tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72605352905410196122024-03-14T03:33:11.026+00:00Book WormMandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.comBlogger440125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-66795157563095331772017-01-02T20:44:00.001+00:002017-01-02T20:44:14.051+00:00hello from the other sideHola!<br />
<br />
It's now been seven months since the last update to this blog, and I'm still getting lovely emails asking for me to review stuff. Sadly, right now, I simply cannot take on any more reading. It's actually not physically possible, unless someone invents more hours to the day. And super powerful coffee.<br />
<br />
As you may or may not (!) have noticed, this blog has kinda died. It's sad, but there you go.<br />
There were only so many things I could juggle at once, and in the end, this fell by the wayside.<br />
I'm loathe to delete it though, so it's just going to sit here for a bit until I decide what to do with it for good. Right now, it is unlikely I will take up blogging again, but never say never is my motto, so. Here we are.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, you should all head on over to <a href="http://www.yainterrobang.com/" target="_blank">YA Interrobang</a>. 2017 is gonna be a big year around there, and what better way to kick off the year than with <a href="http://www.yainterrobang.com/queer52/" target="_blank">a reading challenge</a>?! ;)<br />
<br />
Stay awesome, and I will hopefully see you all soon again :)<br />
<br />
M xMandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-38592327204234519932016-06-10T13:11:00.002+01:002016-06-10T13:13:16.426+01:00Geek Girl: Head Over Heels<div class="page" title="Page 8">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2wz2LQu7HA/V1quYSsfAuI/AAAAAAAACH4/BCioufxWWwIqTJ_Jf0tfKy5PhgoJIcXtQCLcB/s1600/26094860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2wz2LQu7HA/V1quYSsfAuI/AAAAAAAACH4/BCioufxWWwIqTJ_Jf0tfKy5PhgoJIcXtQCLcB/s400/26094860.jpg" width="247" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Title: Head Over Heels (Geek Girl #5) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Author: Holly Smale<br />
Genre: YA<br />
Rating: 5/5
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Cover: 6/10
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Head Over Heels </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">follows self-assumed geek girl,
Harriet Manners, and her newly-acquired clique. After
the disastrous happening of </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">All That Glitters </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">(</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Geek
Girl </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">#4), Harriet has decided to take a break from
modelling, and just stick to what she does best:
studying.
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">Of course, the fashion world stops for no one, and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">when Wilbur calls her asking to join his new
modelling agency, Harriet finds herself agreeing to help her friend. As she later finds out,
she is Wilbur’s only client, and quite literally the only thing standing between her friend and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the end of his career.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">Smale has always shown a great ability to create a character who is both quirky and
unique, while also being uniquely relatable. And for her audience of young tweens and
teens, it is vital to have role models such as Harriet Manners in their lives; Harriet tells
them that being different is okay, that being clever doesn’t mean you have to be socially
awkward or ugly — and that, no matter who you are, and how you relate to the world,
there are people out there who see the world in the same way as you, and will be happy to
spend time with you, no matter what others might say.
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">I think to me, however, the biggest gift of these books is always seeing Harriet discover a
new and empowering truth about herself; last one was that her happiness wasn’t
dependant on a boy, no matter how cute. In </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Head Over Heels</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">, it was Harriet’s approach to
modelling. While so far she’d been able to skate her way through with minimal effort to the
actual job she was doing, </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Head Over Heels </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">finds Harriet having to take it seriously in order
to help Wilbur. That felt like such a huge turning point in her character development, and a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">step towards maturity; she’s learning to take responsibility for her choices and her actions,
learning that modelling is an actual job that takes work and preparation and involves more
than just showing up and hoping for the best.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">What I liked the most about Harriet, from the very first novel, was how unapologetic she
was about being herself, and it’s always an absolute pleasure to see this theme continue
throughout the novels — Harriet is a geek girl, and very proud of it.
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">Overall, yet another great coming of age novel by Smale, and one in a series that I hope
young girls everywhere will take heart; we need more Harriet Manners in the world. </span></span></div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-83991040513970150162016-06-10T13:08:00.002+01:002016-06-10T13:14:14.914+01:00The Crown (The Selection #5)<div class="page" title="Page 2">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Title: The Crown (The Selection #5) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Author: Kiera Cass<br />
Genre: YA Dystopian<br />
Rating: 5/5
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Cover: 10/10
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">The Crown </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">follows the events of </span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt; font-style: italic;">The Heir</span><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">, and we are
once again swept up in Princess Eadlyn’s tumultuous
life.
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">Following the Queen Mother’s heart problems, Eadlyn
is thrust headfirst into the position of Regent of Illéa.
Now not only does she have to navigate her own </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Selection, she also has to rule a country that seems to
hold great dislike for her while her father stays by her mother’s side, and her brother has </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">run away to get married.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">Faced with the prospect of imminent rebellion in her beloved country, Eadlyn has to make
some tough choices — both in her personal life, and in her public one, as Regent, and
learn that sometimes in life, compromise is a must... and that others, a firm hand and
steely determination is what is needed. Alliances are tested and truths are exposed as she
tries to hold on to control of her own life.
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">I really enjoyed this last instalment to Cass’ series. Eadlyn’s journey felt true and relatable;
her struggle to find a viable balance between her duty and work as a monarch, and her
own heart and desires is one that is easy to relate to. And the way Cass presented Eadlyn
throughout the novel made her an easy narrator to root for — an important factor,
considering it’s a first-person narrative.
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">It was also nice that Cass managed to keep a level of uncertainty regarding Eadlyn’s
chosen suitor from the Selection. Until it happened, we are kept unsure of whether or not
she will actually go through with what her hearts wants her to — or if she will yield to the
responsibility her birth has placed on her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Cass presents an engaging novel about finding strength in yourself, learning to trust your
instincts and be true to your heart. Eadlyn’s age and gender are never a problem in the
novel, despite others trying to make it one. Cass’ protagonist is a spunky, take-no-
prisoners kind of princess, who has no time for anyone’s thoughts on what she should or
should not be allowed to do because of her age or the fact that she is a girl; she takes to
her tasks with gumption, and proves that a woman can rule just as well — if not better, in
fact — than a man, and be very happy while doing so.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.000000pt;">Special mention to Cass’ excellent handling of the LGBT+ community representation in
this novel. Until books are no longer advertised as ‘LGBT’ if the main character is queer,
there will always be the need for better representation in literature, and especially in Young
Adult Lit. The way Cass added it in here was both surprising and tastefully done. The
characters weren’t defined by their sexuality, and were allowed storylines outside of it; their
romance wasn’t rushed and neither one of them died — always a decided plus. </span></span></div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-35730613215578229062016-04-02T13:50:00.001+01:002016-04-02T13:50:12.343+01:00The Abyss Surrounds Us (The Abyss #1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIFulc4SXlQ/Vv-9f8qP7DI/AAAAAAAACHc/akL-SVU0sYgvuQd4PWiYIyoeSeJImEGpw/s1600/24790901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIFulc4SXlQ/Vv-9f8qP7DI/AAAAAAAACHc/akL-SVU0sYgvuQd4PWiYIyoeSeJImEGpw/s320/24790901.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<b>Title: The Abyss Surrounds Us </b><br />
<b>Author: Emily Skrutskie</b><br />
<b>Genre: YA Fantasy/Sci-fi</b><br />
<b>Rating: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Cover: 7/10</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">F</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">or Cassandra Leung, bossing around sea monsters is just the family business. She’s been a Reckoner trainer-in-training ever since she could walk, raising the genetically-engineered beasts to defend ships as they cross the pirate-infested NeoPacific. But when the pirate queen Santa Elena swoops in on Cas’s first solo mission and snatches her from the bloodstained decks, Cas’s dream of being a full-time trainer seems dead in the water. </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">There’s no time to mourn. Waiting for her on the pirate ship is an unhatched Reckoner pup. Santa Elena wants to take back the seas with a monster of her own, and she needs a proper trainer to do it. She orders Cas to raise the pup, make sure he imprints on her ship, and, when the time comes, teach him to fight for the pirates. If Cas fails, her blood will be the next to paint the sea.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">But Cas has fought pirates her entire life. And she's not about to stop.</span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">***</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">After having had some trouble getting interested in books for a few months, <i>The Abyss Surrounds Us</i> managed to firmly get into the swing of things again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">The relationship between Cas and Bao was amazing to see develop: from reluctant trainer, to almost that of a proud mother. And the character development that Cas went through from start to finish was truly beautiful to witness. Skrutskie managed to make it so that Cas's journey felt fluid and natural - from her first day out on her own boat, to the self-discoveries brought on by captivity.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Another definite plus was the relationship between Cas and Swift. It started out so subtle, that by the time it is addressed in the text, it feels almost inevitable. But the way </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Skrutskie manoeuvred around the issues that arose from the situation both girls were in was what truly shone: at no point did the romance feel wrong, forced or even detrimental to Cas as a character in captivity. Much to the contrary, in fact: Cas's strength and determination when it came to Swift made her shine as a character that not only knows what she wants and deserves from life, but also one I hope young girls will look up to. The world needs more Cassandra Leung's in literature; not only to show that it is okay to love another girl, but also that love, in whatever form it comes in, should never come above your own sense of self, identity, freedom and morals.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Truly a very entertaining read right to the very end. Definitely recommend, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book, because that cliffhanger was a killer! </span></span></div>
Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-85801332556236330412016-01-31T01:14:00.001+00:002016-01-31T01:14:46.694+00:00HPCelebration, Fantastic Beasts, Cursed Child... it's a Potter Year!In case some of you weren't aware of this: I am a <b><i>huge</i></b> Potterhead. And as today, January 31st, begins, it dawns on me just how deeply entwined these stories have been with my life.<br />
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<br />
It's funny, because when my Dad came back from a business trip with this book "he just knew I'd love", six-year-old me had no idea that she was about to be introduced to some of the best friends she'd ever have.<br />
Fifteen years later, and I'm lying here. It's 1am on my mother's birthday, and Harry Potter has made something of a comeback into my life. The irony isn't lost on me that it was five years ago, on July 15th 2011, that <i>Deathly Hallows Part 2</i> came out in cinemas... and my mum passed away. It's funny how life is cyclical like that; that day five years ago, I said goodbye to my childhood in more ways than expected. And now, years later, on yet another memorable date, it's come knocking again. I, for one, am thrilled to have more Potter in my life, and very excited to go on new adventures in the Wizarding World.<br />
<br />
For news, videos and more about both Fantastic Beasts and The Cursed Child, follow #HPCelebration on twitter.Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-36132373357734025052016-01-08T13:21:00.001+00:002016-01-08T13:21:28.930+00:00The Impostor Queen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ytUr0h2AwvU/Vo-3lD-wofI/AAAAAAAACGM/HrCcgh4z88c/s1600/23495112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ytUr0h2AwvU/Vo-3lD-wofI/AAAAAAAACGM/HrCcgh4z88c/s320/23495112.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<b>Title: The Impostor Queen</b><br />
<b>Author: Sarah Fine</b><br />
<b>Genre: YA Fantasy</b><br />
<b>Rating: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Cover: 10/10</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by magical priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.</span></blockquote>
<br />
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***</div>
<br />
I really couldn't have picked a better book to get me back into the reading saddle... or a worse one, depending on how you look at it.<br />
<i>The Impostor Queen</i> had everything I like the most in fantasy novels: beautifully set up worlds, strong characters with awesome powers and lots of action. It also had, much to my delighted surprise, an LGBT element. Now, this might just be me being too grumbly, because I can just as easily see it having happened exactly like it did if Mim was a guy, but dammit, I wanted more of Mim/Elli! I was so wary when I first picked up the hints of feelings there, and then when they kept on coming, I fell in head over heels. I mean, come on: a queen-to-be in a fantasy novel where the blurb never even mentions her sexuality, so it's not marketed as the selling point (which is good, btw, no matter my disgruntled view on the whole Mim ordeal, because, hey... we got a bisexual fantasy queen! And the book wasn't even marketed as LGBT, it just... happened! *dreamy smile* like I said on GR, surprise gays are always such a delight), and I got all happy and squeal-y because YES, a lesbian queen! Finally a f/f ship that could actually survive and be canon and fill me warm, fuzzy feelings!<br />
Alas, I thought too soon. Elli loved Mim, but it was not meant to be, so Elli quickly moved on to Oskar. As amazing a guy as Oskar actually was (actually another rather rare thing in YA these days, so double the kudos to Fine for an actually likeable guy!), I could never quite get behind that pairing because I was still crying over the lost potential with Mim.<br />
I'll get over it. One day. Maybe.<br />
<br />
I did love the world that Fine created, and can't wait to see what happens next. Raimo's ominous warning gives me hope for the next book, and I can't help but feel that maybe some of the Sutari people we saw in this book will make a comeback in the next one.Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-15986470226411287392015-11-05T22:59:00.000+00:002015-11-05T22:59:10.243+00:00Cover Love: The CrownThe cover for the last book in Kiera Cass's <i>The Selection</i> series, <i>The Crown</i> hit today, and, keeping up the tradition of stunning covers, here's another beauty:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zrmkdCHADCQ/VjveuVzRNPI/AAAAAAAACF8/qMndmRDCpcE/s1600/tumblr_inline_nxcom5VrQD1szn093_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zrmkdCHADCQ/VjveuVzRNPI/AAAAAAAACF8/qMndmRDCpcE/s640/tumblr_inline_nxcom5VrQD1szn093_1280.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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What do you think of Eadlyn's new look?<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Crown</i> is due May 3rd 2016.</b>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-86487033255201677732015-10-30T19:14:00.000+00:002015-10-30T19:14:33.414+00:00Cover Love: RemembranceIt's finally here! After all the waiting, the cover for Meg Cabot's new Mediator book, Remembrance, is officially out there!<div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qUF1zi_XQOs/VjPBVVBTbQI/AAAAAAAACFs/-Hsal8iFox8/s1600/gallery-1446134334-remembrance-pb-rv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qUF1zi_XQOs/VjPBVVBTbQI/AAAAAAAACFs/-Hsal8iFox8/s640/gallery-1446134334-remembrance-pb-rv.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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What did you guys think?</div>
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Remembrance is scheduled for a 2016 release.</div>
Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-89772844313888769552015-09-14T14:36:00.000+01:002015-09-14T14:36:58.056+01:00Popcorn Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fFt94oD8W1Q/VfbLs3CL3lI/AAAAAAAACFc/LBOLdTtuJCE/s1600/23615042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fFt94oD8W1Q/VfbLs3CL3lI/AAAAAAAACFc/LBOLdTtuJCE/s320/23615042.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Title: Popcorn Love</b><br />
<b>Author: K. L. Hughes</b><br />
<b>Genre: Contemporary NA</b><br />
<b>Rating: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Cover: 10/10</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">A prominent figure amongst New York City’s fashion elite, Elena Vega is a successful businesswoman and single mother to an adorable three-year-old son, Lucas. Her love life, however, is lacking, as those closest to her keep pointing out.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">At the persistent urging of her closest friend, Elena reluctantly agrees to a string of blind dates if she can find a suitable babysitter for Lucas.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Enter Allison Sawyer, a free-spirited senior at New York University.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Elena is intrigued by Allison’s ability to push her out of her element, and the young woman’s instant and easy connection with a normally shy Lucas quickly earns Allison the job.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">After each blind date, Elena returns home to complain to Allison about her lacking suitors. As they bond, Elena begins to realize that the person possessing all the qualities she most desires might just be the woman who has been in front of her the entire time.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">The vast difference between the two women’s social statuses, however, may be an obstacle not easily overcome.</span></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">***</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">It's always rewarding and exciting when you're in a fandom with fanfic writers that are so amazing, their AUs get picked up and published. This method of finding new authors has given us some of the biggest names of current literature (although I hold judgment on the quality of that writing in some cases. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about). Cassandra Clare's wildly popular <i>The Mortal Instruments</i> started out as (and this is still weird for me to think about if I'm honest) Draco/Ginny Harry Potter fanfiction.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">I'm lucky to be in a fandom where the writers are so talented, it wasn't one AU that got picked to be published -- but three. And <i>Popcorn Love</i> is the first of those three to hit the shelves.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">The thing about this story is that it's cute. So, so cute. And so well executed. All the characters, no matter how small their appearance, are fully fleshed out. There were no shallow characters, and the plot moves along wonderfully.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Allison and Elena are delightfully shy while also being incredibly confident - in other words, they're brilliantly human. They are flawed, and we can't help but root for them as they fumble their way to love.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Having read it in its' original version, with the original names, there were quite a few chuckles that came from reading the new names (although, Swan Queen fans, look out for an easter egg when Allison is playing the guitar! You'll know it when you see it).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Definitely recommend it to anyone wanting some nice, easy fluff to read. Perfect holiday read, or back to school de-stress read!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">And dare I hope for a sequel? (I'm probably just being greedy...)</span></span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-68136809882226856852015-09-07T09:58:00.002+01:002015-09-07T09:58:47.742+01:00Queen of Shadows<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L33u3goCx-w/Ve1Rke3rpWI/AAAAAAAACFM/JSMjRM2tDDQ/s1600/18006496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L33u3goCx-w/Ve1Rke3rpWI/AAAAAAAACFM/JSMjRM2tDDQ/s320/18006496.jpg" width="209" /></a><strong>Title:
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)</strong><br />
<strong>Author:
Sarah J Maas</strong><br />
<strong>Genre:
YA Fantasy</strong><br />
<strong>Rating:
5/5</strong><br />
<strong>Cover: 10/10</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<span id="freeText2441741460950011413">Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .<br /><br />She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.<br /><br />Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.</span> <a data-text-id="2441741460950011413" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18006496-queen-of-shadows#"></a><br />
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***</div>
<br />
I tried to write a spoiler-free review. I really did. Despite my best efforts, some of them leaked in, so... proceed with caution if you haven't read it yet.<br />
<br />
I don't think I can say enough how much I love these books. Maas paints and weaves an intricate world, where all the characters entwine together in intricate, complicated patterns. And trying to figure out those patterns is an awesome hobby - for example, I hope like hell that Manon will side with Aelin, despite their... misgivings towards each other. And now things are looking more possible on that front... because of [spoiler] reasons.<br />
<br />
It's all very exciting, and there wasn't a dull moment to be found; even the slower ones just tended to be tooth-rottingly sweet.<br />
<br />
The Dorian chapters ripped my heart to shreds. All of them. Every single last one of them. Damn my weakness for fictional men with dark hair and blue eyes!<br />
On the other hand, the Rowan chapters filled me with joy. Yay for the Rowan Fire Fanclub! And no, of course I didn't cry when Rowan showed up *shifty eyes*<br />
<br />
But the cake for Best Character Ever goes, hands-down to Lysandra (with honorary mentions to Aelin, Manon and Elide). Such a lovely, lovely surprise to see her blossom into herself. She had me in stitches by the end of the book with her relentless teasing of Aedion. I can't wait to see more of her and Evangeline <strike>(that kid is gonna be something else; with all the people she has around her as her role models, there is no way she won't grow up to be a ball of sass, and I hope we get to see more of that sass)</strike>.<br />
<br />
I'm excited about where we left off; I think there's loads more to come in the next two books, although some of the... complications... were dealt with faster than I expected (then again, with a 600-page behemoth, is that really any surprise?).<br />
<br />
ps: FLEETFOOT!Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-51842879863818182312015-09-03T10:27:00.000+01:002015-09-03T10:27:01.008+01:00Firewalker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: Firewalker (The Wordlwalker Trilogy #2)</b><br />
<b>Author: Josehpine Angelini</b><br />
<b>Genre: YA Fantasy</b><br />
<b>Rating: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Cover: 10/10</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">***</span></div>
<br />
The Rowan Fire Fanclub lives! Woo!<br />
Except it took a hard blow in <i>Firewalker</i>... no spoilers, though.<br />
<br />
One of the best things about <i>Firewalker</i>, and the way Angelini weaves her characters, is how there is no good and bad. To quote Voldemort, "There is no good and evil. There is only power". Voldy, despite his psychopathic tendencies, does describe what goes on in <i>Firewalker</i> pretty aptly.<br />
<br />
As we're taken through Lillian's memories and past experiences, it becomes more and more hard to brand her as the evil bitch witch. None of Lily's choices are easy, but - and here's the true beauty of so many books recently - when it comes down to it, Lily makes her choices for her. Not for Rowan, who she knows she will hurt by agreeing with Lillian. Not for Tristan, her best friend and the only one who believes in what she says; she does it because it is the right thing to do.<br />
For the first time in a very, very long time, I had no idea how the book would end, because it didn't hinge on who she would choose. And I cherish that uncertainty for what it is: fresh, new, different storytelling. Bravo!<br />
<br />
And kudos to Ms Angelini for creating believable, lovable and three-dimensional characters, all in third person, allowing us to jump around. On that note, Carrick is still as creepy as ever.<br />
<br />
Best new addition mentions have to go to Breakfast and Una - I can't wait to see more of them as we move forward!<br />
<br />
Also, without spoiling anything... hats off to Angelini for having the guts to do the hard thing. I wasn't ready, I didn't see it coming at all, and it took me completely by surprise. I need to have a good cry over it still, but it takes courage to do something like that, and honestly, it felt true to the story, so... yay?Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-73906809702504285632015-09-03T10:09:00.001+01:002017-01-02T20:46:13.778+00:00Shameless Self-Promotion, some news... mostly just to say I'm alive!Hello and Happy September!<br />
<br />
Hope you're warm and cuddly in your four-poster beds at Hogwarts, and that your first day of lessons yesterday went well.<br />
<br />
This year has just flown by; I've been incredibly busy, and sadly, that's reflected on the blog. I know there have been less reviews and posts than I'd like, but I've been scrambling to keep up with all the changes going on. Since last year, I started and finished my first year at university <strike>(with really good grades, woo!)</strike>, had two internships in publishing that went <strike>(if I say so myself)</strike> really well, got a job at YA Interrobang, moved house, and still tried to fit in reading books somewhere in there.<br />
<br />
I didn't always manage to read those books, and, weirdly enough, now that holidays are nearly over, things should get back to normal. Having a schedule for uni really helps make sure things run smoothly in other parts of life.<br />
<br />
<br />
Also: I have one review on backlog, that will go up later today and have started <i>Queen of Shadows</i> (no spoilers!!), so that should go up, hopefully early next week, as I plan on doing little else over the weekend... wish me luck ;)Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-56956652813115932015-08-30T14:00:00.003+01:002015-08-30T14:00:55.587+01:00The Falconer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uiaxzQU9leA/VeL-YtlQVSI/AAAAAAAACE4/zz2iHJ6iNLA/s1600/16046550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uiaxzQU9leA/VeL-YtlQVSI/AAAAAAAACE4/zz2iHJ6iNLA/s320/16046550.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<b>Title: The Falconer (The Falconer #1)</b><br />
<b>Author: Elizabeth May</b><br />
<b>Genre: Historical Fantasy</b><br />
<b>Rating: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Cover: 10/10</b><br />
<br />
"<strong style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">One girl's nightmare is this girl's faery tale</strong><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">She's a stunner.</em><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title—and drop-dead beauty.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">She's a liar.</em><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But Aileana only </span><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">looks</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> the part of an aristocratic young lady. she's leading a double life: She has a rare ability to sense the </span><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">sìthíchean</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">—the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans—and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">She's a murderer.</em><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons—from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols—ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">She's a Falconer.</em><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The last in a line of female warriors born with a gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother's murder—but she'll have to save the world first.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy, this electrifying thriller combines romance and action, steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read."</span><div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">***</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
Life has been so hectic lately, it took me way longer than it should have done to finish <i>The Falconer</i>; especially because there's very little not to love about this book.<br />
<br />
I'm a sucker for historicals, so that probably helps. But the plot itself is beautifully woven, and the reveals are expertly delivered. May does a great job of keeping the balance between showing the world and introducing new characters, and keeping the pace at a level that will keep the reader interested.<br />
<br />
And Kam was an absolute delight of a narrator. Spunky and self-assured, she is deeply flawed, and she knows it. She owns her flaws and uses them to her strength.<br />
<br />
But what I loved, loved, loved about <i>The Falconer </i>was that, while the romantic elements certainly ran in an undercurrent throughout the novel (hard not to, when the society depicted is one that still places so much emphasis on marriage), it by no means eclipsed the actual plot; and, most wondrously, the love interests played other parts in the novel, rather than just pretty furniture for girls to fight over. Even more shockingly, all the attention and love wasn't instantly directed to the boys - yes, they're beautiful, but they also serve as very important plot elements (and I'm saying 'them', when really it's just 'him', but I had to include Gavin in there, because of reasons... though I adore the fact that May didn't try to make it into a love triangle with him).<br />
<br />
Definitely give this one a read! It's filled with action, and all around amazing characters <strike>(I want a Derrick!)</strike></div>
Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-13356604953766921452015-08-14T18:51:00.001+01:002015-08-14T18:53:54.641+01:00Forsworn<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dF1ZHUuLmMQ/Vc4pSSf54mI/AAAAAAAACEQ/2uc7RqrC4Ic/s1600/25508072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dF1ZHUuLmMQ/Vc4pSSf54mI/AAAAAAAACEQ/2uc7RqrC4Ic/s320/25508072.jpg" width="213" /></a><b>Title: Forsworn (The Last Oracle #2)</b><br />
<b>Author: Emily Wibberley</b><br />
<b>Genre: YA Fantasy</b><br />
<b>Rating: 4/5</b><br />
<b>Cover: 7/10</b><br />
<br />
<u><i>I'd like to thank Emily Wibberley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.</i></u><br />
<br />
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">It’s been a year since Clio made her sacrifice to the Deities and embraced her destiny as the Oracle to save her people.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The only family she has left is a brother who wants her dead.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The prince, her oldest friend, is a king with his own agenda.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And the man who once loved her, now hates her.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">All she can do is try to forget about Riece, the enemy commander whose heart she broke to save his life, as she serves the Deities. Her days are filled with Visions and bloodshed in a never-ending war against the Untouched. To add to her problems, she must pose as King Derik’s mistress to conceal her forbidden powers from the Emperor’s spies.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When Riece unexpectedly returns to Sheehan with a new and beautiful ally, Clio knows she must put him out of her mind once and for all, but first, they are thrust together into battle against a mysterious Untouched warrior with otherworldly power. To reclaim her city, she must team up with the man she hurt, the man she still loves but can never be with, and finally confront the questions about her origin—questions with answers that Clio may not be prepared to face."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">***</span></div>
<br />
You can read my review of the first book of the trilogy, <i>Sacrificed</i>, <a href="http://mandybookwormeng.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/sacrificed.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>Forsworn</i> was a delight to read. As someone who's been struggling to find a plot that captivates me long enough recently, Wibberley provided me with the perfect place to dive back into books.<br />
<br />
Clio, continuing from <i>Sacrificed</i>, is still the strong, spitfire, headstrong girl she was. I loved seeing how accepting the mantle of the Oracle changed her, and it was great to see her relationship with Derik evolve and change.<br />
Most important to me, though, was see Clio flourish on her own. Yes, she is pining after Riece <strike>(and, really, who can blame her, right?)</strike>, and yes, she still loves him. That doesn't stop her from carrying on with her life without him, and kicking some serious butt. It also doesn't stop her from running into his arms the second the opportunity arises. I love that, that we were able to see Clio act on her own, that she was perfectly capable - if reluctant and saddened - to live without Riece, before we got thrown back into the romance.<br />
And I absolutely loved her relationship with Ashira. The speech at the end, about how being strong doesn't mean being hard and unfeeling was truly beautiful, and a message young girls should be told more often. You can still be feminine and be strong and independent (part of the reason why I'm absolutely in raptures over Zarae, I think haha).<br />
<br />
Diazon was a surprise, and, while I'm glad that was sorted, I also love the can of worms he managed to overturn while he was still kicking; I'm looking forward to what this will all mean to Clio going forward.<br />
<br />
ps: in case you were wondering, I'm in denial over Lireen. And I will never not be.</div>
Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-950434533670858712015-08-14T00:47:00.000+01:002015-08-14T00:47:06.878+01:00Cover Love: Head Over HeelsIf you've read <a href="http://mandybookwormeng.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/all-that-glitters.html" target="_blank">my review of the last <i>Geek Girl</i> book, <i>All That Glitters</i></a>, you'll know I'm a big fan of Harriet Manners. And <i>All That Glitters</i> was a brilliant book, so here's to hoping that <i>Head Over Heels</i> will follow suit!<br />
Now, covers have never been Geek Girl's strong suit, with them all being relatively similar, so not much to comment on with this new one. Still, we also got a release date, which is pretty cool ;)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QI1atOs9gvA/Vc0r2Pk5ivI/AAAAAAAACD8/KazgTypEM_8/s1600/CMTCzz0W8AAqqPH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QI1atOs9gvA/Vc0r2Pk5ivI/AAAAAAAACD8/KazgTypEM_8/s640/CMTCzz0W8AAqqPH.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Head Over Heels</i> is scheduled for a March 3rd release.</b></div>
Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-3641194552073623142015-07-07T16:04:00.000+01:002015-07-07T16:04:49.185+01:00Cover Love: Glass SwordThis just in! The stunning cover for the sequel to <i>Red Queen</i>. If you, like me, thought they'd have trouble topping the awesome that was the cover of <i>Red Queen</i>... well. I'll let you decide for yourself.<br />
Personally, I think they're both gorgeous, but also incredibly similar? This one has less blood on it, but... yeah...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZTQDNGPtfU/VZvoSmX_ARI/AAAAAAAACDo/Zg6A8woWp98/s1600/CJUV2qIWoAEXQMf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZTQDNGPtfU/VZvoSmX_ARI/AAAAAAAACDo/Zg6A8woWp98/s640/CJUV2qIWoAEXQMf.png" width="420" /></a></div>
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According to Yahoo! Movies, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">When </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><i style="font-style: italic;">Glass Sword</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"> opens, Maven has betrayed Mare and his brother, Cal, and the two have been rescued by the Scarlet Guard. In addition to fighting the segregation that torments the red-blooded masses, Mare will be seeking out other Reds like her. Where the first book cover showed an upside-down crown dripping red blood, the new one follows suit, this time with a crown made of glass swords and dripping both red and silver blood, a symbol, Aveyard told us, meant to show that “both sides are going to have problems this time around.”</span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-6630817392433715972015-07-02T21:24:00.001+01:002015-07-02T21:24:37.677+01:00(Back) Cover Love: Queen of ShadowsIt's up, it's up, it's up! The gorgeous back cover of <i>Queen of Shadows</i>! I have to say, I've never seen back covers provide such excitement anywhere other than the <i>Throne of Glass</i> fandom. Still, who can blame us, since we get these awesome Aelin poses + beautiful dresses, right? ;)<br />
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I haven't read the first three chapters, because I know it'll only make the wait worse. Have any of you read it? (no spoilers if you have!)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">ps: okay, I know, I know. It's been nearly a month. I'm sorry. Real life got in the way. I snapped my ACL during an (unusual) bout of sport <strike>(this is why I don't do the damn things normally, I tell you)</strike>, so had to have surgery, and now I've got an awesome work experience at Michael O'Mara Books for two weeks, doing publicity. So it's all been a little busy, as you can imagine, and I've had zero time to actually sit down and read more than 10 pages at a time. I have a long train journey in front of me this weekend though, so planning on getting some quality time with my TBR then; hopefully have a review up early next week.</span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-45846480568960320822015-06-17T13:51:00.002+01:002015-06-17T13:51:31.767+01:00The Heir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-42vNQnJObA0/VYFsYZfdj1I/AAAAAAAACDA/1rUZIlIXrf0/s1600/22918050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-42vNQnJObA0/VYFsYZfdj1I/AAAAAAAACDA/1rUZIlIXrf0/s320/22918050.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<b>Title: The Heir (The Selection #4)</b><br />
<b>Author: Kiera Cass</b><br />
<b>Genre: Dystopian</b><br />
<b>Rating: 5/5</b><br />
<b>Cover: 10/10</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought."</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
I had forgotten why I loved these books so much. Cass' writing is like a breath of fresh air in the sameness of YA today.<br />
I was a bit wary, because historically, I don't deal too well with authors changing the POV of their books. Usually, that happens after one book though, and the reason I don't like it is because I've only just started getting that character as the protagonist, so to have another one shoved at me is disconcerting and unpleasant. With this though, it was obvious that America's story was done. She'd said her piece, so changing narrator actually felt pretty organic. It helped that Eady was an absolute delight.<br />
It was wonderful to read about this young girl who is terrified to love because she thinks it will make her weak. The thought of Eadlyn being aromantic actually occurred to me quite a few times, but I guess we'll see how that plays out. Seeing her go from "no, I will not find a husband, ew husbands!" to actually wondering about the merit of the entire thing was a great journey.<br />
And for the most part, I loved seeing Mer and Maxon as parents, and meeting all their crazy kids.<br />
And the boys from the Selection were awesome. It feels weird to have finished the book and not have a favourite in mind. I've grown very attached to Henri, Kile and Erik, and I seriously hope that, whatever happens, she and Henri are still friends by the end of it. Really looking forward to the next instalment!Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-34183332990548832542015-05-29T12:22:00.000+01:002015-05-29T12:22:13.798+01:00Feminist Fridays: A Court of Thorns and Roses<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">Welcome to the first Feminist Fridays! This is a new feature I'm trying out on the blog, because of some issues I've been finding more and more in some books. Please, </span><a href="http://mandybookwormeng.blogspot.co.uk/p/feminist-fridays.html" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;" target="_blank">please read the disclaimer on the Feminist Fridays page</a><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;"> before going off on a rant in the comments. Understand that what I say in these reviews </span><u style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">in no way means the book is bad, just that it has some issues that could do with being changed</u><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">, to make it more equal</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">. </span><u style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">They do not, in any way, shape or form, reflect my views on the authors or their lives, and I am not blaming them for anything</u><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">.</span></b></div>
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<b><b><br /></b></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3N95_a4wQY/VWg7H6CdaaI/AAAAAAAACCg/ro9X3Es5ng0/s1600/16096824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3N95_a4wQY/VWg7H6CdaaI/AAAAAAAACCg/ro9X3Es5ng0/s200/16096824.jpg" width="130" /></a><b>Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses</b></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>General Rating: 3/5</b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>FF Rating: 2/5</b></div>
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<br />
<br />
<b>This review contains spoilers for the ending of the book.</b><br />
<br />
For the general review for ACOTAR, <a href="http://mandybookwormeng.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses.html" target="_blank">go here</a>.<br />
<br />
Like I said in the main review, there were some problematic points with ACOTAR that I feel should be addressed.<br />
First of all, even though Tamlin isn't exactly Feyre's jailor, he isn't warm and fuzzy either; in fact, throughout the first part of the novel, she is <i>terrified</i> of him. Now, I don't know about you, but I find it deeply disturbing that a man who once scared her so much went from tormentor and scary guy, to lover in just a few chapters. Maybe, if the relationship had evolved over the whole book, it would have been less disturbing. Although I know why she wrote it like that, considering the plot, it still didn't sit well with me at all.<br />
It's quite sad that a Disney movie aimed at children, that couldn't have been longer than an hour and half, managed to portray a more likeable and slightly less creepy romance than a book with hundreds of pages. I mean, I get that the naga were meant to be the wolves, and let's face it, there's always been grumblings over <i>Beauty & the Beast</i> and Stockholm Syndrome (grumblings I always sort of ignored good-naturedly, because, come on, it's a fairytale, you have to cut it some slack, especially considering the context of production for that movie. Also, even though the Beast keeps Belle in the castle, there's never really any hint that he'd physically harm her, and we see him actively trying to be nice and make her feel at home. With ACOTAR, not only did Feyre's very physical reactions of distaste and fear of Tam create the idea that he might physically try to hurt her, because the narrative was told solely through Feyre's first person POV, it's hard to see any real evidence of Tamlin actually trying to be nice; instead, he's dismissive, and only offers to buy her stuff to paint with in what feels like almost a way to trap here there. It's creepy, it's scary and it did nothing to help me believe that they could have a healthy, loving relationship). So, maybe the problem was with the nature of the fairytale itself, rather than with the book. Still, in a retelling of a Victorian fairytale, some aspects always need to be changed, because that's what fairytales <i><b>do</b></i>: they adapt to the society they're being told to, and that was sorely missing here.<br />
<br />
Also, the imbalance of power between Feyre and Tamlin, at the start of the book (because of course, by the end, it's been erased... sort of. More on that later), with Tam being a High Fae immortal who can turn into a beastie and use magic, and Feyre a lowly illiterate human. It's a massive imbalance, and in no way makes for anything even resembling a healthy relationship. Feyre would always be second to Tam, always less important, less noticeable, less valuable... less.<br />
And, yes, by the end of the novel she's High Fae herself. Which breaks some of that imbalance pretty neatly, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that will play out in the second book; but there's still the fact that Tam is still a High Fae of something, while Feyre will always just be Tamlin's girlfriend (or whatever it is we're calling them).<br />
So she's Tamlin's girlfriend, Rhys' property for a week every month... why is it that woman are so defined by men in this book? Can they not exist on their right?<br />
<br />
Which brings me on to the thing that quite possibly bothered me the most. I could sort of overlook the creepiness of the romance if I squinted real hard and ignored the first half of the book. What I couldn't ignore was the fact that about 90% of the conversations in this novel would not pass the Bechdel Test. I didn't actually count them all, but around the time Feyre goes back home, this was seriously bothering me.<br />
Not only are there very few women in the book (other than Feyre and Amarantha, who, surprise, surprise, is a seductive older woman, out to corrupt the incorruptible Tamlin *groans*, the only other women are Alis, who is a secondary character at best, and Feyre's sisters, who are maybe tertiary characters if they're lucky), but the few conversations they have between them, generally are about men. I think the only ones that would pass would be Feyre chatting with the worshippers of the Fae at the beginning, and her conversations with her sisters before they found out the truth. And maybe some chats with Alis, though even those mostly were about Tamlin.<br />
<br />
All in all, points for the plot and the idea, but dear god, this book pissed me off sometimes. I will read the next one, because I'm curious, but I'm lowering my expectations exponentially.Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-3762865256067161582015-05-29T11:39:00.001+01:002015-05-29T11:49:50.816+01:00A Court of Thorns and Roses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3N95_a4wQY/VWg7H6CdaaI/AAAAAAAACCg/ro9X3Es5ng0/s1600/16096824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3N95_a4wQY/VWg7H6CdaaI/AAAAAAAACCg/ro9X3Es5ng0/s320/16096824.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<b>Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses</b><br />
<b>Author: Sarah J. Maas</b><br />
<b>Genre: Fantasy</b><br />
<b>Rating: 3/5</b><br />
<b>Cover: 8/10</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><strong style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.</strong></i><i><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.</span></i><i><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.</span></i><i><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!</span></i></blockquote>
<br />
Oh, boy.<br />
Where to even start. First of all, I love <i>Beauty & the Beast</i>, it's my favourite fairytale, and I generally quite enjoy the retellings of it; in fact, fairytale retellings are my crack. I love reading them, I love analysing them, and I love comparing how different they are to the tales I grew up with. So, I was pretty excited for ACOTAR.<br />
I mean, a <i>Beauty & the Beast</i> retelling by one of my favourite authors, and the book had been getting rave reviews? It was like a dream come true. But somewhere along the way, something went horribly, terribly wrong.<br />
Don't get me wrong, the last ¼ of the book was actually pretty amazing. But until I got there, the story dragged by, filled stuff that could be seen as necessary filler background if it had actually been used to develop the romance. Instead, one day Feyre wakes up, essentially trapped in this house, and decides that the guy who can turn into a lion and who had scared her witless, to the point where she flinched away from him, no longer scared her, and actually, he's really quite handsome.<br />
Now, okay, I know the nature of the fairytale involves some rather questionable romance aspects, but it really says something when a Disney movie, that cannot be longer than an hour and a half manages to make romance more believable than a 400 pages book. But I'm going to keep that rant for the feminist review, so suffice it to say, I didn't buy what Maas was selling.<br />
<br />
And maybe it was just that, even though the book was in first person, it felt like it would have benefitted from being in third. I lost count of the amount of times I was jarred out of the narrative by Feyre thinking 'I', when I'd been pretty sure it would be a 'he/she'. It's possible that's just me being used to Maas' books being in third person, but I felt like that was maybe not the best decision in the world.<br />
And then there were the characters. I loved Lucien so much, and, like I mentioned before, did not buy the Tamlin-is-an-awesome-guy routine. Feyre was a good, solid narrator at most times, although she did have her annoying moments.<br />
But, the characters that most intrigued me was also the one we saw less of?! I wanted to get to know Rhys. I wanted to sink my teeth into his character, find out of what made him tic; we sort of almost got there in Feyre's cell, but there are still so many questions left. What was that look he gave Feyre at the end? Why did he protect her? What's his angle? I NEED TO KNOW! And Nesta, she was awesome, and I'd love to have seen so much more of her.<br />
<br />
The most amusing thing for me was solving Amarantha's riddle in seconds. I'm thinking either my Ravenclaw-ness is rearing its' head, or that riddle was way too easy!<br />
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All in all, a fun book that kept me entertained. Despite my misgivings with it, it had a solid plot and interesting characters, plus awesome world building.Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-30031887839427918682015-05-29T11:28:00.000+01:002015-05-29T11:28:09.568+01:00Cover Love: Dangerous Lies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RSzpka9yDkM/VWg-uslZEPI/AAAAAAAACCs/hvSJYM24lH4/s1600/tumblr_nocpdtnsuZ1r3pciao1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RSzpka9yDkM/VWg-uslZEPI/AAAAAAAACCs/hvSJYM24lH4/s320/tumblr_nocpdtnsuZ1r3pciao1_1280.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<i><span id="freeText6386000693620904815" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.</span></i><i><span id="freeText6386000693620904815" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></i><i><span id="freeText6386000693620904815" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.</span></i><i><span id="freeText6386000693620904815" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></i><i><span id="freeText6386000693620904815" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.</span></i><i><span id="freeText6386000693620904815" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></i><i><span id="freeText6386000693620904815" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Dangerous Lies is due to be published November 10th.</b></span></div>
Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-27098818254031048782015-05-29T11:09:00.001+01:002015-05-29T11:09:23.154+01:00Cover Love: The Mirror King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pUU5UdFg0fM/VWg56K9QlMI/AAAAAAAACCU/8gZV-rUDmvs/s1600/CGDutcwVEAA1h_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pUU5UdFg0fM/VWg56K9QlMI/AAAAAAAACCU/8gZV-rUDmvs/s400/CGDutcwVEAA1h_o.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Look at the pretty! If <i>The Orphan Queen</i> was stunning, this one is just... *drools*</span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right. </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.</span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><i>The Mirror King</i> is scheduled for an April 5th release</b>.</span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-25620947488125431942015-05-20T18:43:00.002+01:002015-05-20T18:45:59.016+01:00Cover Love: Red's Untold Tale<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KdPk1bJhGTk/VVzG91W1_hI/AAAAAAAACCA/7fc3kz7eSLs/s1600/once_upon_a_time_p_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KdPk1bJhGTk/VVzG91W1_hI/AAAAAAAACCA/7fc3kz7eSLs/s320/once_upon_a_time_p_15.jpg" width="213" /></a>Just up today, the cover for the companion piece to ABC's show <i>Once Upon a Time</i>, <i>Red's Untold Tale</i> looks gorgeous and might actually help me get my Ruby fix - I've missed her pretty face on my screen!<br />
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Being released on <b>September 22nd</b>, <i>Red's Untold Tale</i> will "<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.30000114440918px;">explore an earlier chapter in the life of one of our most beloved characters. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.30000114440918px;">Plagued by nightmares she doesn't understand and a temper she can't control, 16 year-old Red struggles to save Granny's troubled business and to nurture her budding romance with Peter even as the betrayal of her classmates awakens the wolf within."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.30000114440918px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.30000114440918px;">To those of you who don't watch the show <strike>(you should!)</strike>, Red is their retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I won't give anything away, but they definitely put a twist to the story!</span></span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-52848348571001334572015-05-19T16:33:00.001+01:002015-05-19T16:33:45.048+01:00Pre Order Queen of Shadows + Goodies!Quick stop before my next review goes up to let you all know about a giveaway Bloomsbury is doing for <i>Queen of Shadows</i>. All info in the picture:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BD2t-SOIVu0/VVtXfnuYMSI/AAAAAAAACBs/4YbSPEFYExk/s1600/tumblr_nok5uvKv0c1u0il5ao1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BD2t-SOIVu0/VVtXfnuYMSI/AAAAAAAACBs/4YbSPEFYExk/s640/tumblr_nok5uvKv0c1u0il5ao1_1280.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I have a button bag that will look absolutely stunning with these on it! ;)<br />
<b>As a reminder, <i>Queen of Shadows</i> is out September 1st.</b>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260535290541019612.post-57889317529355910152015-05-13T17:39:00.000+01:002015-05-13T17:39:00.044+01:00Spotlight Wednesdays: Mercy Thompson Series<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDh5Po29PIM/VQm4OyXa0yI/AAAAAAAAB9M/mw4ElFYA1b4/s1600/71811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDh5Po29PIM/VQm4OyXa0yI/AAAAAAAAB9M/mw4ElFYA1b4/s1600/71811.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a> <u>Info</u><br />
<b>Title: Mercy Thompson</b><br />
<b>Title of First Book: Moon Called</b><br />
<b>Author: Patricia Briggs</b><br />
<b>Genre: UF</b><br />
<b>Rating: 4/5</b><br />
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<u>Why You Should Read it</u><br />
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Putting it simply, it's awesome.<br />
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Mercy is a shapeshifter coyote that was brought up by a pack of werewolves. She got sick and tired of always be the outsider, and left to live in the human world. She's a pretty decent mechanic, and she likes the life she has.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Owslra5Y7bY/VQm4O4L4LRI/AAAAAAAAB9I/Fcg-JBayWs0/s1600/17562900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Owslra5Y7bY/VQm4O4L4LRI/AAAAAAAAB9I/Fcg-JBayWs0/s1600/17562900.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><br />
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Except when the job fixing a bus for a vampire customer gets weird, Mercy has to consider asking for help from the werewolf pack that moved in next door to her years before.<br />
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It's got everything anyone could possibly want - mystery, romance, supernatural uglies, danger, explosions and a badass lead.<br />
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Did I mention she has two hot as hell werewolves fighting over her, and a weirdly chivalrous vampire has shown interest? Yeah, everyone either wants to be Mercy, date Mercy or kill Mercy.<br />
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No, I'm serious.Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092195932787748553noreply@blogger.com0