Check out the rest of the series, and Robin Wasserman's other books, here: http://www.robinwasserman.com/
Monday, May 31, 2010
Book Review: Lust
Check out the rest of the series, and Robin Wasserman's other books, here: http://www.robinwasserman.com/
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Book Review: Sunshine
There were so many things about it that I loved. Constantine, being the first. The world that Robin created has some similarities, but also many differences from so many urban fantasy worlds. Vampires, weres, spellcasters, part demons, and more... And the humans know about them. Unfortunately, if you are one, life isn't easy.
Sunshine, whose real name is Rae Seddon, knows she isn't just a regular human, but she keeps that a secret until she needs to use her power to save her life. Constantine, an old vampire, needs her help. And an unusual alliance begins. The problem... the only Other race that is completely unacceptable is the vampire.
Even if you are burnt out on vampires, pick this one up anyway.
Synopsis:
They took her clothes and sneakers. They dressed her in a long red gown. And they shackled her to the wall of an abandoned mansion - within easy reach of a figure stirring in the moonlight.
She knows that it is a vampire.
She knows that she's to be his dinner, and that when he is finished with her, she will be dead. Yet, when light breaks, she finds that he has not attempted to harm her. And now it is he who needs her to help him survive the day.
Book Review: The Sea of Monsters
We have a new character introduced in this book: Tyson. I really like this new addition to Percy's team. You can kinda tell from the his introduction that he's not quite what Percy thinks he is. Human, he is not. But you'll have to read this yourself to find out what he is.
A highly recommended read... I can't wait for the next one!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Movie Review: 7 Deadly Sins (and giveaway)
The first half was fantastic. I was so hooked, I couldn't look away. The second half, while equally interesting, seemed a bit rushed in parts. The movie did an excellent job of segueing from one book to the other, as we followed seven characters through their senior year. The characters evolved a lot from the beginning. I liked some and hated others and they changed as the story did. One minute I'm on Harper's side. Then Beth's, and then Kane's. And now that's it over, I don't know who I love and hate. The story continually surprised me. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, I turned out to be wrong. I never knew what was coming. Sex, drugs, drinking, death, lots of eye candy... and all seven deadly sins...
The acting was really good, especially considering the fact that they were basically unknowns. The directing was good, too. There were scenes where you felt like a voyeur, which was interesting. Different. They also did a good job of incorporating the parents without making you feel like they were around too much. I know that's kinda a hot topic in YA. Having parents that care and are around without making it too much about them. And the parents had their own drama.
I really hope this movie comes out on DVD soon. It just ended, and I can't wait to see it again. It really makes you think about your actions, and payback is definitely a bitch.
Check out deleted scenes, pics, an interview with Robin Wasserman, and more here:
http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/seven-deadly-sins
I snagged a copy of LUST, the first book in the series, to give away. To enter, please answer this question: What did you love most about the movie? If you didn't see the movie, answer this question: Which is your favorite sin and why? Please be sure to leave your email in your response. Giveaway open to US and Canada.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Green Valley Book Fair (and giveaway)
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede: DEALING WITH DRAGONS, SEARCHING FOR DRAGONS, CALLING ON DRAGONS, TALKING TO DRAGONS
BOOK OF ENCHANTMENTS by Patricia Wrede
THE SHADOW THIEVES by Anne Ursu, the first book in The Cronus Chronicles
WINGS by Jason Lethco, the first book in the Mysterious Mr. Spines series
GIRLWOOD by Claire Dean
POSSESSIONS and PRETTY LITTLE DEVILS by Nancy Holder
Luckily for you, I managed to buy two books that were already on my shelf. Oops. Why is this good for you? Well, since I don't need two, I'm giving them away. Giveaway open to US and Canada.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Book Review: Keeping the Moon
I think it's important for teen girls to read this novel. The skinny, popular girls often don't realize just how bad teasing hurts... especially when it's about appearance. I think they know it hurts, but I don't think they realize it still hurts fifteen years later. Colie learns to love herself as she is. That (plus the weight loss) is something I'm working on. But this novel gave me a lot of inspiration.
Thanks, Sarah!
If you haven't checked out Sarah Dessen's work, definitely do so. Check out her site at http://www.sarahdessen.com And according to her blog, her next book, CUT AND RUN, comes out in about a year.
Fifteen-year-old Colie is spending the summer with her eccentric Aunt Mira while her mother travels. Formerly chubby and still insecure, Colie has built a shell around herself. But her summer with her aunt, her aunt's tenant Norman, and her friends at the Last Chance Diner teaches her some important lessons about friendship and learning to love yourself.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Book Review: Morganville 1-5
I'm not a huge fan of Claire, our MC. I was Team Shane, but am now firmly Team Michael. Also, I love Eve, Amelie, and Myrnin. Myrnin is one of the most interesting characters in any vampire book/series, I've read. Is he crazy? Possibly. Maybe only sometimes.
I enjoyed the first book and the second more. I really liked the third one, as well. Things get more complicated, and, of course, more interesting. The fourth and fifth were only okay for me. I hope they pick back up. I want to like them more than I am.
If you aren't burnt out on vampire books, these are pretty good. They definitely have some interesting differences than your typical vamp book.
Synopsis:
Welcome to Morganville, Texas.
Just don't stay out after dark.
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the schools social scene: somewhere less than zero.
When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry fresh blood.
Synopsis:
Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Book Review: Vampire Academy
Rose, a Dhampir, is the narrator. She's a half-vampire. Her mother is a Dhampir, like her, and her father was a Moroi. A Moroi is a full vampire, though they are living and therefore mortal. The Stirgoi are the baddies. Regular blood-thirsy fiends, immortal, and bad. Any Moroi or Dhampir can be changed into one, against their will or by choice.
As a Dhampir, Rose is destined to protect the Moroi, specifically her best friend, Lissa. They ran away from the academy for a number of reasons, but basically to protect Lissa. They're found and brought back in chapter one. The academy is safe... supposedly.
I loved Rose and Lissa's friendship, and Dimitri... *swoon* I can't wait to read the next in this seires: FROSTBITE, followed by SHADOW KISS, BLOOD PROMISE and SPIRIT BOUND (due out later this month).
St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school - it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, A Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're dragged back to St. Vladimir's - the very place where they're most in danger...
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi - the world's most dangerous vampires - make Lissa one of them forever.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Meeting Authors: RT and more (and winners)
Kelley Armstrong was the first we saw once through the doors. She is very nice. I had the pleasure of meeting her twice last year, but being one of my favorite authors, I was excited to see her again. NO HUMANS INVOLVED is my favorite novel of her, and my favorite all-time. I have three copies of it. US, UK, and Canadian versions... because they all have different covers. I took them all to be signed, and she was amused that I loved it so much I bought three copies... not to mention my little paperback that I drag around when I want to take a copy with me.
We moved to the next line where Holly Black was set up. I skipped her because I was going to be seeing her the following weekend (today). So you'll see more about her later. Ally Carter was also in the next row. She was very funny and very sweet. I got HEIST SOCIETY signed. I took all my hardbacks sans jacket cover. I get that the jacket is supposed to protect the book, but I had when they are ripped. When I pulled it out, she said "Gasp. A naked Heist." She was also amused that I had pre-labeled all of my books with post-it notes. I took books for me, Catie, and the giveaway, and I wanted to make sure they were all signed right. I think the sticky notes proves I'm a pro at the author signings.
Next we went to the back to find Rachel Vincent. She was sweet and kinda quiet. She gave away some copies of MY SOUL TO KEEP. I was one of the lucky ones. I asked how you would go about getting one, and she gave me one. Sometimes all it takes is asking.
I also met MaryJanice Davidson. She was in the back because they had anticipated big numbers in her line. But she was hidden, and I had to ask all over to find out where she was. She was very sweet and very chatty. We talked about her different series, but mostly Jennifer Scales, my favorite. She was happy to see it as part of a giveaway. I told her I didn't think it got enough press and most bookstores don't even carry it. It comes out as online order only from Borders and Barnes and Noble. She said she's working on it. Book five comes out this year, and she said there will be at least two more. One thing I love about her... she uses my real name in three different books/series of hers. Only place I've seen it in a novel.
I met Jocelyn Drake, Vicki Pettersson, and Delilah Marvelle. I want to read her books, but the first one is out of print. Hopefully, the publisher will realize they need to be re-printed to sell. But she has an exciting new romance series coming out next year. A trilogy (book 1 in Jan, book 2 in Feb, and book 3 in Mar), so keep your eyes open for all three of these wonder ladies books.
There were several authors they had to hand out numbers for. Jeaniene Frost and Richelle Mead were the only two on my list. We were almost to the front to Ms Frost's line when they moved her and gave out numbers. We were the first to get books signed once they moved her. And since we had gotten all our books signed, we sat down to wait to be called to Richelle Mead's line. We were about fifteen minutes before it was over.
There was a woman waiting for JR Ward's line. They were calling in the 900's around the time we were called to Richelle's line. Her number was 1527. I don't think she got her books signed. JR Ward, Jim Butcher, and Charlaine Harris seemed to be the most popular in terms of number of signatures.
Today I met Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. They were so funny. They were talking about research and how risky it could be. Cassie said a friend took her on a tour of London for the Infernal Devices series. And they went through a particulary bad area. Her friend told her to take a picture of a certain area and she got a picture of a window... with a nekkid man cooking breakfast. Apparently, he didn't seem happy. And Holly wanted to see what it would be like to be thrown in the trunk of a car. So her friend offered to do this. Unfortunately, it was a hatchback, so it wasn't quite as scary. She also recommends to have a neck pillow because riding in a trunk is not comfortable.
One of the girls in the audience asked Holly if it was hard to leave characters behind and move onto a new set. Holly said that her characters are happy that she moved on because all she did was wreak havoc on them. Holly announced that the second book in The Curse Workers is called RED GLOVE. And exciting news for Cassie... City of Bones was optioned as a movie, and a screenplay is complete. This does not mean it will be a movie, only that it may be a movie.
And now for the winners!
Ally: WICKEDLOVELY (re-draw)
Joy: CITY OF BONES (re-draw)
Star: MY SOUL TO TAKE
kimscarecrow: VAMPIRE ACADEMY
Dusty: JENNIFER SCALES
Sandy: VALIANT
elizabeth: THE SUMMONING
In addition to these books, you'll also get swag donated by the fabulous Melissa Marr and bookmarks picked up variously at RT and other conventions.
Please email me at aine[dot]onetwistedpixie[at]gmail[dot]com if you are a winner. I need your name and address to mail the book. Congrats!
**Note: if you don't contact me by Wednesday, May 12, new winners will be drawn.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Book Review: White Cat
First of all, it's very different from any other novel I've read. The idea is very unique. Secondly, it's written from Cassel's POV, a male POV, something we don't get a lot of. And third, there were so many twists and turns that just when you think you have it figured out, you find out you're wrong. I hate when you figure out the ending in the beginning, and that was definitely not the case with this one. You don't know who to like or who's doing what. And even Cassel, our narrator, keeps things from us.
I can't wait until book two comes out. Unfortunately, it's probably at least a year away.
Synopsis:
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Short Story Review: My Soul to Lose
You can find this one free on Amazon to download for Kindle or PC Kindle. It's also available in .pdf on Rachel Vincent's site. And... you can download the audio for it at Audible for free, read by the same girl who reads the other Kaylee books.
For a freebie, it's amazing. I'd have paid to read this and not have been disappointed I spent the money, but this is a great thanks from Rachel Vincent for her readers. This is definitely one of the best series in YA fiction I've read lately. You don't need to start here, but if you haven't read the others and need an incentive... this would do it.
Synopsis:
It was supposed to be a fun day, shopping at the mall with her best friend. Then the panic attack started and Kaylee Cavanaugh finds herself screaming, unable to stop. Her secret fears are exposed and it's the worst day of her life.
Until she wakes up in the psychiatric unit.
She tries to convince everyone she's fine - despire the shadows she sees forming around another patient and the urge to scream which comes burbling up again and again. Everyone thinks she's crazy. Everyone except Lydia, that is. Another patient with some special abilities...
Short Story Review: Stopping Time
WICKED LOVELY
INK EXCHANGE
FRAGILE ETERNITY
RADIANT SHADOWS
DARKEST MERCY (out spring 2011)
I was so thrilled to see a new Leslie story. She's one of my favorite characters in the series. As you'd hope, Irial and Niall make an important appearance, and we also get to see Gabe. Leslie was once part of the Dark Court. Now she isn't, but she still considers it "her court", which I love. I'm probably the only one, but I was never a huge Irial or Niall fan. I was so blinded the my love for the Summer King. But after reading this, I decided I do, in fact, love them.
You can find this amazing short story in the back of the paperback, FRAGILE ETERNITY. Or you can download it for free from Amazon, either for Kindle or PC Kindle. You can pay $1.99 to download the entire thing or you can download part one for free and then part two for free.
Leslie walked away from the Dark Court, determined to reclaim her life and live it on her own terms - even if it meant leaving ebhind the two faeries who love her. She knows Niall and Irial watch over her, and she would give almost anything to keep them from hurting. But she resists the pull to be with either one of them.
Someone knows about leslie's past, however, and is intent on using her to reach the fey. And he doesn't care who gets hurt.
Book Review: My Soul to Keep
The story was amazing. I read the back of the book (which is printed below the picture), and I figured out what was going to happen. I almost felt like it was a spoiler. Nash ticked me off so bad in this one, but I love Tod even more. New character, Alec... interested in learning more. Also, new supernaturals come into this one. And they aren't the typical ones we read about (i.e. vampires, werewolves). They aren't so much there as introduced. I hope we get to see them soon.
Pick this one up as soon as you can. It's fantastic! And if you haven't read the series, check out MY SOUL TO TAKE and MY SOUL TO SAVE, books 1 and 2 of the Soul Screamers series. Also, check out MY SOUL TO LOSE, a free short story prequel on Rachel Vincent's website.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Book Review: The Good Ghouls Guide to Getting Even and Good Ghouls Do
Elizabeth Frasier's ticked off. Her junior year of high school was going fine. Amazing grades. Early admission to college. And a date with the star quarterback. But no. Thanks to a bunch of jerkwad vampire jocks, she ended up dead. Or rather, undead, and with a thirst that a thousand Diet Cokes couldn't quench.
Now she's out for blood - and revenge. And she knows exactly what to do. Elizabeth's read Salem's Lot. Just wipe out the crowd that did her in. But with so many creeps in high school it's hard to separate the good vamps from the bad. On top of that, she's got to figure how to be mortal again. Unless universities start accepting dead girls...
If you're looking for this series, you'll probably only find the cover below.
I finally got around to reading GOOD GHOULS DO. It was even better than the first, but unfortunately there isn't another one after this... yet. And I have no clue when it'll come out. I don't want to say too much because it'll spoil the first, but big things happen, and there are huge questions that need answered, and I need book three now!
If you're looking for this book, you'll probably only find this cover.