Waiting on Wednesday

Shadows Cast By Stars by Catherine Knutsson

(Atheneum/June 5, 2012)

Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable commodity on the planet - especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for it contains antibodies that protect them from the plague that is ravaging the rest of the world.

Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to the plague, but that doesn't mean she's safe. Government forces are searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a search threatens Cass and her family, they flee to the Island, a mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerilla warriors, and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken Cass under her wing, and the tribal leader's son into his heart, the spirit world is angry, and it has chosen Cass to be its voice and instrument..

Sounds the movie DayBreakers--minus the vampires though! & the last bit, with Cass being the "voice and instrument," almost sounds like Mockinjay; the rebel movement wanting Katniss to be its mascot. Still sounds really interesting though and I'd like to see how things are resolved. Also sounds like there's some romance brewing for Cass!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

400+ Followers Giveaway!

**[2/24/12 ]Apparently the Rafflecopter form disappeared for a few days, so I've extended the giveaway. Sorry for the inconvenience & thanks to everyone who brought it to my attention that the entry form vanished! I think it's fixed now but please drop me a line if it disappears again! Thank you & have a good weekend!**

I've finally reached 400+ followers! I want to thank all of my new followers and those who stuck with me despite me having to take the majority of 2011 off due to personal and health issues. Thank you to all fellow bloggers, authors, publicists and publishing companies who still showed their support! My time off was unexpected but necessary, but now I'm back! It's been so much fun reconnecting with everyone and meeting new bloggers!

So to celebrate and say thank you, I'm giving away an ARC of The Selection by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

To enter just use the rafflecopter! Good luck!

Waiting on Wednesday

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
(HarperCollins/April 24, 2012)

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

"Both have secrets. Everyone does." So true and that's what a good story can be spun around, no? Sounds like an interesting read that'll have it's fair share of intrigue! Definitely on my to-read list!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan

Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan

Release Date: January 2nd 2012
Publisher: Poppy
Pages: 400

Nastasya has lived for hundreds of years, but for some reason, life never seems to get any better. She left her spoiled, rich girl life to find peace at River's Edge, a safe haven for wayward immortals. There, she learned to embrace River's Edge, despite some drama involving the sexy Reyn, who she wants but won't allow herself to have. But just as she's getting comfortable, her family's ties to dark magick force her to leave.

She falls back into her old, hard partying ways, but will her decision lead her into the hands of a dark immortal? Or will it be her first step to embracing the darkness within her?

I like that Nastasya has matured since the last book and continued to do so in Darkness Falls--she slowly begins to face her fears and her problems instead of just running away as she's done in her past 400 years. Her voice has also matured and has mostly lost the childish-ness she exhibited in the first book, another sign of her growth. Of course she maintained a touch of snark and cynicism, plus plenty of sarcasm, but she's less whiny, which is good! I really liked how she not only began to face her problems but also tried to fix them, and also how she's learning to empathize with others!

There was more action in this novel than in Immortal Beloved, which was fun! Although it was great to get to know more about the characters and to watch Nasty grow, the action definitely upped the excitement for the novel! I would even say that if there had been more action, the novel would have been even more enjoyable! It was good to see Nasty putting the lessons she learned in a classroom into effect!

More about River's past is also revealed in Darkness Falls and that was quite a story! Nasty's definitely not the only one who's dealing with demons from her past, that's for sure! We also learn more about Incy, which reveals a lot about his motivations. He's definitely more of a complex character than he appears to be in the first novel, which was great. There is definitely more character development in this novel and I liked learning more about the characters' pasts; it explains a great deal about their personality and decisions.

Overall, I'd say Darkness Falls is a stronger read than Immortal Beloved mostly because the writing has improved a bit. I feel the writing also reflects Nasty's attitude and demeanor, and since she's matured considerably from the first novel, the voice in Darkness Falls is less whiny and much more enjoyable! The actual plot (described in the blurb) took a couple of chapters to actually start up, but I felt the pacing was pretty good once it did.

I enjoyed Darkness Falls, and I do believe this is a trilogy, so I am already looking forward to the third book!


Overall: 4 out of 5
Plot: 3.75 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Cover: 3.50 stars

Waiting on Wednesday

Bewitching by Alex Flinn
(HarperTeen/March 14, 2012)

Kendra Hilferty, the witch who curses Kyle Kingsbury in Beastly, tells about her immortal existence-how she discovered she was a witch and the various ways she has used her powers to help people throughout the centuries. (Unfortunately her attempts have often backfired.) As it turns out, Kendra has actually had a hand in "Hansel and Gretel," "The Princess and the Pea," and "The Little Mermaid"-but these are not the fairy tales you think you know! Kendra's reminiscences are wrapped around a real-time version of "Cinderella," except the "ugly" stepsister is the good guy. With dark twists, hilarious turns, and unexpected endings, Bewitching is a contemporary read for fairy-tale lovers, fantasy fans, and anyone looking for more Alex Flinn.

Call me a hopeless romantic and a sucker for the mushy stuff sometimes, but I'm a fan of Beastly (the novel, yes! the movie, not so much)! So of course this caught my eye on GoodReads! As far as contemporary retellings of fairytales, Alex Flinn did a pretty good job with Beastly so I'm game for more! Should be fun seeing things from Kendra's point of view and see how she might've 'influenced' some of those classic fairy tales we all know!
This blurb almost reminds me of that well-meaning but misguided fairy from Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted whose spells she bestowed as "gifts" turned out to be more of curses than anything else!

HarperTeen has a lot of great books coming out this year, don't they?

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday

For the Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
(Balzer + Bray/June 12, 2012)

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

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

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

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

Oh. My. Gosh. I want this book now!! Wow! It sounds absolutely amazing! Dystopian, romance, adventure; a very potent combination for me! Love the title as well! I was immediately sucked in when I read the plot summary...June seems forever away now!!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Follow Friday! (4)

Follow Friday is a weekly feature hosted by Parajunkee's View & Alison Can Read! It's a great opportunity to meet new bloggers and connect with fellow book lovers!!

Q: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kickass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

Good characters!--Intelligence, wit and a good sense of humor, please! And of course for all of us of this persuasion: who doesn't like a handsome leading man who's smart?? Although steamy romance and chemistry is great, I like characters who aren't just obsessed with their significant other's dashing good looks and their world-stopping kisses; I want to see some team work or witty banter between the two!
Speaking more generally, I like strong leads who take matters into their own hands and I enjoy a good plot with a couple of twists and turns! Plots don't always have to be entirely original as long as the book's well written, but if a book's got an original plot or a new twist, I'm not going to say no!

What about you? What characteristics do you favor in books you read?

Waiting on Wednesday

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker
(Bloomsbury/May 22, 2012)

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life.

Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now.

Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?

Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

I've been a fan of Melissa Walker since her Violet series came out! I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for Unbreak My Heart when May rolls around!

Melissa actually did a cover story on Unbreak My Heart over on her blog!! I love her cover stories so of course I was thrilled when she did one for her upcoming novel. Although I'm a fan of the final version of the cover, I also dig the blue version--do you?? Read till the end! "It’s out May 22, 2012. I hope you like it! (And that you’ll like the inside parts too, of course!)" ahh! She's so cute and sweet!
Definitely check out Melissa's blog sometime--I'm a huge fan of her cover stories especially!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine