Cover Release: Until I Die

I read the first book in the series, and really enjoyed them. I vowed that I had to read the next book. Amy Plums's book, Die For Me, was really good, and I found myself reading it over and over again, just because the story was so interesting. Then I was just wandering around the internet when I saw this very lovely cover:

I think this cover is waaayyyy better than the first one. I mean, I liked it, but it was okay. This looks so magical, with all the small details curving from her, around her body. It also seems like a better one, because the girl is much bigger. On the other cover, it was bit too small for my liking, but this is like, perfect. I know, I know, not everything is perfect, but this comes close enough. And, I love the font. I don't know what's with me, but I'm obsessed with finding the perfect font. But that's just me.

This book isn't coming out until May 8th, 2012. I feel like crying. It's wayyyyyy tooooo far!

Mayday Monday (#2)

This week, I've been craving a lot of books, but there's only been one on my mind. I don't know why it's always come back to me, but that's what happens. This is a debut author, which I've been reading a lot lately. And it doesn't help that I keep seeing different giveaways for this book. And when I do see package giveaways, where there's more than one books, I always enter the one with this book in the list. And, as usual, the cover is marvellous.

This week, the book is . . .

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #1)

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the populati

on. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

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

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

Giveaway (#7)

There's another giveaway going on at Courtney Allison Moulton's blog.

This time, it's this being given away:

Another copy of Wings of the Wicked. This will be an ARC. This contest with close next week on Sunday, so hurry up. You can click here to enter and for more details.

Giveaway (#6)

There's a hunt going on at Shortie Says for this entire week. They'll be giving away different prizes this week, and each week, you have to find the button:

You'll click on this button, wherever it is on the post, and fill out a form to be entered for the giveaway. Today, on Christmas, if you win, you'll get a book of your choice. Which is pretty awesome. So make sure you enter this giveaway. For more information click here.

Giveaway (#5)

There is a giveaway going on at The Story Siren.

It's for the book Try Not To Breath by Jennifer R. Hubbard:

Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother’s anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he’s trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But it doesn’t help that he’s still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feelings. Then he befriends Nicki, who is using psychics to seek contact with her dead father. This unlikely friendship thaws Ryan to the point where he can face the worst in himself. He and Nicki confide in one another the things they never thought they’d tell anyone—but their confessions are trickier than they seem, and the fallout tests the bound of friendship and forgiveness.

You can go here to enter the contest. It's opened to the US & Canada only, and you must be 13 years of age or older to enter. You have to reply within 72 hours if you win, or a new winner will be chosen. On the same post, the winner will be chosen. And remember, this is an ARC of the book, and there is only one copy, and the contest ends today.

Giveaway (#4)

So this giveaway if from the website, Books Over Boys. A giveaway is going on at this website for three, yes, three of Jennifer L. Armentrout's books.

Damion

Half-Blood

& Pure

These are the three books that are being given away. You can click the link up there or you can click right here to get more information about the contest.

You have to enter by January 6th, 11:59 Pacific time. You must be thirteen years or older to join this, and make sure that Book Depo ships to you. You can check here. If you do win, you have to respond within 48 hours. You can go here to fill out the form.

Review: Bad Girls Don't Die

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender (#1 in Bad Girls Don't Die)

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Disney Hyperion Books

Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents'

marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude.

When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she

even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in.

Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

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I wouldn't have heard about this book if my friend hadn't read it first and told me about it. She said it was creepy, and that she couldn't read it at night, but I thought it couldn't be that bad. I've read other scary stories, and haven't been scared. But I have to say, this has to be the first one. During the entire time I was reading, I kept looking over my shoulder, waiting to see my sister behind me with creepy green eyes. I thought that this book was woven really well, and I enjoyed it a lot despite the somewhat creepy parts.

The book started off with Alexis having no friends, which is sort of typical, but I didn't really mind it. I liked how throughout the book, things started getting better between her and a cheerleader, Megan. I know that this usually happens, but I liked the way that they were able to come together. They found something that they had in common, and they sort of made a friendship out of that.

When the creepy stuff started happening, like with her sister, Kasey, I wasn't really freaked out yet. I mean, it seemed like pretty normal stuff, nothing that made it really creepy. Then the thing with the doll and the different personalities with Kasey started to freak me out a little. I mean, one second, she'd be the normal Kasey, and the next second, she'd have this totally new personality. For example, when Alexis was hanging out with Carter, Kasey came out of nowhere and sort of ruined the moment. Usually, sisters would think it was rude that their sister would barge in like that, but the way the Kasey was acting made it seem a little weird.

The entire book, I thought that the entire story came together really well. All the information would make sense, and I was nodding my head in away that I understood all of the information. Alexis kept on finding different things in Kasey's room, and it kept fuelling the story. It kept me reading, because usually, books like this are sort of boring, but I have to say that this wasn't one of those books. I read this straight through the night, despite my friends warning not to. I mean, I didn't have any nightmares.

I recommend this book to people who like to read creepy books, or people who don't get scared easily. People who do get scared easily, do not read this. Or at least don't read it at night. Or do, not that I really mind. Main thing is that this book is different from all those other ghost stories. And I should know. I've read too many of them.

Don't forget to read the second book in the series:

From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender (#2 in Bad Girls Don't Die)

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Disney Hyperion Books

Alexis is the last girl you'd expect to sell her soul. She already has everything she needs -- an adorable boyfriend, the perfect best friend, and a little sister who's finally recovering after being possessed by an evil spirit.

Alexis is thrilled when her sister joins a club: new friends are just what Kasey needs. It's strange, though, to see how fast the girls in the Sunshine Club go from dorky and antisocial to gorgeous and popular. Then Alexis learns that the girls have pledged an oath to a seemingly benevolent spirit named Aralt. Worried that Kasey's in over her head again, Alexis and her best friend, Megan, decide to investigate by joining the club themselves. Soon, Alexis trades in her pink hair and punky clothes for a mainstream look, and finds herself reveling in her newfound elegance and success

The club's connection with Aralt seems harmless, and before long, Alexis can hardly remember why she joined in the first place. Surely it wasn't to destroy Aralt. . . . Why would she hurt someone who has given her so much, and asked for so little in return?

And the next book:

As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender (#3 in Bad Girls Don't Die)

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Disney Hyperion Books

It's been three months since Alexis helplessly witnessed Lydia Small's violent death, and all she wants is for her life to return to normal.

But normal people don’t see decaying bodies haunting photographs. Normal people don’t have

to deal with regul

ar intrusions from Lydia’s angry ghost, sometimes escalating to terrifying attacks.

At first, it seems that Lydia wants revenge on Alexis alone. But a girl from school disappears one night, and Alexis spots one of Lydia’s signature yellow roses lying on the girl’s dresser the next day. Soon, it becomes clear that several of Alexis’s friends are in danger, and that she's the only person who can save them. But as she tries to intervene, Alexis realizes that her enemy is a much more powerful ghost than she's ever faced before... and that its fate is tied to hers in ways she couldn't possibly imagine.

Not even in her worst nightmares.

Review: The Space Between

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Razorbill

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this? Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped-and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

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This is the first book that I've read of Brenna Yovanoff's, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. It was different. I'd never read a book about one of Lilth's daughters, or Lucifer's daughters. It was a nice difference from all the other books I've read before. They talked about how it looked in hell, and how it was like. She introduced new "types" like the Lilum, who I've never heard of before.

I thought the way Daphne acted to everything in the human world was funny, but also understandable. I mean, she was half demon half angel, and she'd never been to earth before, but it was still funny. I found myself enjoying the times when she'd asked silly questions about what the humans were doing. But it was basically the same thing for Truman. He meets Daphne, and she asks him to help her find Obie. He agrees, and really weird things start to happen.

I liked how Brenna Yovanoff switched POV's through the chapters. It was nice having the book from Daphne's POV, and Truman's POV. It was nice having both sides of the story and was was happening in both of their lives. I was also able to keep in check with what they were both feeling about the situation. For Daphne, it was coming to earth, and for Truman, it was for running from home and going with Daphne to look for her brother. He also tells Daphne about his past, which is kind of hard, and I thought it was really nice for him to do that.

It was a little confusing how it changed from present tense to past tense, but it didn't really bother me that much. I was too focused on the book to really mind how the author was writing. I also liked having it when Truman had those dreams about Azrael and where he was holding Obie.

The most action happened at then end, as usual, but I found I really liked the way things played out. Yes, Daphne does save Obie, which I was very happy about, but then what happens after that sort of broke the good mood. I was half angry, half sad when [redacted] because I hadn't foreseen this happening. But, the book did end really well, though it was a little confusing. But after reading it over, I got it, and jumping for joy (not literally) when I finished the book.

I recommend this book to anyone really. It was nice to have a story where the protagonist was half demon, half angel, daughter of Lucifer and Lilith, which I haven't read before. If you want to read something new, I suggest you read this book, because I assure you, this will be different.

Review: He's So Not Worth It

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott (#2 in He's So/ She's So)

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Simon & Schuster

After her spectacular crash-and-burn return to Orchard Hill, Ally Ryan could not be more thrilled for the summer.

But crap. Mom wants to spend the summer on the Jersey Shore with her new boyfriend, and formerly MIA Dad is suddenly back on the scene, ready to have some quality time together. And, oh yeah, she hates all her old friends, and the feeling is mutual. Maybe it's time for Ally to meet some new people.

Meanwhile Jake is preoccupied with trying to get Ally's attention after the disaster at Shannen's birthday party. Too bad the only way to get back on her radar is to take a Mom-ordered summer job working for her father. So it looks like no Shore with his friends and, unfortunately, no time with Ally, either.

Maybe their time apart will be a good thing and give them a chance to sort out their feelings. Or, it will blowup in their faces and they'll find themselves farther apart than before. Labor Day can't come soon enough.

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The first book, She's So Dead To Us, was really good, and I greatly enjoyed reading it. I mean, there was a lot of drama that went down during the entire book, but I found myself looking forward to that kind of stuff. That is what I found exciting in this book. I wouldn't usually read this kind of book, but I found out that it was good, and it ended up being one of my favourites.

There's a lot of betrayal and fights in this book. Just like the first one, except there were tons more fights between Ally and her mom, because of Gray, her mom's boyfriend. There are questions surrounding their relationship, and whether they're going to tie the note, or if her mom is going to divorce her dad. It all get's answered in this book, and I found myself feeling bad for Ally. Then she goes and hooks up with another guy. I mean, it wasn't the best thing, but it sort of showed Jake that Ally could survive without him, which she could.

Jake, on the other hand, seemed a little bummed about Ally changing her mind and going to the Shore instead of staring in Orchard Hill for the summer. I feel sorry that he was blamed for something that wasn't entirely his fault, but then again, he kept secrets from her. Yes, I think he really does love her, but how does he show it? By hooking up with someone else. I mean, it wasn't supposed to be known, but Annie finds out anyways, since she likes spying on the Cresties. I get that he's sad, and that Ally won't listen to him when he tries to explain Shannen's birthday party, but he did keep it a secret, whether he knew what she was planning to do or not.

I think throughout the book, Ally's personality changes drastically. She doesn't seem like her during the book, and more like one of the Cresties. And yes, people do point that out to her. But I don't think she really sees that herself, at least not until the end. I get why she's acting like a spoiled daughter or something, but it was a little uncomfortable reading the parts where she narrated the book. But that didn't stop me from going with her throughout the book. I went with what she wanted, even if everyone else was against her. And this was because I thought it was best for the relationship of the family. I mean, her dad does come back and tries to win her mom back, but I feel the mom is being stubborn for not giving him a chance to explain himself.

During the book, Ally sort of "makes-up" with Shannen and Faith, and in a way, Hammond, even though she still hates them for what they did to her when she arrived in Orchard Hill last fall. I get why she was mad, but I liked that they were sort of able to make peace for once without it ending in a shouting match.

I recommend this book, of course, to anyone who read the first book and loved it. It's like She's So Dead To Us, but better because of all the drama. I also recommend other's to read the He's So/ She's So series, because I guarantee you, they will be more drama in this book than there will ever me in your life.

Review: The Beginning of After

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Harper Collins

Sixteen-year-old Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new world in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all, there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel's life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss, a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

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I really enjoyed reading this book. This in Jennifer Castle's first book, and I wouldn't have found out about it if I hadn't been doing library monitors at my school. We get first pick on books that come in, and the moment I saw the book, I knew that I had to read it.

A lot of authors have started to write books like this. About how your parents die, or someone you love, and you have to make your way through it. This book had the same plot, but I found it to be really interesting.

When the book started, her parents were still alive, and that was really nice to see what her life was before they died. Most books go to after the accident, and the protagonist will have "flashbacks" of the accident. Here, it was different, because it started of explaining why the parents were out, and why Laurel wasn't in the car with them. I like it when that happens, because it saves the narrator the time of explaining it all later.

I read the synopsis of the book expecting David to be the guy that she started to like. It wasn't really like that, like it usually is in most books where the protagonist falls immediately in love with one guy for the entire book. I found it to be refreshing, but at the back of my mind, I was waiting for David to come in at unexpected times like he did.

At some parts in the book, I kinda wanted to beat Laurel, because she was being mean. But then again, she'd say "sorry," which sort of made up for it. But that doesn't mean that other were like that. I found David to get angry easily. And a bit senseless. For example, at one point in the book, he drives through the night all the way from DC to home, and when he get's angry, he drives back. I mean, him getting angry is part of Laurel's fault, but would you do that? I mean, who would do that?

Overall, this book was interesting, and I was able to read straight through it. Sometimes, I read books that take me a few days because they aren't too exciting, but this wasn't one of those books.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to break away from all those cliched stories about how the girl always falls in love with the boy next door smack right away. But also, I suggest that people who enjoy the girl falling in love with the boy next door, even if it does take a while in this book.

Giveaway (#3)

There's another giveaway going on at Courtney Moulton's blog, and this time, it's for a shirt of Will:

This shirt is a men's/unisex in small. Click here for the link to the website if you want to win this awesome looking shirt! The contest ends on Christmas day, this Sunday, and it's international.

Review: The Pledge

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking in their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always n able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs, where people go to shake of the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets beautiful and mysterious boy named Max, who speaks a language she's never heard before...and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills become real emergencies and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

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Kimberly Derting has been one of my favourite authors ever since I read The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead. They were really good, and I liked all the mystery and surprises. It was no different in The Pledge. I found myself trying to guess different parts in the story. Also, I was surprised very often, such as the identity of people, or even small things. It was a little unusual at the beginning, but that's because it was dystopian. After reading into a few pages, I got the feel for it.

Charlie was a really strong character, and I liked how she was always trying to figure things out and wouldn't give up. She seemed a little stubborn at some times, but I liked that about her. Even though there were a lot of surprises in the book, I have to say that the one involving Charlie was the biggest. I wasn't really expecting it, but it was there at the back of my mind. When I found out, I was sort of like, wow, this is cliched, but when they went into description, it wasn't really like that. It was different, and I really enjoyed it.

At first, I didn't really pick up on the mystery surrounding why Max could speak in the language of the Royals. It didn't bug me. I mean, Charlie could understand different languages, so maybe he just had the same gift, but a little different. But his secret was also a huge surprise, and I was sort of shocked by Charlie's reaction. I would have imagined her being furious for him not telling her, but she seemed a little cool about it, and took it in. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to do that. [redacted] was a huge surprise also. I didn't expect him to be [redacted] either, but it made sense after it was explained.

I thought the entire plot of the book was pretty straight forward, and that I was able to follow it pretty easily. Sometimes, authors but so much into the plot, that I get mixed up and can't follow what is happening. Here, it was straight forward, but Kimberly added a lot of details, explaining and making it interesting. I read it without any rests (except bathroom breaks), because it was a page turner.

I recommend this book to anyone who has read her first few books, because this one is just as amazing. I also suggest people who haven't read them to read this one. It's a dystopian novel, and I find that I really like these kind of books in this genre. You may not, but I assure you, this is a really good one, and you should consider reading it.

Cover Release: Girl of Nightmares

I've recently finished reading Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake, and I thought it was pure genius. The book made me cry and laugh and everything else in between. I knew that there had to be a second book, because the "thing" that happens in the end to Anna, can't stay that way. If it ended there, I'd probably go mad. So there is a second book in the series, and I just recently found the cover for Girl of Nightmares.

So, with that, here it is:

When I first saw it, I couldn't believe it. It's perfect for the second book. It seems to fit the exact description for the second book. People who have read the first book will get me, because at the end of that book, something happens to Anna, which probably prompted this cover. I really like it, not as much as the first book's cover, but almost just as much. I can't wait for it to come out August 7th 2012. It is way too far.

Mayday Monday (#1)

Mayday Monday is a new meme that I decided to start myself. Everybody knows what Waiting Wednesday is, or Desperately Waiting Wednesday, but I've noticed that nobody does anything for Monday's. Do we have something against that day or something? Because I think that all days of the week should be loved just as equally as the next. So that's why I've decided to start Mayday Monday. This was inspired by this show Mayday that I watch on Discovery Channel. This will feature books that I most definitely want to read. I am waving my arms and wanting to read them. It doesn't matter whether or not the book has come out. But most likely, these books probably won't have come out yet.

This week, the book is . . .

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton (#2 in Angelfire)

Synopsis from: Shelfari.com

Published by: Katherine Tegan Books

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.

Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.

Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.

Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.