Saturday, October 31, 2015

Stacking the Shelves: The Halloween (But Not Really) 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.

Bought only one book. And it’s a book I’ve been dying to get my hands on for waaaaay too long.


Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

I had to wait to get this book from Left Bank Books until October 27th—that’s three weeks after the release date!!!! I waited because I had to purchase a copy there in order to get into Rainbow’s signing (recap will be up soon).



I also got two swag packs today for pre-ordering both Carry On and Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows. I would have hauled the Six of Crows swag earlier, if not for the mean USPS people. (Nah, they’re not mean, just inconvenient.) Anywho, thanks Fierce Reads and St. Martin's Griffin!

What books have you bought/received lately?


Oh, and Happy Halloween! I hope it’s a magical one!

Friday, October 30, 2015

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 gif.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=halloween+supernatural&view=detailv2&&id=E6D1118CEE530B5F08BC13084415274BB4257CD9&selectedIndex=41&ccid=CXx3jA5Z&simid=607992727870835589&thid=JN.r2L4%2fx%2fTi3xP5vdLEJpSCA&ajaxhist=0

Normal people: “Mmm… it’s candy.”

Me: “Mmm… it’s Dean eating candy.”

HAPPY HALLOWEEN-EVE!

*I’d also like the reiterate that these images are not mine and they have been linked back to where I found them.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Review: A Stranger Thing by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal

A Stranger Thing
(The Ever-Expanding Universe #2)
Publication Date: November 12, 2013
Hardcover, 279 pages, Simon & Schuster
Genres: YA, Sci-Fi

In this witty, adventurous sequel to Mothership, which Publishers Weekly called “a whole lot of fun” Elvie Nara is back on earth—but her life (including her new baby) is still pretty out there!

Pregnancy was pretty rough for sixteen-year-old Elvie Nara, what with the morning sickness, constant food cravings, and the alien race war she found herself in the middle of. But if she thought giving birth to an extraterrestrial’s baby would be the hard part, she was sorely mistaken.

After Elvie somehow has a baby girl, the always-male Almiri completely wig out. Suddenly Elvie’s supposed allies have shipped her—along with her father, her best friend, Ducky, and her maybe-boyfriend, boneheaded Almiri commando Cole Archer—off to a remote “retention facility” (aka alien jail) in Antarctica. Talk about cold. But things really get complicated when a new group of hybrid aliens arrive with information that sends Elvie’s world spinning. Before long, Elvie is trekking across the bottom of the Earth with a band of friends and frenemies to uncover the secrets of her own origin. Will Elvie ever be able to convince the Almiri that a conspiracy to conquer the planet is a greater threat than a sixteen-year-old girl and a newborn who won’t stop crying?

My Review

Elvie and co. are back! And the cuteness and awkwardness of teenagers and aliens with babies continues!

I read Mothership a couple years back and I thought it was funny, light, and entertaining. That pretty much sums up what I felt about this one, too. Elvie is still a sarcastic, hot mess who sometimes has me laughing out loud and sometimes makes me want to roll my eyes. Cole, the baby daddy, is still incredibly stupid. This still angers me. Nobody is that dumb. And Elvie’s eccentric dad and her friend Ducky (who may be more than a friend? Maybe not? Idk. I can’t tell yet.) round up the group, or at least the group of people I can discuss without spoiling you. But, the last two I mentioned did make me smile on occasion.

The action in this book is just as out-of-this-world as the first book (See what I did there?), even though this plot takes place on Earth. In Antarctica of all places! How many books have you read that take place in Antarctica?! This is my first. Also like with the first book, things always seem to go terribly wrong, only to immediately somehow be solved. And while it’s great that all of the characters—minus Cole—are super-smart, it does make the OMG-what-are-they-going-to-do?!? factor a little less dire. But I was still quite shocked at some of the events that took place in the story. I will definitely be reading book three to get some answers.

All in all, if you’re looking for a light, different, sarcastic sci-fi read, pick up Mothership, and then pick up its sequel. You deserve a few laughs in your life.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat

"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...

Kings Rising
(Captive Prince #3)
Publication Date: January 31, 2016
Paperback, Berkley
Genres: Adult, LGBT, Fantasy

The worldwide phenomenon continues—from the boldly original author of Captive Prince and Prince’s Gambit.

“Damianos of Akielos has returned.”

Damen’s identity has been revealed, and now he must face his master, Prince Laurent, as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill. The struggle that ensues takes them deep into Akielos, where they face their most dangerous opposition yet.

On the brink of a momentous battle, the future of two kingdoms hangs in the balance. In the south, Kastor’s forces are massing. In the north, the Regent’s armies are mobilizing for war. Damen’s only hope is in an alliance with Laurent, against their usurpers. But even if the fragile trust that they have built survives the revelation of Damen’s identity—can it stand against the Regent’s final, deadly play for the throne?

My Thoughts

I’ve posted the Australian cover here because that’s the version I want. Hopefully the Book Depository has it available because that’s the version I really want. If they don’t, I may have to beg some Australian residents to ship me copies of the trilogy.

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer

As all of you must know by now, there is a new Star Wars movie coming out in December. Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Sounds ominous, right? Although, I’m it should sound like a good thing. She’s going to get the force, right? Right!?! Please?

I’m super pumped that the main character is female! This means the new generation of potential Star Wars lovers can grow to encompass not just guys and nerdy girls, but all kinds of girls! (I say this as a proud nerdy girl.) Woot! Woot!

Check out the trailer if you haven’t seen it yet. And if you have, just watch it again. You know you want to. ;)


How do you feel about the trailer? Did it rock your socks off? Tell me in the comments!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Review: A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter

A Mad Zombie Party
(White Rabbit Chronicles #4)
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Hardcover, 448 pages, Harlequin Teen
Genres: YA, Paranormal

The battle rages on.

Ali Bell and Cole Holland's crew of zombie slayers thought they'd won the war against Anima Industries, the evil company responsible for capturing and experimenting on zombies in an effort to discover the secret to immortality. In the last epic clash, the slayers lost many of their crew and closest friends. But Frosty, the ice man himself, has not recovered from one casualty in particular—the love of his life, Kat Parker.

On the path to self-annihilation, Frosty receives a message from beyond—Kat's spirit returns, insisting he partner with rogue slayer Camilla Marks. Frosty will do anything for Kat. Except that. Camilla is the one who betrayed them all, leading to Kat's death.

But when Anima rises from the grave to become a force the slayers may not have the strength to overcome, Frosty, Camilla and all the slayers will have to work together to survive. And one broken slayer will learn that sometimes, the line between hate and attraction is blurred…and the road to redemption isn't through revenge, but in letting go of the past and grabbing hold of the future.

My Review

I was really excited about this book, but not excited at the same time. I LOVE The White Rabbit Chronicles, so I just wasn’t sure how a fourth spin-off-ish book would work, especially one that features a new P.O.V. from a new-ish female character. But, I did manage to enjoy the story, despite my initial hesitation.

Because the book is told in two P.O.V.s, one from Frosty and the other from Milla, things got a little hard to follow. And not hard to follow in an I-don’t-know-who’s-talking kind of way, but in an I’m-not-getting-as-much-character-development-as-I-want way. I felt like Frosty, a bad boy I loved dearly in the first three books, was reduced to a romance novel cliché. And Milla was just too quick to fall in love. I guess that’s the hard part of putting a love relationship into one book (like an adult romance novel), the author just doesn’t get to develop the characters as much as you’d like. Especially if they’re sacrificing some of the character development for romance and action. I do like the love-hate relationship Frosty and Milla have, though.

Now, the action of the book was very entertaining. It didn’t blow me away like the first three books, but I was pleasantly surprised with some of the twists and turns. However, I didn’t like Milla’s story arc within the action scenes, just because it reminded me so much of Ali’s. Everything else, though, was really good. I never felt bored or bogged down by details.

This is a short review, simply because I read this book a few weeks ago and I can’t remember all of my thoughts, but if you are a fan of The White Rabbit Chronicles series and you’re scared to pick this one up because it’s not following Ali or Cole, don’t worry. Gena knows how to keep up the momentum those two had. There is an obvious difference between the books, but it’s nothing to worry about. Also, you need to read it, just to find out what happens in the epilogue!

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Which Team Are You? : The Rick Riordan Edition

I 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 Tamlin or Team Rhys from Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series. And guess what? It was a tie!


So for this edition of “Which Team Are You?” I’m going to ask you who your favorite lead guy is from Rick Riordan’s mythology series.

You can choose from:

1) Percy

https://www.google.com/search?q=percy+jackson+images&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS608US608&espv=2&biw=822&bih=877&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI5_yB887byAIVBDwmCh1k3AKb#tbm=isch&q=percy+jackson+images+fanart&imgrc=1zzsQYFL9RhOLM%3A

or 2) Carter

https://www.google.com/search?q=kane+rick+riordan+images&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS608US608&espv=2&biw=822&bih=877&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIxozDmM_byAIVRUwmCh2VogIV#imgrc=_HXItrHQVx3TDM%3A

OR 3) Jason

https://www.google.com/search?q=jason+rick+riordan+images&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS608US608&espv=2&biw=822&bih=877&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI1byW_M7byAIVRMImCh320Am0#imgrc=Mf86Yvarjq1ymM%3A

OR 4) Magnus

https://www.google.com/search?q=magnus+chase+fanart&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS608US608&espv=2&biw=822&bih=877&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIkLPkqs_byAIVw0kmCh3YIQ59#imgrc=KMTad2BGrPo_DM%3A

If I say my team, I feel like people will disown me. Oh well… I’m actually Team Jason. I really liked him in The Lost Hero, so as soon as Percy came back for the rest of the series, I was a little crushed that he took the limelight from everyone else. But after that, Percy would be my favorite, simply because I haven’t read the other two books yet.
If you had to choose one, who would it be, and why? If you haven’t read some of the books (How is that even possible!?), who do you think sounds more appealing from what you’ve heard (I can’t list out four blurbs, that’s just too much work):


Which Team Are You?

abcpoll.com free polls

***Please note that I stop checking the poll the Friday before the new poll comes out (on Sunday). Also, please only vote once so everyone’s vote counts, unless you need to vote for both guys. I give you permission to do that because sometimes choosing is tough.***

**Also note that these are not my images. I found them online.