Happy Holidays + End of the Year Giveaway!

Happy Holidays! 

I hope everyone is having a lovely time with their family and friends today and for the rest of this holiday season. I'm wishing you all a very prosperous new year ahead with plenty of books, coffee, and reading time! ;) 

I'll be on hiatus until January 2nd, but until then I'm choosing to finally kick back, relax, and get some reading done. While I'm gone, however, you can enter for a chance to win one of the following books released this past year. I've received a LOT of books from publishers which I don't plan to read, so I will be picking THREE lucky winners to pick a book of their choice from the pile below. I hope you find something you like, so good luck! 

Books to Win: 

Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz (HB)

The Storycatcher by Ann Hite (PB)

Torn by David Massey (ARC)

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall (HB)

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher (ARC)

Fractured by Sarah Fine (ARC)

Phoenix Island by John Dixon (HB)

Shadow's Curse by Alexa Egan (PB)

Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian (Signed HB)

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher (PB)

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg (HB)

Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick (HB)

Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron (HB)

International Giveaway!

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Just Another...Book Crush (#7): The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson (Blog Tour, Guest Post, and Giveaway)

 

We are switching up this month's "Just Another...Book Crush!" post a little. I contacted Rae Carson last month, requesting her to be part of this feature, and she graciously accepting...only, could I be part of the blog tour for her book too? And, of course, I couldn't resist. The Bitter Kingdom has been one of my favorite books of the year (you can read my review HERE), so I am all for promoting this one! Without further ado, I welcome...*drum roll*...Rae Carson!

Just Another...Book Crush! is a monthly feature where I invite an author whose book I've recently reviewed and loved to write a guest post and share their three latest book crushes. It's a feature I'm starting mostly because I'm often very shy to approach authors, especially ones I admire, and also because I love reading guest posts since, more often than not, they convince me to pick up a book even when the reviewer cannot. 

Title: The Bitter Kingdom (Girl of Fire and Thorns #)

Author: Rae Carson

Pub. Date: August 27, 2013

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 448

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

The epic conclusion to Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy. The seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen will travel into the unknown realm of the enemy to win back her true love, save her country, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny. Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most.

Just Another...Book Crush! 

I admit it: I don't often crush on book boys. I’m a middle-aged woman after all, and crushing on boys who are the same age as my stepsons would be CREEPY AS HECK. I do, however, occasionally fall for a book MAN. And here are a few who have recently won my heart. Well, sort-of.

Sturmhond from Leigh Bardugo's Siege and Storm. I have a weakness for witty banter. And there's something inherently sexy about pirates. (The Hollywood version, I mean. You know, the hot ones in possession of all their teeth and good personal hygiene.) Sturmhond is almost a bad boy—mysterious, ruthless, manipulative. I usually have no patience for such douchenozzles, but my man Sturm (can I call you Sturm, darling?) is a man with a cause, and looking back at his actions, you see that he's not a privateer so much as a man at war. War is not sexy. But the men who are willing to fight for a cause greater than themselves definitely are.

Christian Grey from E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey. Okay, I'm cheating here, because Christian is actually my anti-crush. I'll explain.

Once upon a time, I met a guy. This guy was hot. He was also successful and had lots of money. Our first conversation was interesting, but also awkward, because this guy was a little too intense. Maybe a little too interested. Yeah, I was intrigued, but my stalker-sense was pinging like whoa. When we parted, I was relieved to get away. You can imagine my shock when, a few weeks later, the hot guy tracked me down and showed up at my work. I gave him the finger and told him to f*%#! off.

Years later, I tried to embrace the worldwide Fifty Shades phenomenon. And in the very first pages, rich, hot guy Christian shows up unannounced to Anastasia's place of employment to begin pursuing her. Since that actually happened to me, I can tell you straight up it was the OPPOSITE OF SEXY. And Christian got worse from there. If a guy ever tried to do to me some of the things Christian does to Anastasia, he would lose a testicle. So yeah, Christian Grey has won the coveted spot in my heart for #1 Jerkwad.

Jon Snow from George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones. Ah, Jon, my love, why haven't you texted me? Jon is smart, loyal, and earnest. He is proof that you can have a mysterious past, an epic destiny, and a soulful gaze and still be…that's right, GOOD. I love good boys even more than I love the bad ones. Sturmhond is the kind of guy you want to have a non-committal makeout with. But Jon? Everything about him says "relationship."

What about you? Any book boys/men you are crushing or anti-crushing on? Tell me in the comments!    

Rae Carson is the award-winning author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns Trilogy. She was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start author for Fall 2011 and was a finalist for the Morris, Cybils, and Andre Norton Awards. Her first novel was named to ALA's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults list.

Rae lives in Ohio with her husband, novelist C.C. Finlay, two stepsons, and two very naughty kitties. She is hard at work on her next trilogy.

Website /Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Thanks for stopping by, Rae! Gosh, this is such a fun post and I love the idea of an anti-crush! Also, just to make things clear, you can have Sturmhond - just give me Mal and we're even!(; 

Giveaway!

A signed set of the complete trilogy. US Only

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If you're a fan of this trilogy, be sure to check out the other tour stops as well!

Tour Schedule:

8/19/2013- Ivy Book Bindings- Guest Post

8/20/2013- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Interview

8/21/2013- Refracted Light Reviews- Review

8/22/2013- A Backwards Story- Review

8/23/2013- The Starry-Eyed Revue- Interview

8/26/2013- Candace's Book Blog- Review

8/27/2013- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

8/28/2013- Citrus Reads- Review

8/29/2013- Hobbitsies- Interview

8/30/2013- Fiktshun- Guest Post

One Year Blogoversary Giveaway!

One. Year. Holy. Crap. 

Can you believe it? I can't. In all honesty, this has been the hardest year of my life. Junior Year in America is no walk in the park. I've had Major Life Changing Exams every month and have been taking ridiculously hard classes I now regret taking and in the midst of all that I've been blogging. Seriously, it's thanks to you all that I am sane and even made it through the year. Every comment, every conversation, every kind word - it all made my day and, really, my year. I can't wait to have many, many more blogoversaries in the future and make even more amazing friends.

If you want to get to the giveaway, just scroll below. Otherwise, stick around while I embarrass the heck out of you and thank all of you amazing people (in no particular order) for making my past year online absolutely amazing! :D

HUGE thank you's to...

Inge for encouraging me to start my own blog. I wouldn't be here without you! Also, thank you for your loooong e-mails that make my day and your fabulous Tom Felton GIFs that bring a smile to my face every time! ;)

Aneeqah for being the very person person to comment on my blog and one of my most faithful followers still.

Sam, Rachel, Olivia, Jenny, Wendy, Rey, Melissa, Asheley, Tanja, Heather and Amanda for their wonderful comments!

Steph Su for encouraging me to read Jessica Darling - which I then proceeded to absolutely LOVE. Also, thanks to Sarah for forcing me to read that series as well, not to mention many others. I also love your podcasts. A lot.

Jasprit for all our crazy read-alongs, your sweet comments and your continued friendship.

Lauren for our great e-mail conversations and ongoing discussions. I would have probably gone crazy if I couldn't shoot an e-mail to you, Lauren, while reading CP2. ;)

Heidi for the numerous recommendations, beautiful reviews that I always look forward to, fantastic read-alongs, and wonderful conversations. You're amazing. I hope you know that.

Maja for my staggering TBR-Pile, for introducing me to every UF Series I currently read, for oozing passion in your reviews so I'm convinced to pick them up, and for all our great book discussions. I love your writing style and I really hope you'll write a book one day. I'll buy it. Promise.

Mandee for being one of the nicest people in the world. Seriously, Mandee has a heart made of gold and she is generous beyond words. Thank you, dear, for not only our book swap (and all the other books you've sent me), but for our conversations and your lovely comments.

Savindi for all of our long e-mails on everything from One Republic and The Script to David Gandy. Also, thanks for letting me know about all the giveaways out there (and helping me win) and for your insight on college and books, especially The Raven Boys. 

Flannery & Catie from The Readventurer for being incredibly awesome in their own right. Flann for sending me The Bitter Kingdom (I know you said it wasn't a big deal, but it TOTALLY WAS for me) and for tweeting me and writing me the sweetest comments; Catie for all the fabulous reviews that have pointed me towards some amazing books and for our Blue Sword read-along - thanks to you I wasn't the only one who disliked that one. Also, thanks for giving me the opportunity to guest post on your blog, ladies! :D

And last, but never least, Kailia, my long-lost-twin-sister. We're both Indian. We both love Kristin Cashore. And pretty much every other book we both enjoy is the same too. Nearly all our ratings match up and basically, you're just fantastic. Thanks for all the amazing twitter conversations. You inspire me to blog since you actually read my blog, so I always know that at least one person is reading my posts every day. Congrats on graduating and I can't wait to meet you this summer!(:

If I forgot anyone, please forgive me and shoot me an e-mail. I will reply with an ode to how incredible you are and what an idiot I am for forgetting you. Also, I'd like to thank ALL of my followers, readers, commentors, and subscribers - you're all fantastic and that feeling of happiness that comes from seeing that someone else is reading my blog or from finding a comment from someone new or from just seeing my page view increase never ceases to make me happiest. All of you have supported me this year, so thank you! :)

International Giveaway! 

Enough sentimentality, let me let you all win some books! I'm giving away ONE book from the following list - a list of my most anticipated reads for the upcoming year - to one lucky winner INTERNATIONALLY. If I reach 1000 followers (at least 750 on Bloglovin'), I will give away THREE books to three respective winners. I don't expect to reach that many followers, hence the reason I'm being so generous, but if you like my blog then do spread the word. Also, sorry for the continued terrible button and header. I need to change those this summer...

GOOD LUCK! :)

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ARC Review & Finished Copy Giveaway: Charm and Strange by Stephanie Kuehn

Title: Charm and Strange

Author: Stephanie Kuehn

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: June 11th, 2013

Frankly speaking, I am at a loss for words when it comes to Charm and Strange. On one hand, I think this book is brilliant. Its narrator is unreliable and by the end, you are just as shocked and confused and he himself is, I suspect, if not more. Furthermore, the ambiguous ending had my mind reeling with its realistic quality and the lack of romance was surprisingly refreshing. I have never seen the issue this book tackles expressed in this way before – or even thought to see it expressed this way, really – which makes Charm and Strange easily the most original and creative debut I've probably ever read.

On the other hand, though, I have to admit to being slightly disappointed by the time this book neared the end. For chapters upon chapters, I was hooked, chilled to the bone and achingly afraid that my eyes were about to burst any time into the tears I could just feel in the back of my eyes, pushing against my skull, but they never came. Somehow, the transition between the two parts of this book – “Before” which makes up roughly 85% of the novel and “After” which makes up the ending - was too jarring and that last 15%, though still very good, was not what I expected. I wanted something to simply drive all that feeling home, despite my fear of it because I was so emotionally attached to this, but it didn't. Instead, that last part felt like an objective description of events instead of the intense psychological probing the first part of this book had been.

And yet, I am in utter awe of Kuehn's ability. Charm and Strange follows the story of Win, a teenage boy who believes he may be a wolf. As Win’s story unravels, every chapter alternates between the present and a collection of past memories. At first, these memories seem disjointed and out of place, but as the novel continues, the harsh reality of the pages hit you in the gut. It is intense. It is scary. It is life. Kuehn is one of those few authors who is able to transition from past to present seamlessly and this only adds to the depth and beauty of her debut. From the beginning, she sets a dark tone, one that inspires curiosity, but also caution. And yet, despite this latter emotion, Kuehn ensures that her readers are well and truly sucked into her tale. I have never had a family like that of Win, never known anything in my life that is similar to his experiences, and yet it felt like I had. It felt like I had this older brother, this younger sister, these three cousins...it felt so real. And it is this ability of hers, to mold the uncertain past into a palpable reality that renders this novel so brilliant. If, like me, you ache for books to make you truly feel emotion, Kuehn is one of the few authors who succeeds extraordinarily well.

Honestly, I am so, so impressed. Charm and Strange may not have been everything I wanted from it, but I went into it with high expectations, not knowing if this was contemporary or paranormal or something in-between, and it delivered. At this point, despite the ambiguity of my review (you will thank me later, I promise you), I can only tell you this: read it.

International Giveaway! 
6/8-6/22

I was lucky enough to receive a finished copy of this novel before the publication date from the kind people over at St. Martin's Press and although I absolutely LOVE this book, I really want other readers to have the opportunity to discover it as well - and soon! Hence, the giveaway. I know I don't do a lot of these, which is why I've made the giveaway international. As always, please don't cheat - I do actually check the entries - and GOOD LUCK! :)

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

As you know, I'm not in the habit of doing too many promotional posts. When I began blogging, I would join cover reveals and accept the requests of every other who contacted me, simply because I didn't know any better. Now, though, I endeavor to only participate in blog tours I actually think are worthwhile and in promotional posts that I can honestly admit to wanting to promote; today's is one of those.

Frances Hardinge is an author I read the moment her debut came out, quite a long time ago. I don't remember much of Fly By Night except the actual feelings that its cover evokes within me - excitement, awe, and surprise. After having gone through a phase in my life where I staunchly refused to read Middle Grade because I was so much more "mature" than that, I recently went back to Frances Hardinge and picked up what is probably her most famous novel, A Face Like Glass.

I use the word 'famous' very lightly for, despite her obvious talent, Frances Hardinge is not very well-known. Which is a shame. If there is any author the world deserves to know about, it is her. Not only can she write rich and imaginative fantasy worlds that any reader can get lost in, but her stories transcend time and age. As a young teenager, first reading her work, I was struck by her imagination and writing technique, but now, much older, I am struck by her sheer genius. Hardinge is a masterful weaver of plot twists, her characters are three-dimensional and full of depth, and, best of all, her story lines contain hidden depths that younger readers may not be able to see. Thus, although older readers are, technically, reading a middle grade novel, they are able to gain an unexpected amount of knowledge from it as Hardinge cleverly incorporates darker themes and politics into a seemingly fun-filled fantasy realm.

And, today, I am extremely pleased and delighted to reveal the UK Cover of A Face Like Glass. If you're read my review of A Face Like Glass (You can read it HERE), you've undoubtedly seen the gorgeous American cover of it. As is expected, though, the UK Cover is gorgeous in its own right. I am so excited to be sharing it with you all today, along with an opportunity to win a copy of this book! :)

In Caverna, lies are an art - and everyone's an artist... In the underground city of Caverna the world's most skilled craftsmen toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare - wines that can remove memories, cheeses that can make you hallucinate and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as they slit your throat. The people of Caverna are more ordinary, but for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to show (or fake) joy, despair or fear - at a price. Into this dark and distrustful world comes Neverfell, a little girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. For Neverfell's emotions are as obvious on her face as those of the most skilled Facesmiths, though entirely genuine. And that makes her very dangerous indeed...

Frances Hardinge grew up in a huge old house that inspired her to write stories from an early age. She read English at Oxford University before a persistent friend encouraged her to send a few chapters of her book, Fly By Night, to a publisher. Macmillan made her an immediate offer and the book went on to be published to huge critical acclaim, winning the Branford Boase First Novel award. A Face Like Glass is Frances’ fifth novel which has elicited widespread praise. Talking about where the idea for the book came from Frances had the following to say, “The core concept of A Face Like Glass has been nestling in my mind for a long time - a girl whose thoughts show in her face, and who thus becomes the ultimate luxury item in a decadent realm of perfect liars.” 

International Giveaway! 
One winner will win a paperback copy of the new UK edition of A Face Like Glass.

To Enter: 
Fill out Rafflecopter below
Must be 13 years or older
Giveaway ends March 7th, 2013
Open Internationally

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While you wait to win the giveaway, do check out an exclusive excerpt of the first chapter that can be found HERE. Also, to find out more about the novel, just read my review of it HERE. :)

Blog Tour: Provex City by Michael Pierce (Excerpt & Giveaway)

I am so excited to be on the blog tour for Michael Pierce's latest novel, Provex City! A huge thank you to Candace from Candace's Book Blog for allowing me to be a part of this tour! :) On my stop today, I am showcasing an excerpt from this novel as well as hosting a giveaway both for US and International Readers, so be sure to enter! Good Luck! :D

You can check out the other tour stops HERE!

Title: Provex City (The Lorne Family Vault Series, #1) 

Author: Michael Pierce 

Fifteen-year-old Oliver Grain begins his school year fighting off bullies, learning about the boy who committed suicide in his room, and trying to understand why his history teacher, Mr. Gordon, has taken such a personal interest in him. Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe you can make bullies simply disappear? Do you believe you can walk through walls? Mr. Gordon tells Oliver: "When you truly believe anything is possible, you will be able to open doors where there were only walls." And one of those doors leads Oliver to Provex City, which puts him in far greater danger than he can possibly fathom.

Excerpt:

       The bass coming from the living room rattled my stomach every time the beat hit. I slowly lurched forward, growing more apprehensive of entering the living room with each step. I didn’t want to walk out onto the makeshift dance floor. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself with my first attempt at dancing with a girl in front of all these people. Everyone was focused on their own affairs, but as soon as my awkwardness on the dance floor was noticed, all eyes would be on me. The thought was terrifying.

       I turned the corner and looked out at the sea of bodies moving rhythmically to the music bellowing from the stereo. Most of the dancers enjoying the music were girls, but there were a number of guys making their moves on the increased odds. I noticed my girl, Anna, in the middle of the crowd, swaying with all those around her and holding her drink high in the air where it seemed just as likely to spill. She didn’t seem to be dancing with anyone in particular. Girls and guys surrounded her, and she was dancing with all of them, all moving in a trance-like ecstasy.

I stood there, finishing my drink, gathering my courage, and biding my time for the appropriate moment. But what would be the appropriate moment? In between songs? For her to notice me? For a clear path to emerge? There was no path through the sea of bodies. Everyone seemed to be in some way connected, holding the outsiders at bay. Or were they just obstacles, obstacles I was meant to overcome…

I finished my safety drink and no longer had a way to just stand around without looking awkward. I had to do something. Looking back to the kitchen, I thought of refilling my cup. And then I looked toward the dance floor and thought of moving forward. Finally setting my empty cup down on a small table by the stairs, I dove headfirst into the dance floor.

I did my best to move with the music and squeeze past the entranced, oblivious dancers. I kept my eyes on Anna as I maneuvered forward, deeper into the ocean and realized I had no easy exit. I stumbled, bumped, and shoved my way to the center and no one seemed to care. The close proximity was natural here, and we were all connected. I broke through the final barrier and stood dumbfounded in the presence of Anna grooving and grinding to the music. She had one hand in the air and one hand on some guy’s shoulder, moving seductively. She gracefully twirled 180° and rubbed her body fervently against his, lost in the pulsating beat and feral rhythm of the music.

Anna finally looked ahead and released a surprising burst of excitement at the sight of me standing before her. She pounced on me in jubilation and wrapped her arms tightly around my neck, unknowingly spraying our surrounding guests with what was left of her drink. Everyone around us took a step back with caution and groans of irritation, leaving us separated, yet trapped in the middle of the sea of undulating bodies.

“There you are!” she yelled in my ear. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Are you having fun? Are you happy? Are you here to see me?” she said and stumbled backward when she let go of me. She steadied herself, extending her cup-holding hand to regain her balance. Then she brought the plastic cup up to her lips and attempted to take a thirst-quenching gulp, but got less than a drip. “Aww—it’s all gone.” She dropped the cup on the floor.

Anna got herself back into the swing of the music and moved into me. She grabbed my hands at my sides and placed them on her gyrating hips. She threw her arms around the back of my neck, and we moved to the music as one person. I had no technique and tried not to think about what I was doing, except to follow Anna’s lead into an uninhibited state of consciousness. Anna had help, and I had Anna.

“Do you want to get another drink?” she asked after a few songs. I nodded, and she grabbed my hand and led me out of the water.

Michael Pierce lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter, and two ultra-protective Chiweenies. Provex City is his debut novel and the first book in the young adult fantasy Lorne Family Vault Series.

Links: Blog/Website/Facebook/GoodReads/Twitter/Book Trailer 

International Giveaway!

• 3 winners will receive a paperback of Provex City and a $15 Amazon Gift Card (INT.)
• 5 additional winners will win a paperback copy of Provex City (INT.)

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Blog Tour: The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell (Facts and Giveaway)

I am so excited to be part of the tour for The Cadet of Tildor today and welcome Alex Lidell herself to join us today and share some interesting facts about her debut! You can check out the other tour stops HERE. 

Title: The Cadet of Tildor
Author: Alex Lidell
Release Date: January 10th, 2013
Genre: Fantasy 
Age Group: Young Adult
Tour Organized By: AToMR Tours

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.

You can find The Cadet of Tildor at Amazon, GoodReads, and its Official Website.   

Alex Lidell is a YA fantasy writer and author of ABNA Finalist THE CADET OF TILDOR (Penguin, 2013). Although English is Alex’s primary language, it wasn’t her first.  Coming from Russia, Alex learned english in elementary school and fell in love with reading when the school librarian put Tamora Pierce’s ALANNA into her hands.  Years later, in college, it was another book that re-united Alex with russian, which she had shunned in adolescence. The Three Musketeers.*  Alex thanks both books, and the writers who created them. Beyond writing, Alex is also a photographer, a horseback rider, and a paramedic. The latter two go hand in hand more often than one would like.  She is trying to self-teach herself and her horse to sword-fight. Alex would love to see THE CADET OF TILDOR in the classroom and is working on developing teacher guides for the novel.  She enjoys “e-meeting” both students and educators.

You can find out more about Alex Lidell and her novel at Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads, Shelfari, and Library Thing.  

Facts About The Cadet of Tildor: 
1) Despite its problems, Tildor has the strongest and most prosperous economy of all the neighboring nations.  Commerce forms Tildor's economic backbone.

2) Cory, Savoy's younger sergeant, was a thief before joining the military.  

3) Davis, Savoy's older sergeant, used to be in charge of Savoy during Savoy's own field internship as a cadet.

4) Connor Seaborn is an awesome soccer player.

5) Tamora Pierce's SONG OF THE LIONESS and PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL inspired this book.  Tammy's wonderfully simple and visual prose is my gold standard.

6) A lot of the moves the characters use in ground fighting come from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

7) Before he become a High Constable and the Academy Headmaster, Verin was one of the best sword fighters in Tildor.

8) The next book in the series will either follow Renee's progress, or jump pack to detail Savoy's field internship as a cadet.  Both stories are in the works. 

9) When they were cadets, Seaborn did most of Savoy's homework.

10) A scene cut from the original draft included a direct, secret confrontation between Headmaster Verin and Lord Palan.

Giveaway: 

$20 Amazon Gift Card, PLUS a copy of THE CADET OF TILDOR with swag – US
$20 Book Depository Gift Card – International

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Malachi's Journal Entries: Day Four

I am so excited to be showcasing an entry from Malachi's Journal on my blog today! If you recall, Malachi is the sexy, brooding, and utterly kick-ass male protagonist I fell head-over-heels in love with when I first read Sarah Fine's debut, Sanctum. (My review HERE.) Today, I will be excerpting one day from Malachi's journal, a prequel to Sanctum, and hosting an international giveaway for an amazing Sanctum prize pack. In addition to my blog, there are nine other blogs participating, so be sure to search around the blogosphere to check out all the (fantastic!) diary entries and increase your chance of winning!

“My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple.” A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos’s best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance—hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone—she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.  As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she’s captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city’s endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn’t—the dark city isn’t the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate.

Now, a small quote from Sanctum, in which Nadia first sees Malachi's many journals:

Malachi’s quarters had no windows, no decorations. His room was just like everything else about him—nothing unnecessary, nothing wasted. His narrow cot rested in a corner, right next to something that looked like a hat rack. He walked straight to it and hung his bloody, stained armor over it. A small desk stood across from the rack, but the only things that sat upon it were a fountain pen and a single book, like some kind of journal. Neatly stacked in a corner rose a tower of identical books as tall as I was. A lot of journals.

If you want to get to know someone, reading his journal is the way to do it (though you should probably ask permission first). Malachi is no exception: his journals contain his thoughts, hopes, fears, plans, and adventures during his time in the dark city. Starting today, excerpts will post regularly throughout the publication of the Guards of the Shadowlands series at www.guardsoftheshadowlands.tumblr.com, but to get things started, you can read excerpts from Malachi's first ten days as a Guard NOW. And you can enter to win one of ten Sanctum swag packs, which include an exclusive bonus scene from Malachi's point-of-view!

Malachi's Journal Entry 
Day 4: Another Guard came to see me today. Takeshi is his name, and he brought Raphael to translate. Takeshi is from the Empire of Japan, but speaks several languages. We realized we both speak German. He wondered aloud how someone as scrawny as I am could manage to take down so many inhuman Guards at once. I took it as an invitation to show him. But as it turns out, Takeshi is even faster than Philip, and his baton extends to become a staff with which he happens to be devastatingly effective. Raphael healed my broken arm and suggested I refrain from attacking the other human Guards, as they are both capable of killing me before I land a blow. We'll see. 

Sarah Fine was born on the West Coast, raised in the Midwest, and is now firmly entrenched on the East Coast, where she lives with her husband and two children. When she's not writing, she's working as a child psychologist. No, she is not psychoanalyzing you right now. 

Visit Sarah: Twitter/Facebook/Website/Tumblr/Goodreads

International Contest!

Enter to win one of ten Sanctum swag packs, which include exclusive bonus scenes from Malachi's PoV! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below! Good Luck! 

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You can check out my review of Sanctum HERE. It's one of the most remarkable debuts I've read this year, so even if you don't win, be sure to check it out! :)

Blog Tour: Swell by Julie Reiman Duck (Review, Interview, & Giveaway)

I am so excited to be on the blog tour for Julie Rieman Duck's latest novel, Swell! A huge thank you to Candace from Candace's Book Blog for allowing me to be a part of this tour! :) On my stop today, I am showcasing my review of this phenomenal novel as well as welcoming Julie Rieman Duck to join me for a short interview today. In addition, there will be a giveaway both for US and International Readers, so be sure to enter! Good Luck! :D

You can check out the other tour stops HERE!

Title: Swell 

Author: Julie Rieman Duck 

Rating: 4 Stars 

For anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you that contemporary really isn’t my preferred genre. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of contemporary novels I can claim to have truly loved and while I can’t add Swell to that pile with rivals like Melina Marchetta, Cath Crowly, and Kristen Hubbard sitting up there, it definitely is added to my list of contemporary novels I truly enjoyed.

Swell is told in a unique manner, each chapter starting out with a few brief paragraphs of our protagonist, Beck, drunk and about to have something very, very bad happen to her. After this short glimpse of the present, we are jilted back into the past as Beck recounts her story of how she met her boyfriend, Christian, and came to become an alcoholic. While Beck’s narration of the past was slow-moving and could drag at some points, it set up a strong foundation, both of Beck’s character, the nuances of her relationship with Christian, and the slow dependency that she grew to have on alcohol. Furthermore, Duck’s writing is addictive – even if you want to put it down, the brief glimpses of the future/present make you keep flipping the pages, anxiously wondering what will happen to Beck.

Thus, I have to give Duck props for her impeccable characterization. Beck is, at first, a girl I would have instantly wanted to become friends with. With her love of art and sweet disposition, she isn’t easy to dislike, but as the novel progresses, her actions become increasingly silly and her alcoholism is horrifying. Yet, what makes Swell so remarkable is the fact that Duck makes you feel so invested in the story, in Beck’s life, that you want her to become alright and even though you don’t condone her actions, you understand them so, so well and even have to wonder, at times, if you would fall into the same traps if you were in her position.

Swell is a dark, gritty, and issue novel, which made it hard to get through because of its subject-matter in many parts, but it’s oh-so-real as well. It never felt dramaticized, cliché, or exceedingly typical and was, truly, an intensely original novel. In addition to Beck, we become close to her boyfriend, the enigmatic and “perfect” Christian. While I never fully warmed up to Christian, there were times when I could forget what a bad influence he was on Beck and simply be happy for their relationship – which is, again, a sign of Duck’s superb writing prowess. Jesse, however, was the character who truly stole my heart. Although Jesse only appeared after nearly half the novel, we get to know him as well – even better in some parts – than Christian.

What do I say about Jesse? *swoons* Well, he is kind, sweet, and an artist just like Beck, but most of all, their relationship blossoms so sweetly through conversation unlike the attraction/lust between Christian and Becca that I fell for it – hard. I will admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the fact that these two started liking each other while Becca was still dating Christian, but their romance still drew me in.

Nevertheless, despite all these wonderful points, Swell never truly won me over until the end. It was perfect. It also had a huge plot twist which I loved and I was left feeling immensely satisfied. However, Swell definitely was a really tough novel for me to get through and I had to put it on hold for a couple days after a point because of how dark it was. Yet, it’s one of those novels that simply demands to be read, both because of its subject-matter and writing. Its characters will stick with you for pages to come but most importantly, the message Duck leaves behind is one of lasting significance. Truly, I can’t envision any other author tackling this on in a better – or more realistically moving – way. 

Born in Los Angeles and raised in San Clemente, California, Julie Rieman Duck wrote her way through school on an old-fashioned typewriter. Somewhere along the line, she was sidetracked by careers in magazine publishing and copywriting. While Julie honed her skills at writing print ads and articles, the stories that moved her heart and soul were bubbling underneath, waiting to escape. It took a medical scare and the loss of her job — on the same day and within 30 minutes of each other — to finally allow her stories to free themselves and be put to paper. Julie looks forward to writing more stories that hit where the heart beats fastest, and the soul reaches out for more.            

Visit Julie at: www.julieduck.com / www.julieduck.wordpress.com / Goodreads / YA Stands (Author Interviews) Every Other Tuesday 

Interview with Julie Rieman Duck 

My Questions for the Interview 

Julie's Responses to the Questions 

What makes Swell stand out, to me at least, is how realistic it is. What enabled you to write such a realistic portrayal of teenage alcoholism? 

While I didn't become alcoholic, I did depend on it quite a bit as a teenager because I was devastated. I was afraid. I hated who I was and I wanted to get rid of it. So I cut my hair, lined my eyes, and drank whenever and wherever I could. A few friends had similar experiences, one going to rehab... I knew this lifestyle as a teenager and it wasn't very fun, in retrospect. This enabled me to write SWELL from a realistic standpoint. It was real. It is real.

An aspect of this novel that I loved was Beck's artistic inclinations and passion for art. What made you think of making Beck an artist and how did her artistic talent shape this novel? 

Art is fun! Before I was a writer, I was an artist. So, incorporating this aspect into who Beck is was easy. Artists (and all creatives) are sensitive people. That is how we create things from our dreams and visions. Beck is an empathetic soul, and being an artist makes her doubly so.

In Swell, Beck's alcoholism is a direct cause of her relationship with Christian. What made you choose peer pressure as a cause for Beck's problem opposed to other reasons that also drive people to drink alcohol excessively? 

I think as teenagers, we are so vulnerable to peer pressure that whatever is demanded of us, we shall conform to. So we drink, we smoke pot, we sleep with our boyfriends even if we don't really want to. Peer pressure drives everything.

It would be remiss of me not to ask you about Jesse, especially as I loved him so much, so what can you tell about him, how you crafted his character, and just how big of an impact Jesse had on Beck.

Jesse is my love! I love him. He was based off a character from the movie, Keith (based on a story by Ron Carlson). Jesse is a positive person in spite of his life experiences. He is the good vibe we all need when we are down. We all should have a Jesse in our lives at some time or another.

What do you hope readers take from this dark, gritty, and coming-of-age story? 

That you can come out of the darkness. You are loved. You are not alone. And although you must go through your dark journey, just know that the other side of the fence holds a future that goes above and beyond this here-and-now experience.

Julie, I loved your thoughtful responses and took so much away from them, so really, thanks for stopping by! 

Giveaway!

This is a tour wide giveaway that ends 12/18/12.

One person (open to US only) will win:

• Paperback of Swell by Julie Rieman Duck 
• Paperback of A Place in This Life by Julie Rieman Duck 

One other winner (Open Worldwide) will win:

• 1 ebook of Swell by Julie Rieman Duck
• 1 ebook of A Place in This Life by Julie Rieman Duck 
• 1 ebook of The Joy and Torture by Joshua James
• 1 ebook of Earrings of Ixtumea by Kim Baccellia 
• 1 ebook of Cornerstone by Misty Provencher 
• 1 ebook (Kindle) of There Comes a Prophet by David Litwack

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Blog Tour: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs (ARC Review & Giveaway)

I am so excited to be a part of the Greta and the Goblin King Blog Tour, hosted by Shane at Itching for Books. On my stop today, I will be featuring my review of this debut novel as well as a giveaway of the book. You can see the other tour stops for the novel HERE. 

Title: Greta and the Goblin King 

Author: Chloe Jacobs 

Rating: 3 Stars 

Release Date: November 13th, 2012

Greta and the Goblin King is one of those novels that starts out with a bang, but ends, quite unfortunately, with a whimper. Nevertheless, Chloe Jacobs debut is certainly a novel to look out for and it is a start to a refreshing new series that I can already see myself eagerly following through till the end.

In the harsh, winter land of Mylena, humans are said to be the cause of a centuries-old curse. Hence, they have long been hated and the land is ruled by goblins and sprites, beings who lose themselves and turn into the most hideous versions of themselves every eclipse. Greta, a human girl, has unwillingly been thrown into this land. Upon saving her brother from an evil witch, Greta finds herself in Mylena, forced to fend for herself and survive, keeping her human lineage a secret all while searching for a way back into her own world. When Isaac, the new Goblin King, and an evil demon, Agramon, find out that Greta is, in fact, a human, she is forced to go on the run. Now, with the eclipse looming closer and closer, Greta has only days to find a way out of Mylena. Little does she know, however, that a great evil brews ahead...

Greta and the Goblin King is one of the few examples of Young Adult Fantasy done right. I was astounded by the world-building in this novel and the story of how Greta comes to be in Mylena is very slightly reminiscent of Hanzel and Gretel, which only further drew me into this tale. With its goblins, sprites, rich lore, and beliefs, Mylena is a character of its own, taking on a depth I wasn't expecting and leaving me feeling bereft when I left its land. I definitely look forward to learning more about this land shrouded in the enigma of a portal and although we are given more than enough information to satisfy us in this installment, I am certain that there is even more to this nation that we don't know.

Mylena aside, Greta was a fantastic protagonist. I enjoyed her sarcastic, witty narration and although she is an absolutely kick-ass bounty hunter, she is, at the same time, intensely vulnerable and oh-so-human. I appreciated her struggle to hold on to her humanity as her memories of her human life slowly slipped away and her uncertainty about whether or not to escape back to her own land if she could find a portal was strangely realistic. Greta is a changed woman in Mylena; the land has forced her to resort to some of her most primitive instincts, making a fighter out of her and a girl who would fail to assimilate back to the human world. Nevertheless, Greta's constant determination to let nothing deter her from her task was admirable and truly, she is a heroine that many will love.

Yet, for all its good qualities, Greta and the Goblin King unfortunately lost me when it came to the romance. While I loved the novels breathtaking landscape, intriguing protagonist, heart-pounding pace, and plot full of unexpected twists, turns, and heart-warming characters, Isaac, the Goblin King, failed to woo me as a love interest. When Isaac and Greta first meet, Isaac tricks Greta into allowing him into her dreams and as such, Greta begins to distrust him. Isaac then winds up taking the throne, even when he swore he didn't want to be king, and from there on out, Greta refuses to be taken in by his charms. At around the half-way point to this book though, something changes. Greta and Isaac suddenly begin to make-out as the attraction between them is raised higher and higher. While I definitely felt the chemistry between the two, I was left lost and confused as to why Greta suddenly began to care for Isaac. Isaac redeems himself in Greta's eyes, certainly, but never enough for the type of romance that bloomed between them. Furthermore, there is a hint of a potential love triangle in the sequel which made me cringe, especially as I so evidently love the second romantic interest, not Isaac, who is sure to win the Love Triangle Battle by the end of this series. If there is anything rewarding about the romance in this, it is that it never overpowers the plot. It doesn't make itself very known until the second-half of the novel and even then, Greta's priorities are clear and the plot never veers away from its intriguing premise.

Thus, Greta and the Goblin King is a debut I was immensely impressed by. Although I had a rather major qualm with its romance, that was easily outdone by the superb world-building, fascinatingly original plot, and kick-butt heroine. I am certain that Greta and the Goblin King is bound to make many "favorites" lists by the end of the year for this is a novel  that many will appreciate and even a romance that many will come to love, unlike I have. Now I can only sit back, kick up my feet, and wait eagerly for the sequel to this phenomenal debut to release - I can't wait!

A huge thank you to Shane at Itching For Books for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review and participation in this blog tour. 

Giveaway! 

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Giveaway Winners and Other Miscellaneous News!

If you're a regular follower on my blog, you'll have no doubt noticed that I hosted a plethora of giveaways which all happened to end this month. Thus, after much deliberation and excellent advice from my fellow bloggers who have had far more blogging experience than I have, I've decided to post a short, concise, and quick follow-up of all my winners and the novels they won! I would like to thank everyone for participating in all my giveaways - your enthusiasm is infectious!

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren Giveaway 

Kristie won a signed paperback copy of Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren as well as three signed bookmarks! :)  

Young Adult Giveaway Hop 

Elizabeth picked Such a Rush out of all the options I had offered, so she has hopefully received her copy by now. 

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft Giveaway 

Laura wound up winning my most recent giveaway, so Jody Gehrman, the author of Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, will be sending her a copy of this book in the mail soon! 

150 Followers Giveaway 

Finally, Sarah from Catching Books won my 150 Followers Giveaway! I had a lot of entries for this one, so after confirming (nearly) all of them, she was the winner! Sarah picked to win a pre-ordered copy of Crewel by Gennifer Albin from the Book Depository, so that should reach her in October! 

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I, personally, find Giveaway Winner Posts really boring, so I thought I'd just go ahead and share some blog news with you all that I probably wouldn't get an opportunity to do otherwise.

First and foremost, September is looming ahead which means...school! What does this mean for the blog? Well, nothing much except for the fact that my posts will be less frequent. I have a ton of reviews I haven't posted as of yet, so I'm not too worried about the month of September, but following that, my posts will definitely become more sporadic. Also, my reading time is going to be reduced by nearly...well, 90% really. It's a tough and crucial school year ahead for me, so I'm going to do my best to keep up with everything and continue to blog as much as possible as it's something I truly love doing. Plus, I couldn't stop reading even if I tried! I'd either drop dead or go insane, so my blog will definitely be up and running despite the new school year! :)

So, with the news of school and classes, I've been thinking about requesting for a co-blogger. I know a lot of blogs have co-bloggers and some of these work really well such as The Readventurer, The Reader's Den, Cuddlebuggery, The Nocturnal Library, The Midnight Garden, Vegan YA Nerds, and Young Adults Anonymous to name a few. All of these blogs are extremely successful and manage to co-blog with an ease that I envy and admire. I am actually a very solitary person, so I'm not sure how well co-blogging would work for me, but I would love to have a co-blogger to help out during the upcoming year. For me, co-blogging isn't a necessity so I may not even pick a co-blogger. I want to find someone who I can get along with very well, understand, and who shares a similar passion of books and reviewing like me. I tend to be the 'black sheep' of reviewing just about 85% of the time, so I definitely want a co-blogger who shares similar opinions and writes ridiculously long reviews like me. So, if you know anyone who would be interested to co-blog with me or you yourself want to co-blog with me on Ivy Book Bindings, send me an e-mail at ivybookbindings@gmail.com with the following information:
- Name
- Blogging/Reviewing Experience as well as Preferred Genre
- 3-5 Sample Reviews
- Why you want to join Ivy Book Bindings
- Short paragraph about yourself, hobbies, favorite books, maybe even some favorite movies/TV Shows/music...anything to make me get to know you better
Once again, I have to re-iterate: a co-blogger is not a necessity to me. I don't know if I'll get any entries for co-blogging and even if I do, that doesn't necessarily mean I'll pick one. I really want to find a co-blogger who is just right for my blog. I'd love to have one, but it has to be someone I can get along with, trust, respect, and who I know will write reviews that are similar to what you expect from my blog. It's a delicate process and I admire all bloggers who have managed without a co-blogger and those who have made it with one as well, so let's see what category I fall into soon! ;)

Hmm...that's about it! If you have any thoughts/suggestions/comments on co-blogging or managing a blog during the school/work year, please do leave me comments! I'd love to know what you think! For me, both blogging and co-blogging are new ventures and I'd love any and all input you all have to provide, so thank you! :)