing more. Their dynamic as best friends was one of my favourite things in book one, unrequited love aside. I'm not a fan of love triangles, but the Jace-Clary-Simon fiasco is far from your average. It's pretty messed up and disturbing if you've read the end of City of Bones and the summary above (I know, ick, her bother?!), but I'm all for disturbing. I don't know what that says about me, but I feed on twisted storylines... it makes things more interesting. While I did feel for Clary and Jace's major dilemma, there was a lot of focus on the fact and at times it became a little too much; luckily Clare made up for those little bouts with amazing action sequences and shifting to the backgrounds of the other characters.

I don't think there's a character I don't like or at least find uninteresting in this series. Valentine, for instance. I loathe him and his Hitler-like mentality, but his back story and the way Clare recalls it is so captivating and interesting. Old characters are further explored and there are new ones added into the mix. This book definitely cemented my love for some in particular. Such as...? Isabelle, Isabelle, Isabelle. My lovely Isabelle. I loved her even more in this book. Her one-liners were to die for ("Nothing less than seven inches", "I'm pure at heart. It repels the dirt"). She's such a fierce character and so sure of herself. Another character that was introduced was Maia. Yay for female werewolves! I think the last time I read a book with a female were was in Blood and Chocolate... and I was about 14-15. She's basically a female version of Simon. Speaking of... Simon, my love! This was a great book for him. I loved mundie Simon, but I love vampy Simon even more. Just his whole adjustment to it was such a great thing to read about, because you could tell it was very hard on him, very far from glamourized. It's not easy adjusting knowing that there's a possibility you could kill and that you'll probably outlive everyone you love. Then add Clary's overwhelming feeling of guilt and belief that all of it was her fault? It's heartbreaking. Then there's Jace. Just stick a knife in me and twist it, why don't you? Poor kid, getting kicked out of the Institute because of who he is. I love the Lightwoods (by far my favourite TMI family), and I'm so happy that the rest of them were finally introduced in this book, but Maryse lost some points with me for that one. She kind of redeemed herself after, though. I'm glad that the mystery of where Jace comes from was being further focused on. Dude's lived a very complex life. Of course, there's the precious Alec and Magnus, who both started to grow on me. I could tell that they would be something special as the series goes on. There was also the development of Luke and his connection to both worlds and their inhabitants. He spent most of the book at the hospital, watching over Jocelyn and hoping she would wake. It's amazing how the story was fueled by a woman who fell into a coma quickly in the series. Her back story and how she brought up Clary led to all of these events happening in her daughter's life now, and Jocelyn's not even awake to tell the tale. It just makes it more exciting to look forward to hearing Jocelyn's side of it once (if?) she finally wakes up.

As you can probably tell from that huge last paragraph, I enjoyed the character development immensely. The last 100+ pages were also very action-packed and was the perfect way to end the book. I was eager to jump into the third book right away. This second installment definitely entertained me more than the first. City of Bones was a great set-up for the things to come, but City of Ashes had such great character development and so many unexpected twists and turns that kept me thoroughly engrossed.

My rating:

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Title: We Are Savages
Author: Jessie Atkin
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure
Publisher: Brady and Dustin Publishing
Release date: July, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780985832902
Format: eBook
Source: Author

We Are Savages is the story of 12 year old Tris and what she finds when she runs from the responsibility of her household and descends through a rain grate into the child run world of Nowhere. "You go to bed angry or sad enough you can wake up just about anywhere," the Savages tell her. It is a brick utopia hidden in the sewers; made up of sweets, sports, hammocks, and fireflies. But even this haven, free of parents and protocol, is not everything it seems. Haunted by dark specters known only as Phocydes, feared for their reputation of consuming children whole, Tris works both to hunt and to hide from these hooded shadows. But something about them is familiar; something about them fires her curiosity more than her fear. And Tris slowly begins to realize that, no matter where you go, fear and responsibility are not things you can escape, the only thing to do is face them.



My Review:
This is the story of Tris Simon, a 12-year-old girl who would rather play with her army figures and read Harry Potter than wear dresses and be the young lady that her mother wants her to be. With her best friend and dog, Mars, by her side, she runs away after an unfortunate incident at home and finds herself whisked away to a strange land where there are no adults -- just lost kids like her. Here, she learns more about the effects of running away from your problems and faces much more than she had ever bargained for.Although it took me a while to get into during its initial chapters, I immediately took a liking to the protagonist, Tris Simon. She was a very realistic and relateable character in that, within the first few chapters, it was already apparent that she would be a character I'd love through the entire story -- I was right. She never wanted to be anything but herself, though her parents, her mother especially, would have preferred her to be the "young lady" that was supposedly deemed socially acceptable at her age. Even upon leaving her home and everything familiar to her, she remained in control of who she was and rose to the ocassion when called upon. She never changed for anything or anyone, which is an admirable trait for younger kids on the brink of adolescence these days.

The secondary characters that Atkin introduced were just as likeable. There was a very diverse group of kids in Nowhere, from the loveable and smart Declan, to the tough and resilient Aya, and the mysteriously charming Logan. Tris quickly formed relationships with all of these people and together, they faced even the most terrifying of events, discovering things about themselves that they would never have done in civilization. There's something here for everyone; if the reader doesn't see themselves in Tris, they might just find them in any one of these characters.

We Are Savages is very Alice in Wonderland meets Peter Pan, two of my favourite stories as a child. The land that Tris (literally) falls into is called Nowhere, an underground place where kids run the entire show; no parents, no chores -- just games, fun, and each other. Reading about the land from Tris' point of view just added that extra touch of thrilling adventure, and what she goes through in Nowhere is a hundred times more action than playing with her army men at home.

This is such a fun and refreshing read for anyone 10-years-old and above. I especially think this would be a great addition to a school library and I'd definitely recommend it to teachers to share with their young students. I loved the action and adventure scenes and loved that it touched on real issues that kids and preteens actually go through. The underlying overall message was about how you can't hide from your responsibilities and that you need to accept them. We Are Savages is a very lovely, light coming-of-age story that I'm glad I had the opportunity to read.

Thank you to Jessie Atkin for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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Title: Sweet Shadows
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Series: Medusa Girls (Book #2)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mythology
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release date: September 4, 2012
ISBN-10: 0062001833
ISBN-13: 9780062001832
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased

Gretchen may have known she was a descendant of Medusa long before her sisters — after all, she's spent her life fighting the monsters that escape the abyss — but that doesn't mean it will be easy to teach the other girls the ropes. Can she rely on Grace and Greer, or even trust herself to keep them safe? Greer has pressing social commitments on her plate and precious little time to train in her newfound powers. But that wretched second sight won't leave her alone, and her fabled heritage seems to be creeping into her fashionable life.

Grace has worries closer to home—like why her brother, Thane, has disappeared. He's hiding something. Could it possibly be related to the secret heritage the triplets share?

With the warring factions among the gods of Olympus coming for them, the creatures of the abyss pushing into their world, and the boys in their lives keeping secrets at every turn, the three girls must figure out where their fate will take them and how to embrace the shadows of their legacy.



My Review:
The second installment of the Medusa Girls picks up right (and I mean right-at-that-very-moment) where the first book left off. Medusa's descendants, Gretchen, Greer, and Grace are back, they're together, and now they find themselves fighting for their lives as monsters from the abyss plan on killing them in exchange for freedom. Olympian gods are involved and has the potential to get deliciously messy, the girls have new (or old?) allies, and all the while they're dealing with their new-found lives clashing with their old ones.There's so much that I loved about this book. Sweet Shadows had more action and an up-close look into the abyss as opposed to just being set in San Francisco. Childs gave the reader a look from both sides this time, and we were introduced to more of the monsters. And not all of them are bad! Cheers! This other world is such a contrast to the city. It's dark and ridden with monsters who have absolutely no desire to be there, which is why they want to escape any chance they get.

In addition to the change of setting, the characters were further developed really well. Greer wasn't my favourite in the first book, but I have to say that without a question she was my favourite in this one. Especially when talking to her adoptive parents... my heart broke for her. Another revelation lies in the character of Nick. Throughout the first book, there was this obvious underlying that there was something going on with him. I love that his role was expanded beyond being a pretty boy always hanging around Gretchen. The relationships were also more cemented, and will continue through the next book if this one is any indication. Childs did it again; I already can't wait for the next book.

Alright, I'm going to go into fangirl-mode for a sec, but am I wrong to think that something might happen between Thane and Greer? And that I got positively giddy just thinking about it? Potential to be awkward, though, because Greer looks exactly like Grace, who is very much still Thane's little sister. ...Or has Thane ever really considered Grace his sister? It's obvious that Grace thinks of him as her big brother, but it's never talked about how Thane feels. I think I've typed Thane out more than 4 times in this little blurb. Such a cool name. Plus he's still very much a mystery as he was before, even more-so now at the end of this book (Greer even called him an enigma. Did I call it, or did I call it?). Back to him and Greer, they seem to share some kind of link, and I'm really curious to see why. He still wins out as my favourite guy in the books. I'm really interested to know what his deal is; he's so vague. Just when I thought all the mysteries from the first book have been solved.

Just like the first book, this was written in the three different perspectives of the sisters. My only issue with the first one was the switching points of views, as there was no real flow or uniformity. This book was set up the same, so it was a little confusing at times. Again, not a huge issue because even though the girls were more in tune with each other and had similar goals and experiences, they were still very much distinct. All the storylines and characters moved forward at a nice pace with every chapter, and it's getting more apparent that this war is going to be something big.

Once again recommended for Greek mythology lovers and lovers of kickass heroines; there are three of them in this one. I got through Sweet Shadows in less than 30 hours--that almost never happens. Definitely no sophomore slump here!

Note: Read for the Spooktacular Paranormal Reading Challenge

My rating:

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Title: Sweet Venom
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Series: Medusa Girls (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mythology
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release date: September 6, 2011
ISBN-10: 0062001817
ISBN-13: 9780062001818
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.



My Review:
Gretchen, monster hunter extraordinaire, starts the story off in the middle of a fight, in which she comes out victorious. She's also trying to get a hold of her mentor, Ursula, who has been missing for a while. Grace just moved to San Francisco from a small town with her mom, dad, and older brother. She's smart, eco-friendly, and wants a fresh start in her new school. Only thing is, she starts seeing monsters everywhere. One day, the two cross paths and discover that-- hey, they have the same face. Upon learning about her ancestry through Gretchen, Grace finds out that she's a descendant of Medusa, the snake-headed Greek mythology lady we're all familiar with. The two start to spend more time together and make a further discovery: they have another sister. They're triplets. Greer is the Blair Waldorf of San Francisco. She's preppy, on top of the social ladder, is involved in many extra curriculars, and has a boyfriend that is just as socially high up. When she's tracked down by Gretchen and Grace, she refuses to believe anything they say. But their arrival triggers something from her past and now there's no turning back. She is, in fact, a triplet and a direct descendant of the Gorgon Medusa.

It's interesting because in most YA novels about mythology, the gods are portrayed as the good guys and the Gorgons as bad. Or maybe that's just me comparing everything to Percy Jackson, which I really shouldn't be doing. Just an observation. So this turn of events with the Gorgons being connected as main subjects intrigued me, and I love it. I remember learning about the Gorgon sisters in class several years ago, Medusa and Perseus specifically, but it wasn't a myth that stuck with me. I had to think back in terms of accuracy for this book, but I gave up a few chapters in, because I was pulled into this world that Childs created enough to enjoy it as it is. Plus all the monsters were kind of confusing and I couldn't keep up, but I was entertained nonetheless.

Each sister, we learn, has a power parallel to each Gorgon sister as well as common abilities, and the girls spend most of the novel discovering what they can do and why. I loved the kickass action sequences; especially Gretchen's, she's awesome. But I think what I loved more was their journey to discovering each other, their background, and their inevitable strong bond. It wasn't sudden, which I liked. It was all very heart-warming and nicely paced.

When I saw that the novel was switching perspectives back and forth between the sisters, I got a little weary. They'd have to have very, very distinct voices to work well. Childs achieved this, though. The sisters are so different from each other and their individual narratives definitely show that. I did, however, get confused (again) at times because it's not like the perspectives have a flow -- one chapter will be Grace, then the next Gretchen, then Grace again, then Gretchen, then Greer. But again, their voices were so distinct that it wasn't such a problem. The potential love interests were also likeable and very intriguing, like there's more than what's in front of you. This is also the case with Grace's brother, Thane, who is an enigma wrapped in stealth, wrapped in sharp cheekbones and square jaw. It's hard not to like these characters.

Overall, this book is a winner. It took me a while to get into it, but once I hit about the quarter mark, I finished it two days later on and off. I went and got the second installment as well, which I'll also be reviewing soon. Thank goodness I have the second one already, because... holy cliffhanger. Check it out if you're a fan of sisterly love and Greek mythology (especially the different creatures, there are loads here).

Note: Read for the Spooktacular Paranormal Reading Challenge

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Today is the cover reveal for Shauna Granger's Fire, the 4th book in the Elemental series. Excited to say that this is my first time taking part in a cover reveal. And, might I say, it's a pretty awesome one. It's quite different from the last 3, but I like it! Check it out below.


Title: Fire (Elemental, #4)
Age Group: Young Adult/New Adult
Genre: Urban fantasy
Expected Release: December 18, 2012
Cover Design: Mooney Designs


Synopsis:
Demons, faeries, and mermaids. Claws, teeth, and nightmares.

They have been beaten and bruised, set on fire, and nearly drowned, but manage to always find their way home.  Over their last Winter Holiday break before college, Shayna, Jodi, and Steven try again to put aside the magic in their lives for a little mundane fun. But Shayna's mother is having dreams of fire and death. A mysterious stranger by the name of Liam has just arrived in town. And Shayna's attempts to manage her new angelic powers are set back by Steven's insistence that the trio intervene in a riot outside of a concert, with disastrous consequences.

In her attempt to stop the riot, a man sees Shayna use her magical abilities – a man driven mad by watching his brother die at the hands of a black witch. He stalks Shayna, plotting to destroy her and her friends. With her mother’s warnings echoing in her mind, Shayna is now in the fight of her life against an unlikely foe: a human man.

About the author:
Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago Shauna started work on her Elemental Series and released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011. When not reading and writing, Shauna enjoys cooking and playing hostess whenever she can.
Shauna Granger | Facebook | Twitter

Links to find/buy previous books in the series:
Earth: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
Air: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
Water: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Cover reveal organized by

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments, Book 1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Adventure
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Release date: March 27, 2007
ISBN-10: 1416914285
ISBN-13: 9781416914280
Format: Hardcopy
Source: Purchased

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.



My Review:
This is my second time reading this book. I'd always been planning on re-reading the series to prepare for the upcoming movie. I didn't want to start them too close to the movie's release date (which is August 23, 2013 -- I've already got my calendar marked heavily in red), because I'd be comparing things like crazy. So when Marie's Paranormal Spooktacular came along, I thought this would be a good time as any to get to it.The story begins with Clary Fray and her best friend Simon Lewis heading to an all-ages club called Pandemonium, a place they seem to frequent in their home of New York. This night is different -- Clary witnesses a murder. Even more bizarre is that the act was done by three strange teenagers covered in odd tattoos who seem to be invisible to everyone but her. She knows what she saw, but she doesn't want to believe it. To make matters worse, her mother goes missing shortly after and her home is attacked by a monster. Now she's pulled into and very much involved in an unusual world that just escalates as the story goes on.

I was instantly drawn in by the characters, especially the Shadowhunters: Jace, Alec, and Isabelle. They have such a strong presence throughout that you can't help but be fascinated with them. Then there was Simon, who had me at "I wanted to tell you that lately I've been cross-dressing. Also, I'm sleeping with your mom." I'd have to say that the beginning scene in Pandemonium is one of my favourites. Right away I was intrigued as to where this whole story would go; there was action right off the bat. Personally, Clary as a character didn't jump off the page to me. Not that I didn't like her, I just found the others more interesting. I did enjoy the chapter with Magnus Bane's party (who is another one I've come to adore). Clare writes character interactions so well that I look forward to any and every scene where all of them are present, even Clary. It's like she's better when she's talking to the others. My only other qualm with the book was that by the middle, the plot was moving quite slowly. But I still couldn't put it down. It's worth it to keep reading though, because of the ending. Oh my goodness, the ending. I became so invested in these characters and their relationships, and then I reached the end of the book and let me tell you, I just had to go out and get the next one right away.

The world that Clare introduces is imaginative, well fleshed out, and written with vivid descriptions. She's created this universe that's so detailed that I noticed more and imagined more the second time around. It's like the further I went into the series, I noticed just how significant a lot of past details were from earlier books; these details had no purpose to me early on... but then I'd read about them later and a light bulb just goes off. The details are so intricate that I didn't even know they've made a space for themselves in the back of my mind. I'm glad I re-read this book, because it was nice to re-visit and recall a lot of these details in the narrative and in the characters themselves.

Before I read this the first time, I had glanced at reviews and saw that a lot of people either loved it or hated it. It seems that there's barely any middle ground from what I've seen. I fall under the category of loving-it-to-the-point-of-obsession. Seriously. I picked up this book about a year and a half ago but only read it in July of this year. After I finished it (I read during meals, before bed, during any spare moment I had), I got the other four right away and read them all in 6 days. I barely slept until I got to the end of the fifth book. When I found out that the next one isn't coming out until 2014, to say I had a bit of a breakdown would be an understatement. But, to conclude, City of Bones opens us up to a unique and mystical world of the paranormal that's nothing short of a great introduction to a series.

Note: Read for the Spooktacular Paranormal Reading Challenge

My rating:

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Title: The Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 2
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure, Mythology
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release date: October 4, 2011
ISBN-10: 1423140591
ISBN-13: 9781423140597
Format: Hardcopy
Source: Purchased

Percy is confused. When he awoke after 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. Somehow Percy managed to make it to the camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he had to continually kill monsters that, annoyingly, would not stay dead. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him.

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. When the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now, because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother claims he is descended from ancient 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 help the Fifth Cohort win at war games. His big and bulky physique makes him feel like a clumsy ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely—enough, even, to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far north as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment in the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all of whom are destined to play a part in the most important quest of all: the Prophecy of Seven.



My Review:
Percy Jackson has no idea where he is and remembers nothing of his past, except for one name: Annabeth. He then arrives at a mysterious camp and meets new friends in Frank and Hazel, the unlikely heroes who will join Percy on new adventures that will hopefully lead him to bringing his memory back. The world is in danger, and it's up to them to join together and defeat a new enemy from rising.The Son of Neptune is the second book in Riordan's The Heroes of Olympus series. We're finally introduced to the inner workings of the other camp, Camp Jupiter, which is the Roman counterpart of the Greek Camp Half-Blood. Being a huge fan of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, I missed Percy during The Lost Hero. So I was instantly overjoyed to know that he was back in this installment. We're introduced to two new main characters named Hazel and Frank, who accompany Percy on new adventures and have a few secrets of their own. I really liked Hazel and Frank as characters; definitely more than the first bunch in the Lost Hero (save for Leo; he is my spirit animal). I just liked this book more in general. I'm pretty sure that had to do with my love for Percy, though. I just really love Percy Jackson. If I could, I would shrink him down to size and put him in my pocket and carry him around with me everywhere.

Now, I'm not the biggest Percabeth fan, but Percy only remembering Annabeth's name was really sweet and I wanted so badly for them to be reunited. That's the thing about Riordan's series: the romance isn't an integral part of the books, but when he does focus on relationships, they're subtle but effective enough. The set-up for new relationships was really adorable and didn't take away from the main point of the book.The friendships are what I love most, apart from the mythological connections, in the books. I also love discovering which gods the kids are related to. It's like a big guessing game with all this build-up then all of a sudden you find out the truth, and you think to yourself, "that makes so much sense, why didn't I think of that before?" Bringing in the Greek-Roman relationship and differences between the two Classical periods was genius; that subject alone is enough for me to enjoy a book regardless. Mythology is my weakness.

Riordan has done it again. The pacing was nicely done and the characters were developed well -- I really felt like we got a good grasp of who Hazel, Frank, and even characters like Reyna and Octavian were; though I'd love to know more about them all, that's the good thing about a series. There's always time to expand. He has so much diversity in his characters and it's very refreshing to see. I love that there were no boundaries in terms of racial background and that he gave each character POV's, which enabled them to explore their past and family lives. The little allusions to the past books were also very nicely done, as well as the plot twists. Seeing old and new characters together to take on new stories and journeys is always a fun thing to read about. One of my favourite things about Riordan's writing style is the way he writes action. It's very descriptive and engaging.

I highly recommend this book, as well as the first in the Heroes of Olympus series to those who loved the Percy Jackson books. I myself was hesitant to read it because of my love for the PJ books, but the stories continue on and our favourite characters are still very much present. Percy isn't as fleshed out in this book as he is in the last series, but that's understandable. His time was then, and this time around, there are new characters for us to get to know and keep the stories going. The ending to The Son of Neptune was a complete cliff-hanger, but I'm thankful in my case that I finished it while I had the next book available to me.

My rating:

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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?

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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