Monday, September 30, 2013

Words for the Week #33

“So, I guess we are who we are for alot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.”

― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Monday, September 23, 2013

Words for the Week #32

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

― E.E. Cummings

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

ARC Review: Countdown by Michelle Rowen

Countdown by Michelle Rowen
Published: September 24, 2013
Publisher:
Harlequin Teen
Pages:
336 (Paperback)
Series:
N/A
Source:
Netgalley
My Rating:
3.5 of 5 stars

3 seconds left to live.

Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped.

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game.

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis.

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it.

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove ever more deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape.

GAME 0VER

It's been awhile since a book kept me glued to my seat with constant action and suspense. Going into this book, I thought it would be too similar to other dystopian books that I've read. Some parts of the book felt very familiar, but for the most part Countdown was fairly unique.

The biggest problem I had with the book were the main characters. Kira was all over the place. One moment she's this tough girl on the streets that trusts no one, and then the next she's a gullible girl that flees more than she fights. Almost all of the characters in the book lied to her, but she still ended up trusting them in the end because deep down she believes they're a good person. She also decides to trust a convicted murderer because she believes he's not all that bad even though he admitted to killing people. Kira's entire family was murdered so you would think she would never trust someone that confessed to being a murderer but no she ended up befriending him. Her reason for trusting Rogan later in the book once his secrets are mostly revealed makes more sense but before that I thought that she needed some serious help.

I also had a love-hate relationship with Rogan. There was no reason for him to tell Kira that he murdered someone but not give her all the details. It was clear from the very beginning that he was hiding something and that Kira wasn't getting the full story.

I really enjoyed the fast paced and action packed game that Kira and Rogan were in, but after awhile, almost dying every level and saving themselves at the last second got old. It wasn't as intense when the countdown was almost over, but for some reason I couldn't stop reading. The levels were very interesting and I really liked the use of technology, like the implants.

Kira and Rogan's relationship seemed rushed and they almost instantly started to like each other. Kira kept saying how handsome he was for a murderer and . Once I got past insta love and Rogan's past I tolerated their relationship. They made a good team and in the end I ended up really liking them as a couple.

The ending was a little out there, but I think it worked. Garet's talk about the future was actually pretty terrifying because it got me thinking about the cybermen from Doctor Who. Countdown was never boring but it almost felt like there was too much going on at once for it to be anything more than a quick, fun read.

*I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Monday, September 16, 2013

Words for the Week #31

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.”

― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

Friday, September 13, 2013

Blogger Spotlight Tour: Julie from The Book Review

This tour is hosted by Justine from The Closet Library & Jazmen from This Girl Reads A Lot.
 
I'm happy to welcome Julie from The Book Review to my blog!

About the Blog

On The Book Review, Julie writes reviews for all different kinds of books. She also posts cool author spotlights. Be sure to check out her fantastic blog!

Blogger Interview

Why did you begin blogging?
I started blogging so that I could become a full time book reviewer.

What is something you learned while blogging?
Blogging introduced me to a great community people. I learned that people are willing to help each other.

Best part about blogging?
I love sharing the books I've read with others. I also like helping authors gain exposure for their work.

What book do you think everyone should read?
Well, it's sounds like a cliché, but I still think "To Kill a Mockingbird" is the one book everyone should read at least once.

Which genre do you prefer?
I read most genre's at least a little, by my "go to" genre would be mysteries.

Who is your favorite heroine?
Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice

What book would you want to be a movie?
I'm not all that crazy about most movie adaptations of my favorite books. Hollywood gets it wrong so much of the time. But, if they did it right, I think the Eve Dallas novels would be great on the big screen. (Nora Roberts- J.D. Robb)

What is your favorite quote?
Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved reading. One does not love breathing. ( Harper Lee from To Kill a Mockingbird)

If you could live in any book world which world would it be? Why?
That's a hard one. I think maybe a Julia Quinn novel. Regency period historical romance would be fun to experience. I would love to wear one of those gowns and attend a ball. I wouldn't want to stay long though, too many rules and no women's rights.

If you could meet any author (alive or dead) who would it be? Why?
 Dorothy Eden. Dorothy wrote romantic suspense in the late fifties through the seventies. Her books were occasionally marketed as Gothic mystery/romance. But, I think Dorothy has been a great influence on the romantic suspense novels we read now. Her plots were well ahead of their  time. I would love to pick her brain.

Find Julie on...

Thursday, September 12, 2013

A to Z Bookish Survey

I saw a bunch of other blogs doing this so I decided to do it too! This survey was created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner.

Author you’ve read the most books from:

It's a tie between Julie Kagawa, James Patterson, and P.C. Cast. I've read ten books from each of those authors even though the only author out of those three that I actually like anymore is Julie Kagawa.

Best Sequel Ever:

Oh that's a hard one. I think that would have to be The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa.

Currently Reading:

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
Countdown by Michelle Rowen
Indelible by Dawn Metcalf
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Dance in Shadow and Whisper by Sarah Godfrey

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Coffee or tea (I'm actually drinking some tea right now)

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical books but I'll still read stuff on my Nook.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Maybe Zeke from The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Hidden Gem Book:

White Cat by Holly Black

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

When I was in the sixth grade and read the Maximum Ride series and Twilight because before that I hated reading due to the awful teacher. I may not like those books now but they still have a special place in my heart for getting me into reading.

Just Finished:

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

Adult or non-fiction books unless it's for school.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (870 pages) 

Major book hangover because of:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Number of Bookcases You Own:

I have two in my room and then there's a bunch more throughout the house that my family shares.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Preferred Place To Read:

Anywhere in my room

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“I think everything is happening all the time, but if you don't put yourself in the path of it, you miss it.”
― Gayle Forman, Just One Day
  

Reading Regret:

I regret not reading Harry Potter when I was younger. I read it a couple of years ago and loved it but I think I would have enjoyed it more when I was younger. Same thing goes for the Percy Jackson series. I started that last year and got two books into it but then I lost interest.

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

Percy Jackson series. My sister owns all the books but I've only read two and I want to finish it but it's not as good as everyone says it is.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

I have so many favorites so this was a hard choice. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, and This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Holly Black's Curse Worker series

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa. It's the third book in the Blood of Eden series and I need it now!

Worst Bookish Habit:

I guess eating and drinking while reading is my worst habit.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Your latest book purchase:

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Monday, September 9, 2013

Words for the Week #30

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Review: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
Published: September 10, 2013
Publisher:
Tor Teen
Pages:
336 (Hardcover)
Series:
The Goddess War #1
Source:
Publisher
My Rating:
4 of 5 stars

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

Antigoddess is perfect for fans of Greek mythology. A bit of knowledge about the Gods and Goddesses is ideal, but not necessary. Kendare Blake does a fantastic job of explaining who the Gods were without info dumping.

The mythology part of the book was definitely the best part. The way that Athena and the other Gods acted seemed spot on. I especially loved how each God was dying in a different way unique to who they were. The personalities of the Gods and how they die shows that the author truly understood Greek mythology. 

There were two main characters and it flipped between their point of views. Athena was definitely my favorite of the two, mainly because she could stand up for herself. Cassandra wasn't entirely helpless though. She was a prophetess originally from Troy who was reincarnated. She's also the key to the Gods' deaths. I also really enjoyed reading about Odysseus and I have a feeling that he will be more important in the next book.

I would have liked more of an explanation for why the Gods are dying. Was it just because no one worshiped them anymore or something else? The fact that some of the Gods are taking sides doesn't seem very logical. If they all want the same thing, then why wouldn't they work together? It also wasn't very clear why Hera, Poseidon, and Aphrodite were eating other creatures. It didn't seem to help them because they were still dying and eventually they would have run out of things to eat.

Other than those questions I had, the plot was enjoyable. It had the perfect pacing and I was never bored. In fact, it was incredibly difficult to put the book down. I wanted to find out if Cassandra really could save the Gods and what kind of weapon she was. There was a bit of romance, but no love triangle or insta love. Apollo and Cassandra were already together when the book started and their relationship didn't seem forced. I did think Apollo was a bit overbearing at times. It was like he thought that Cassandra couldn't take care of herself and that bothered me because she isn't as helpless as he thought. I enjoyed the relationship between Odysseus and Athena more than Cassandra and Apollo's. There was a hint of forbidden love because Athena is supposed to be the virgin Goddess but that didn't bother me too much. It was clear that Athena and Odysseus cared for each other and I liked how they didn't need to kiss or anything like that to make that clear.

Overall Antigoddess was an enjoyable read, but it felt like it was missing the piece that would have made it something special.

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Monday, September 2, 2013

Words for the Week #29

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone