GoodRead - Paranormalcy

Sya from Mountains of Instead lent me her copy of Paranormalcy by Kiersten White after I lent her my copy of the ever-so-shiny Nightshade by Andrea Cremer.

So, here's the story of Paranormalcy. Evie classes herself as normal. Well, I say normal. I mean, she has worked for the International Paranormal Containment Agency (aka IPCA) for as long as she can remember, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex is a faerie, she can see through other paranormals' glamours. So, when a shape-shifter breaks into the IPCA, Evie's world slowly falls apart...

Am not going to lie to you; I'm not a great lover of the cover. I don't like it before I read the book and, now I've read it, I can see where the cover came from, but still, it doesn't really fit the story for me.

And now, the story. I really like it. It was a fluffy read, but there was something utterly refreshing about this debut novel. And, because we were reading from Evie's point of view, when we saw scary moments, it was made more freaky by the fact that Evie can see past the glamour and we see... well, that would be telling it, won't it?

So, why do I really like this book? Why was it, on Boxing Day, I was sitting in the corner, chuckling to myself as my grandparents was watching their Jane MacDonald DVD (true story)? Well, it's the main character, Evie. I LOVE her voice. She is a typical sixteen year old, with a cunning sense of humour. I mean, how can you not love the girl who has a pink taser (called Tasey), called a vampire cliché within the first few pages of the book and, as slowly falling in love with the shapeshifter (aka Water Boy – don't ask), Lend, she gets excited over him going to school and having his own locker. HIS OWN LOCKER, PEOPLE! I mean, how can you NOT love the girl?!

I love reading Evie and I cannot wait for the second in this trilogy, Supernaturally, to come out!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!

JK Rowling Would SO Approve!

Need I say more?

And This Is When I Started to Cry

(My thanks to the tumblrs' of FzngWizbee & watsonlove)

The Doctor Went to Hogwarts?!

So, the 12th Doctor is going to belong to Slytherin... we're doomed...

(My Thanks go to the Tumblrs' of FzngWizbee & Roses In Bloom)

... I Sense A Pattern Emerging

I watched these videos randomly and laughed myself stupid. So, enjoy!

But, if you don't want to be spoiled about Disney films or Book endings. That is all.




At least I don't have to read those books now... ;)

But You Were Unsuccessful...?

I love a random blog about Harry Potter, don't you?

The 13 Sercets

Now, on Twitter a few days ago, I randomly won a copy of a book called "The 13 Sercets" by Michelle Harrison - all because I thought the cover looked cool (via @simonkids_UK)! I got it yesterday and, looking at it, I love it! It looks like a cool book to read. I mean, come on! LOOK AT IT!!!




Shame I didn't realise till after I won this competition that it was the final book in a trilogy - called "The 13 Treasures". But, because am weird, am going to risk reading this book as if I never knew it was in a trilogy because... well, it comes out in February and I want to read it before then. So, change in Books To Be Read - again.

Interested in this book or this series? Well, here's the trailer to tickle your fancy.

GoodRead - Shade

I have to explain how I got Shade, because if I was in a bookshop, I won't pick this book up. I won it on Mountains of Instead. And it was a signed copy! So, after I had finished Nightshade, I wanted a short, fun-looking read to get over Matched and Nightshade, so I picked this up!

Now, the book. Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and talk to ghosts. She finds this gift annoying and wishes that she can't see the violet-colour ghosts anymore. But when her boyfriend, Logan, suddenly and unexpectedly dies, Aura reconsiders. Surely a violet ghost Logan is better than no Logan at all, right? But as Aura slowly comes to terms with Logan's death, she grows closer to a new exchange student, Zachary who is kind, supportive and, more importantly, alive...

Like I said before, this isn't my usual read. And, maybe because of that, my reaction to this book is very middle of the room. You can also said that, because I had strong reactions to Nightshade and Matched, it would be hard (or near possible) for me to like this book.

Because of this, I can see why I like the book and why I had problems with Shade. Let's start with the why I didn't warm to the book and then go all positive and praising this book after.

Okay, I don't like writing negative about books. And I think the reason I had problems with this book was that this was the first book in a series. It asked more questions than answered. But I guess that with a series, you can get the answers in the upcoming books in the series.

Another reason I think I had problems with the book was the love triangle between Aura, dead Logan and alive Zachary. Most people's blogs (and the reviews on Amazon.co.uk) will disagree with me, but I felt the love triangle felt lacklustre. It didn't feel right, somehow. There was more than one occasion where I thought the only reason that Aura liked them was because both Logan and Zachary had accents.

But – BUT – this book has redeemable qualities. The characters were likeable and I really liked Jeri Smith-Ready's writing. But what held my attention was the idea of the Shift itself and its aftermath. How does something so simple like children born after a precise date and them seeing ghosts and angry Shades affect everyday life? You wear red, you might have to go to court to translate what the ghost says to the Pre-Shifters, everyday life changes because of this one mysterious event...

Did I like the book? I think I did, yes. Did I love it? Not really, no. But just because I didn't love Shade, doesn't mean other people haven't. I have read several reviews through the blogsphere including Wondrous Reads & The Mountains of Instead who loved this book. But, this book isn't me. Like I said at the start of the blog, this isn't my usual read. Would I consider reading the sequel, Shift? I think I would investigate it. As long as it gives me some answers, I would investigate...

*

As for music on this book, I will use the music the author herself talks about in this interview...

For Logan: “If I Ever Leave This World Alive” by Flogging Molly


For Aura: “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol


For Zachary: “I Will Possess Your Heart” by Death Cab for Cutie

GoodRead - UK Cover Vs US Cover

So, I really like Maggie Stiefvater (as you know). I mean, I love the Shiver trilogy (though I almost threw Linger across the room when I got to the end and am waiting for the third book in the series, Forever. I WANT IT NOW!) so, while I wait impatiently for Forever, Maggie's other series - Books of Faerie - will be published over the course of the next five/six months. The first book in the series is Lament (here is the link to see the covers for Lament), and the second book is Ballad (coming out in May 2011 - YEAH!!!).

If you want to know about this book, this is what is said about Ballad on Maggie Stiefvater's website.

In this sequel to Lament, faeries follow James and Dee to Thornking-Ash, where James struggles with his feelings for Dee and for the dangerous faerie muse, Nuala. When Halloween plunges both Dee and Nuala into danger, James finds he can only save one.

Enough of book talk. Let's have a look at the covers! Here is the UK cover of Ballad



Here's the US cover of Ballad.



I love the UK cover. Sorry, but I do. I simply love it. I like the US cover with the burning leaf, but the UK cover has something edgy about it.

What do you guys think?

Nightshade Book Blog Tour

I am THRILLED and BEYOND HONORED to announce this EXCITING BOOK TOUR (my FIRST!!!) for NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer (published in the UK by Atom Books).



Yeah, the poster with all the details is a bit small. Sorry about that. But other REAL book bloggers like Crooked Shelf, Words and Pieces, Book City Chick, I Want To Read That, My Favourite Books, Once Upon a Bookshelf among others are involved! And then there is little me, right at the end! OK, I'm the penultimate blog post - BUT I DON'T CARE! I am on this Book Blog Tour and I am very excited! Excited and stupidly humbled to be apart of this (as I ADORE the book a stupid amount!)

So, the book tour starts Friday 20th December 2010 and ends Friday 14th January 2011. My blog on this tour is Wednesday 12th January! I have put it in my phone's calendar so I WILL remember!

Till the book tour starts (and my blog-post hits the end of the tour), I will give you links to wet your appetite over Nightshade!

Andrea Cremer Official Website - http://www.andreacremer.com/
Nightshade Series Official Website - http://www.nightshadeseries.co.uk/
Atom Books - http://www.atombooks.net/

Till then, SEE YA ON THE TOUR!!!

City of Fallen Angels - Cover Reveal!

Now, as some of you guys know, I love the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare and am planning to read Clockwork Angel (Book 1 in the prequel trilogy - Infernal Devices) in the near future (I WILL make time!), I am very EXCITED to see that the fourth book in the Mortal Instruments has been revealed!

So, here it is...



IT HAS TWO PEOPLE ON THE FRONT!!! Clary And... er... who is that?

Also, on the EW website, was revealed a tiny snippet of City of Fallen Angel and a EVEN-SHORTER snippet of the second book in the Infernal Devices trilogy, Clockwork Prince. You can read them on MundieSource or at MundieMoms. Or, if you want to watch the cover being reveal with teaser-questions about what will happen in City of Fallen Angels, click here!

What do you guys think? Do you like it? Or dislike it? Let me know!

Also, if you want a countdown for City of Fallen Angels, go to the bottom of the blog and click on Share!

COOL DEATHLY HALLOWS PICTURE!!!

And I found that image at http://iseahorse.tumblr.com/ (I watched her YouTube video and I was curious. I don't have Tumbler [and probably never will, because I don't understand it], but I saw this image and fell in love!)

(if you're on tumbler, Explain what it is to me. Thanks!)

I Have A Problem

For more designs like this, go to http://thoughtballoonhelium.blogspot.com/

Miranda

Must. Stop. Listening. To. This!

Oh, Adele. How I love this song. Can't wait for the album. (and yes, this is one of THOSE blog entries. FLEE THE GUSHING!!!)

GoodRead - Nightshade

Right, as some of you know, I went to Atom Books for a book blogging event (am I ever going to stop talking about this? Probably not). When I was there, each of us bloggers were given two ARCs (aka Advance Reader Copies). One was Rosebush by Michele Jaffe (not out till March 2011) and the other was the book am about to review now.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer follows the story of Calla, sexy alpha to the Nightshades, a pack of werewolves (though they are called Guardians). She is destined to mate with Ren, the alpha of another pack of Guardians, the Banes. Once this happens, the new pack will guard sacred ground for their masters, the Guardians, against the Guardians' enemy, the Searchers.

But Calla breaks one of her master's laws by saving a mortal boy, Shay's, life. After she done that, everything she knows – her fate, her existence and the very essence of her world – is put into question. And not only is everything thrown into question, Calla's heart is torn between Ren – the boy she should be in love with – and Shay – the boy that she can't live without.

She can control her pack, but not her heart. And if she can't control that, is forbidden love worth the pain and the ultimate sacrifice?

With Twitter and the Blogsphere gushing and getting excited over this book, I have to now to sum up this book (which is coming out in the UK on 28th December 2010). And, when I found out I got a copy of the ARC, I think I made a squeal noise, got very excited and after Liz from My Favourite Books (she's lovely. Check out the blog she co-writes!) said, in a joking and lovely voice, “Be professional”, I laughed and went “Are you kidding?! We had drinks, cake and free books!” (have I said I have NEVER gone to one of these events before?), I knew that this book was the one to read!

And I was right. I LOVE NIGHTSHADE! And after reading another awesome book, MATCHED, I am shocked that I have discovered another exciting book so quickly. But I have!

Calla is a great female lead (she kicks butt – literary!) and you feel her pain with what is happening to her with Ren and Shay (the book's Edward and Jacob – and yes, you will join a Team after you read this book). And with a rich mix of background characters (I love Calla's brother and her best friend, Ansel and Bryn) and an even richer mythology (which you get in drips rather than thrown into your face within the first three chapters), I couldn't help but fall under Nightshade's spell.

I love Nightshade and I think this will be one of the Must Reads of 2011 (like Matched – read them NOW!). And I hunger... okay, DEMAND the sequel, Wolfbane. Like now!

PS – I wanna say thank you to Atom Books for giving me a copy of ARC. The Shiny ARC which no one touched bar me.

PPS – Have you seen the covers? SO PRETTY!!!

PPPS – here is the trailer for the book and two songs that I was listen to while I was reading the book. ENJOY!

BeforeUGo - November 2010 Recommendations

OOOPS!!! Sorry for the lateness of this! I lost track on time (blame the snow and the Advert Calendar I keep forgetting to open!). Anyway, hello! Am listening to a cover of a song via the joyful YouTube! So, here are November’s recommendations on our Twitter feed.

JOE INNES - http://www.myspace.com/joeinnes
SIA - http://www.siamusic.net/ or http://www.myspace.com/SiaMusic
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - http://www.myspace.com/mychemicalromance
RENOE ALEXANDER - http://www.myspace.com/renoealexander or http://www.youtube.com/renoealexander

That’s it for November. December will be shorter because of Christmas and New Year! So, a short list! But it will be a fun and maybe a yad silly list! But still, if you want to recommend bands/musicians to us, go the Facebook, reply to us on Twitter or leave a message below this blog!

SEE YA LATERS!

I...

Atomics

Right, as some of you guys know, I went to an Atom Books event where they told us about books and we went all giddy and excited! They touched on a new project they were working on and now, today, they have revealed it in its FULL GLORY!



For those of you who want to know, Atomics is a new reviewing project where peeps aged 12 to 18 get Atom Books to read and review. BEFORE the book comes out on general sale. The review is put up on the Atomics website and, then, once you've done that, you keep the book.

Teens read and review the books, teens read the review and, because they are in the same age group, know if they themselves will like the book or not. EVERYONE WINS!

There are terms and conditions (PLEASE read if you are considering join up with this project. They are things you need to be AWARE of. Like you have a month to read and review the book among other info!)

But, if you are interested, click here to apply & here to read the Terms and Conditions.

I LOVE this idea. Free books - where would I signed up? Oh... what? Am too old. Oh, pants!

Twist Our Words

On Channel 4 in the UK, they have just started to do little shorts where their presenters say a word and we, the people at home, go online and make a short video using these words (don't understand. Go to Channel4.com/Twist to find out more). Anyway, I decided to have a go.

It's hard. Addictive, but hard. The main reason is because of the amount of words you have to use. But yeah, here are my first attempts. You may laugh.