The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter (Book Trailer)

Bookshelf Pics

I went home for the weekend, so I thought I'd take some pics of my shelves and share them with you. I'm also going to have my college shelves on the blog on Thursday.

Bookshelf #1: 

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Review: Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland

Promise of Shadows

Justina Ireland

Publication Date: March 11, 2014

Hardcover, 371 pages, Simon & Schuster

Genres: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

Zephyr Mourning has never been very good at being a Harpy. She’d rather watch reality TV than learn forty-seven ways to kill a man, and she pretty much sucks at wielding magic. Zephyr was ready for a future pretending to be a normal human instead of a half-god assassin. But all that changes when her sister is murdered—and she uses a forbidden dark power to save herself from the same fate.

Zephyr is on the run from a punishment worse than death when an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend (a surprisingly HOT friend) changes everything. Because it seems like Zephyr might just be the Nyx, a dark goddess made flesh that is prophesied to change the power balance. For hundreds of years the half-gods have lived in fear, and Zephyr is supposed to change that.

But how is she supposed to save everyone when she can’t even save herself?

My Review

So Tartarus—the land of suffering and torture deep down in the Underworld—isn’t exactly all it’s cracked up to be. And somehow, Zephyr Mourning the wingless Harpy has found a way out. With a ragtag group of mythologically-challenged friends, she learns her life’s purpose—to wield the dark shadows that go against everything her family has ever stood for. But with her sister’s soul on the line, Zephyr may just have to fight in a battle she really has no hope of winning.

A book smothered in ancient made-up lands, with only a small dose of Mortal Realm visits, isn’t unique to the world of young adult literature. However, Justina Ireland’s version, although heavily reliant on Greek roots, is described in a way that has  me convinced Ireland travelled back in time to create and spread the story of Hades, Hera, and the Harpies. Zephyr’s voice is sharp and humorous, but it also paints a great picture of places that I would like to see—for a brief amount of time at least, considering Tartarus isn’t exactly a place one would like to build a summer home at.

Zephyr is a strong character, even though she has her breakdown moments. She’s realistic and charming, but at the same time, her emotions do come and go faster than Hermes can pop his way out of the Underworld. It’s surprising she doesn’t have neck problems from the amount of emotional whiplash present. Also, Promise of Shadows isn’t a book to read in one sitting. It needs to be absorbed in smaller doses. There’s a lot of information that tends to feel like it is being thrown at the reader, perhaps due to the brisk pace of the storyline.

Despite these minor flaws, I feel that the book is a remarkably entertaining read. It’s a promising choice to satisfy those who are not quite sure what they will do with their lives after the Percy Jackson spinoff ends.

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher via Book Review Board of Missouri. This in no way altered my opinion/review.

Which Team Are You? : The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

If this works out, I'll basically just post a book series every week and have people vote on what team they are. I know the YA Sisterhood does the YA Crush Tournament, but I just want to find out how much you guys like one love interest over another, in one series.

Last week's poll was over Team Jack or Team Death from Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles series. Thank you to everyone who voted! This was the best turnout I've had for this yet! And the winner is...Team Jack! By only 4 votes!

So for this edition of “Which Team Are You?” I’m going to ask you who your pick of hunky man-flesh is from the Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. 

You can choose from:

1)      Team Darkling

or 2) Team Mal

OR 3) Team Nikolai

I’m Team I don’t know basically because they’re all so great. I like who Alina ended up with, but I think I would have been okay with any of them. If you had to choose one, who would it be, and why? If you haven’t read the books that are out right now (and why haven’t you?), who do you think sounds more appealing from the Shadow and Bone summary below.

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.

Which Team Are You?

Team Darkling

Team Mal

Team Nikolai

Poll Maker

*Note: The images presented here are not mine. I found them through Google.

Stacking the Shelves: The Small Edition

"Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme that is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

 

Not a lot this week.

·         Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

·         The Crown of Embers and (not pictured) The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

·         See Me by Wendy Higgins (ebook)

What books have you bought/received lately?

Dean Winchester Friday

Dean Winchester (or sometimes Jensen Ackles) Fridays make me a very happy fangirl. You'll see why when you look at the pictures.

Mmmmmmmm... That is all.

The Maze Runner Movie Review

The Maze Runner Movie Summary

Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape.

My Thoughts

This is just gonna be a quick mini-summary of my thoughts on the film. I’d love to do whole structured review, except I saw the movie last Thursday night and I’ve forgotten quite a bit.

I loved the cast. I thought that everyone did a terrific job. Even Theresa wasn’t as annoying to me as she was in the book. Her character was funny and kind of bada$$. Dylan O’Brien was so freakin’ cute, but in a hot way. Does that make any sense?

The plot of the movie was obviously good. There was still some iffy-ness they couldn’t quite fix because James Dashner didn’t give a very thorough description of the world-building. And the minor changes that they did change, I thought were for the better.

 

***SPOILERS MAY LIE HERE***

Whenever Thomas learns his name by bashing his head, that was a good time. Plus, that scene, along with all of the other fight scenes, like with Ben, were very gritty and raw. They didn’t feel like action-y choreographed fight scenes. They were quite realistic.

The Grievers weren’t what I was expecting. I had seen what they looked like on the commercials, so I knew that they were more robot-spiderlike than I was picturing. I thought they would look like slugs with spikes coming out of their bodies. Maybe that’s just me.

All in all, I thought it was really good. It wasn’t Catching Fire amazing, but I personally thought it was on the same level as Divergent. I’m super excited to see what happens in The Scorch Trials.

Waiting on Wednesday: Invaded by Melissa Landers

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

Invaded

Melissa Landers

(Alienated #2)

Publication Date: February 3, 2015

Hardcover,  368 pages, Disney-Hyperion

Genres: Sci-Fi, Young Adult

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe...until a threat to both their worlds reunites them.

Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.

Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.

The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?

My Thoughts

Me loves Aelyx. Me needs Aeylx. Now. Please and thank you.

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Stay With Me Release Day Launch + Giveaway

We are so pleased to bring you the Release Day Launch for Jennifer L. Armentrout's STAY WITH ME! STAY WITH ME is a New Adult contemporary romance being published by Avon (William Morrow), an imprint of HarperCollins, and is a part of Jennifer’s With You Saga!

 

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes ** Kobo ** GooglePlay

 

EXCERPT 

As I lay there, trying to swallow a loud, obnoxious yawn, I remembered something he’d said when we first met, about life being too short. I imagined he had firsthand experience with shortened lives while he was serving. That mentality came from experience. I got that now. Could even understand it, but there was something I didn’t understand. 

 “Why?” I asked. 

There was a beat. “Why what?” 

 Jax sounded tired, and I should shut up or point out that I was now tired and could sleep, so he could leave. But I didn’t. “Why are you here? You don’t know me and . . .” I trailed off, because there really wasn’t anything left to say. 

A minute went by, and he hadn’t answered my question, and then I think another minute ticked on, and I was okay with him not answering because maybe he didn’t even know. Or maybe he was just bored and that was why he was here. 

 But then he moved. 

Jax pressed against my back, and the next breath I took got stuck in my throat. My eyes shot open. The sheet and blanket were between us, but they felt like nothing. 

“What are you doing?” I asked. 

 “Getting comfortable.” He dropped an arm over my waist, and my entire body jerked against his. “It’s time to sleep I think.” 

“But—” 

“You can’t sleep when you talk,” he remarked. 

“You don’t need to be all up on me,” I pointed out. 

His answering chuckle stirred the hair along the back of my neck. “Honey, I’m not all up on you.” 

I freaking begged to differ on that point. I started to wiggle away, but the arm around my waist tightened, holding me in place. 

“You’re not going anywhere,” he announced casually, as if he wasn’t holding me prisoner in the bed.

 Okay. The whole prisoner thing might be melodramatic, but he wasn’t letting me up. Not when he was getting all kinds of comfy behind me. 

Oh my God, this was spooning. Total spooning. I was spooning with an honorary member of the Hot Guy Brigade. Did I wake up in a parallel universe? 

 “Sleep,” he demanded, as if the one word carried that much power. “Go to sleep, Calla.” This time his voice was softer, quieter. 

“Yeah, it doesn’t work that way, Jax. You have a nice voice, but it doesn’t hold the power to make me sleep on your command.” 

He chuckled. 

I rolled my eyes, but the most ridiculous thing ever was the fact that after a couple of minutes, my eyes stayed shut. I . . . I actually settled in against him. With his front pressed to my back, his long legs cradling mine, and his arm snug around my waist, I actually did feel safe. More than that, I felt something else—something I hadn’t felt in years. 

 I felt cared for . . . cherished. 

Which was the epitome of dumb, because I barely knew him, but feeling that, recognizing what the warm, buzzing feeling was, I fell right asleep.

   

     

STAY WITH ME Synopsis:

  

 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You and Be with Me comes a daring tale that pushes boundaries . . . At 21, Calla hasn't done a lot of things. She’s never been kissed, never seen the ocean, never gone to an amusement park. But growing up, she witnessed some things no child ever should. She still carries the physical and emotional scars of living with a strung-out mother, Mona—secrets she keeps from everyone, including her close circle of college friends. But the safe cocoon Calla has carefully built is shattered when she discovers her mom has stolen her college money and run up a huge credit card debt in her name. Now, Calla has to go back to the small town she thought she’d left behind and clean up her mom’s mess again. Of course, when she arrives at her mother’s bar, Mona is nowhere to be found. Instead, six feet of hotness named Jackson James is pouring drinks and keeping the place humming. Sexy and intense, Jaxis in Calla’s business from the moment they meet, giving her a job and helping her search for Mona. And the way he looks at her makes it clear he wants to get horizontal . . . and maybe something more. Before Calla can let him get close, though, she’s got to deal with the pain of the past—and some very bad guys out to mess her up if she doesn't give them her mom.      

Jennifer L. Armentrout/J.Lynn Bio 

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.   

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** J. Lynn Goodreads ** Jennifer L. ArmentroutGoodreads

Novel Goodreads

 

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Review: Hexed by Michelle Krys

Hexed

Michelle Krys

(Hexed #1)

Publication Date: June 2014

Hardback, 384 pages, Delacorte Press

Genres: YA, Paranormal

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

My Review

Indigo Blackwood may not be an average teenager. After all, she’s a cheerleader who’s dating Fairfield High’s star quarterback, her mom is seriously into all things Wiccan, and she’s just seen a guy die right in front of her eyes on a sunny Californian street. It doesn’t help that her mom’s mysterious Bible, but-not-a-Bible, book has gone missing, and now she has to put down her pom-poms and grab hold of her life by the broomstick, literally. Hexed is a little hocus pocus and toil and trouble all packed into a surprisingly short read.

Michelle Krys isn’t using poetic and beautiful language to create a novel of literary distinction, instead she’s creating a story using the voice of teenagers everywhere. And although Indigo’s first-person narrative is a little too immature at times, she does manage to capture the life of a teenage girl and all of her insecurities perfectly. Because of this, Indigo does come off at first like a childish character, but, once you’ve flipped through the first 50 pages, her immaturity turns into the thoughts of a fantastically witty female lead. Her banter with her friends, frenemies, and just plain ol’ enemies, is a Good time with a capital G.

These qualities in Indigo, as well as the fast-moving plot, made for a quick, light read. And while sometimes a quick, light read is all a reader wants in life, there are other times when a book with a more fleshed out world would make escaping from the boring, spell-free life of a human being, into a fantasy adventure that will have someone dreaming about zapping mean boys into frogs, or sending snobby girls into a far-off galaxy with a minute twitch of the nose.

The side characters of the book are just as entertaining as Indigo. Bishop is hilarious, mysterious, and a whole lot of other –ious’s, Devon is unintentionally, and stupidly funny, and Jezebel is fierce and scary. I just wish there had been a little bit more character development for them, instead of it all going to Indigo.

If you’re a fan of any paranormal television show, from Charmed and Witches of East End, to The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural, getting your hands on this book may be a wise decision. And if you don’t pick it up, well… let’s just say Indigo may have to learn how to put a hex on you.

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher via Book Review Board of Missouri. This in no way altered my opinion/review.