Off the Shelf (3)

"Off the Shelf" is a post dedicated to sharing which books I have chosen to add to my To-Be-Read list that will hopefully be read and reviewed over the coming week. Occasionally I will also feature books that I won't be reviewing, but will be reading anyway. All summaries are from Goodreads.

For Review:

SISTERS RED (Fairytale Retellings #1), by Jackson Pearce 

Purchased | Borrowed | Received 

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead. 

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for? 

WICKED LOVELY (Wicked Lovely #1), by Melissa Marr 

Purchased | Borrowed | Received   

All teenagers have problems, but few of them can match those of Aislinn, who has the power to see faeries. Quite understandably, she wishes that she could share her friends' obliviousness and tries hard to avoid these invisible intruders. But one faery in particular refuses to leave her alone. Keenan the Summer King is convinced beyond all reasoning that Aislinn is the queen he has been seeking for nine centuries. What's a 21st-century girl to do when she's stalked by a suitor nobody else can see? A debut fantasy romance for the ages; superlative summer read.

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor

Title: DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1)

Author: Laini Taylor.

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Publisher: Little, Brown (US) / Hodder & Stoughton (UK & Aust)

Publication Date: September 27th, 2011

Synopsis: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. 

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. 

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?


 Review:

I've been wanting to read DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE ever since it began circulating around Blogspot. How could you not? The cover is quite transfixing, with a synopsis to match.  A combination of fantastical, supernatural elements, a unique heroine and a fresh take on a withering genre makes DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE one hyped up novel that does not disappoint.


In the beginning we meet Karou: a young art student living in Prague, who is also an errand girl for the monstrous Brimstone. Aside from the fact that her hair grows out of her head a brilliant blue and she has a string of wishes around her neck, Karou could pass for a normal seventeen-year-old girl. But there's something missing; something that makes her feel like she's not whole. 


Prague is a character in itself, aided by Laini Taylor's expressive writing which allows just the right amount of description to make the setting - so different from anything that I've read before - interesting and vivid. You really do feel as though you're there. Then you follow Karou through a door and into Elsewhere and everything shifts. In the devil's shop with hummingbird-moths fluttering around the lantern lights and strange creatures scurrying in the dark corners live the beings - more animal than human - who make up Karou's makeshift family. They call themselves Chimaera, and they could pass for monsters in any other setting. Brimstone deals in wishes, trading them for teeth which he sends Karou all over the world to collect. At this point we don't know what Brimstone's fascination with teeth is, and neither does Karou. In turn this creates part of the mystery that follows the first half of the novel which is slowly unveiled to the reader as it is to Karou. 


I don't want to go too much into exactly what happens, because I feel like it would ruin the experience and this is definitely one of those books where you simply have to read it. However I will say that what could be described as the "twist" in the novel was - to me - more of a succession of events that were plainly supposed to happen. There wasn't a great big SURPRISE, but at the same time it didn't take away from the enjoyment. 


The romance part of the novel could be seen as very stereotypical of Young Adult fiction these days: love at first sight (almost), wanting to be together when you really can't; very much the star-crossed love promised in the synopsis. Nevertheless, the quality of the writing and the characters helps steer away from what could be an over-the-top approach, making for some beautiful moments between the two. But the romance does come fast, and did teeter towards the predictable at times. 


If I'm honest the part of the book I probably enjoyed the most was the writing. Laini Taylor's talent is one that far surpasses many others in the same genre. Her prose is beautiful without being too much, and there's an almost lyrical quality in the way she weaves words together. I was pretty much a hulking green monsterette of envy whilst reading this book. That said, Laini Taylor could have written about pirate elves who take over a kingdom of marshmallow clouds and I still would be left thinking, "Why can't I write this good?"


Rating:

Add on Goodreads | Purchase at The Book Depository / Amazon

Waiting On Wednesday (3)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming books whose releases are being eagerly awaited. Bloggers are encouraged to join in and post about the book they're looking forward to reading. Here is mine: 

A BREATHE OF EYRE, by Eve Marie Mont.

Expected publication: April 1st 2012, by Kensington.

Synopsis: Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…  


Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…

I think most readers will admit that they have wanted to literally be in the book that they're reading, I know I have. Which is  why I enjoy books like this, and am especially looking forward to reading this one when it comes out next year. 

Top Ten Tuesday (3)

Each week the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish host a Top Ten list based on a certain bookish topic. Other bloggers are able to join in and post their own top ten answers. Here are my answers to:

Ten books perfect for reading around Halloween:

1. PET SEMETARY, by Stephen King
2. THE SHINING, by Stephen King
3. CARRIE, by Stephen King
4. DRACULA, by Bram Stoker
5. INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, by Anne Rice
6. DAWN OF THE DREADFULS, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
7. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
8. HARRY POTTER SERIES, by J.K Rowling
9. THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, by Arthur Conan Doyle 
10. PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, by Joan Lindsey

BONUS:

• CHARMED (based on the television series), by Constance M. Burge/Various authors.
• BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER  (also based on the television series), by Joss Whedon/Eric Powell.
• THE NIGHT WORLD SERIES, by L.J Smith
• WICCA/SWEEP SERIES, by Cate Tiernan
• PRACTICAL MAGIC, by Alice Hoffman

Halloween is not widely celebrated in Australia, and I've no idea why. You see it in the movies, read about it in books and it looks amazing, and so much fun. Now I have no idea if it's really like how it appears at all, but from what I've gathered it doesn't seem far from it. Usually my Halloween consists of handing out candy to very few kids, most of whom aren't dressed up, followed by the annual watching of Hocus Pocus, and Halloween episodes from Charmed and Supernatural; which are kind of Halloween-esque in themselves. And I read horror/thriller books, obviously. Because there's nothing quite like being freaked out. But it takes a really good book to scare me. Even from the list above only Pet Semetary and Dracula have made me feel unsettled. Nevertheless, I love this time of year, and I love spooky novels. 

Off the Shelf (2)

"Off the Shelf" is a post dedicated to sharing which books I have chosen to add to my To-Be-Read list that will hopefully be read and reviewed over the coming week. Occasionally I will also feature books that I won't be reviewing, but will be reading anyway. All summaries are from Goodreads.

For Review:

THE NAME OF THE STAR (Shades of London, #1), by Maureen Johnson. 

Purchased | Borrowed | Received 

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. 

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities. 

 ULTRAVIOLET, by R.J Anderson 

Purchased | Borrowed | Received   

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special.  

This is not her story. 

Unless you count the part where I killed her.  

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori -- the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right?

Not For Review:

THE RADLEYS, by Matt Haig 

Purchased | Borrowed | Received 

Meet the Radleys  

Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life.  

In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites.

FEED (Newsflesh Series, #1), by Mira Grant. 

Purchased | Borrowed | Received   

In 2014, two experimental viruses—a genetically engineered flu strain designed by Dr. Alexander Kellis, intended to act as a cure for the common cold, and a cancer-killing strain of Marburg, known as "Marburg Amberlee"—escaped the lab and combined to form a single airborne pathogen that swept around the world in a matter of days. It cured cancer. It stopped a thousand cold and flu viruses in their tracks. 

It raised the dead.  

Millions died in the chaos that followed. The summer of 2014 was dubbed "The Rising," and only the lessons learned from a thousand zombie movies allowed mankind to survive. Even then, the world was changed forever. The mainstream media fell, Internet news acquired an undeniable new legitimacy, and the CDC rose to a new level of power. Set twenty years after the Rising, the Newsflesh trilogy follows a team of bloggers, led by Georgia and Shaun Mason, as they search for the brutal truths behind the infection. Danger, deceit, and betrayal lurk around every corner, as does the hardest question of them all: When will you rise?

NOTE: Had a super busy week, so reviews of the books mentioned in last weeks "Off the Shelf" will be posted within the next couple of days. 

Waiting On Wednesday (2)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming books whose releases are being eagerly awaited. Bloggers are encouraged to join in and post about the book they're looking forward to reading. Here is mine: 

UNDER THE NEVER SKY, by Veronica Rossi

Expected publication: February 7th 2012, by ATOM.

Synopsis: Exiled from her comfortable home in the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. In Reverie, she spent time with her friends roaming virtual environments called Realms. But in The Death Shop, even the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage. He’s also her only hope for survival. 


A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry sees Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he also needs Aria’s help; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, they come together reluctantly, and embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by cannibals and wolves. Their unlikely alliance will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY. 


The first book in a captivating trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s enthralling debut sweeps you into an unforgettable adventure

It was the cover that first caught my attention when I was looking through the "2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)" list on Goodreads. I love the font used for the title, the title itself and the blue colouring. Blue colouring is definitely one of my favourites for book covers. Of course once I managed to tear my eyes away from the pretty awesome cover I was hooked by the synopsis, too. 

Top Ten Tuesday (2)

 Each week the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish host a Top Ten list based on a certain bookish topic. Other bloggers are able to join in and post their own top ten answers. Here are my answers to:

Top ten books I bought because of their covers:

1.PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.
I love everything about this cover, and when I saw it on the bookshelf at Angus and Robertson I knew I had to have it, regardless of whether or not I liked the whole "mish-mashing of classics with 'new-age' ideas" craze that was happening at the time. (I do now.)

2. A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY, by Libba Bray
It's such a simple, fitting concept. Altogether the photograph is lovely, as it the model's pose. It definitely caught my eye, especially since it's coupled with such a great title. (See what I did there?)

3. WILDWOOD DANCING, by Juliet Marillier
Have you ever seen anything so enchanting? The colours are gorgeous, and her hair, her hair. All the details are just so beautiful. And of course the book itself is fantastic.

4. IMAGINARY GIRLS, by Nova Ren Suma
The angle of the photo, the red ribbon wrapped around her arm, the blurred text: all those things intrigued me. What did they symbolize? Did they symbolize anything at all? Then when I flipped the book over and read the synopsis I immediately wanted to go home and read it, because it just sounded so amazing. 

   

5. GHOSTGIRL, by Tonya Hurley
There is something undeinably fun about this cover, in an almost morbid kind of way. I think what got me the most was the silhouette - presumably of "Ghostgirl" herself - with her crazy hair, and the actual size of the book. It was so different to anything I had come across before.

6. THE GHOST'S CHILD, by Sonya Hartnett
It's whimsical, and pretty, and I love how there are only a few colours that have been used. Bonus points for the fact that it's hardcover.

7. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA (1-7), by C.S Lewis
I had already read all seven books individually prior to purchasing this particular omnibus version, which I simply couldn't resist when I saw the cover. Just look at the lion (Aslan), and how his mane is made of fiery-looking swirls. 

8. TWILIGHT, by Stephenie Meyer
It's such a simple cover: a pair of pales hands holding an apple, and yet... There is something undeniably captivating about it. And of course there is the great combination of white, black and red which has become very popular.

9. PRETTY MUCH EVERY POPULAR PENGUIN THERE IS, by various authors
They're $9.99, for one thing. And they're retro orange. I adore retro orange. I have a stack of these, even though I have plenty of other copies.

10. EVERY (ADULT) CLOTHBOUND PENGUIN THERE IS, by various authors 
They're so, so, so pretty. And hardcover. When I first saw them, taking up a whole wall just by themselves at Borders, it was as though someone had gone into my head, combined my love of hardcovers, classics, patterns and colour and created these. They're books made in heaven. 

Off the Shelf (1)

"Off the Shelf" is a post dedicated to sharing which books I have chosen to add to my To-Be-Read list that will hopefully be read and reviewed over the coming week. Occasionally I will also feature books that I won't be reviewing, but will be reading anyway. All summaries are from Goodreads.

For Review:

IMAGINARY GIRLS, by Nova Ren Suma. 

Purchased | Borrowed | Received

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1), by Laini Taylor. 

Purchased | Borrowed | Received   

 

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself? 

PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS (Prophecy of the Sisters #1), by Michelle Zink.

Purchased | Borrowed | Received  

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets. Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other. 

Somewhat inspired by The Story Siren's "In My Mailbox".

Waiting On Wednesday (1)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming books whose releases are being eagerly awaited. Bloggers are encouraged to join in and post about the book they're looking forward to reading. Here is mine: 

CINDER, by Marissa Meyer.
Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends.


Synopsis: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. 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 center 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. 


I first heard about Cinder when I stumbled upon Marissa Meyer's livejournal and I've been excited about its release ever since. I love reinvented fairy-tales, and the fact that this is book one in a quartet makes it even more exciting. 

Top Ten Tuesday (1)

Each week the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish host a Top Ten list based on a certain bookish topic. Other bloggers are able to join in and post their own top ten answers. Here are my answers to:

Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

1. Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery: I'll never forget the first time I read Anne of Green Gables and discovered the wonderful world of Avonlea with the zealous, kindred spirit that is the protagonist. I've re-read this many times since, but there's nothing quite like the first time. 
2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling: I'm sure a lot of people have chosen this one. Who wouldn't want to experience the beginning of such an amazing series with the boy who lived for the very first time again?  
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K Rowling: ...Or the end, for that matter.
4. The Hobbit, by J.R.R Tolkien: I was fortunate enough to read this first, and not skip ahead to LotR, and boy am I glad I did. 
5. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R Tolkien: It took me a few restarts and quite a while, but I battled my way through this series. And in the end I fell in love with it - with the words, and the world, and the characters. 
6. The Lioness Quartet, by Tamora Pierce:  Words do not adequately describe.
7. On the Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta: The book amazed me. 
8. The Tomorrow Series, by John Marsden: So intense, so thrilling. Think under the covers, using a torch, with only the sound of pages rapidly turning; night after night. 
9. Sweep Series, by Cate Tiernan; Ah, my guilty pleasure books. I re-read them every so often. 
10. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer: That which showed me the way to the paranormal romance YA genre. I can very clearly remember devouring this one in a day.