Scent of Magic (Healer #2) by Maria V.Snyder

Pages: 400
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Release: December 2012
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC copy

Plot: As the last healer in the fifteen realms and presumed dead by her friends Avery is alone in her quest to find away to defeat Tohon. Kerrick, her love and the only person who knows her to be alive is forced back to his homeland to summon his country into battle.
As Avery travels in disguise to the camps of Tohon's opponents she knows she has a fight ahead of her, including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead.
Will she able to do it?

Good Points: Maria V Snyder has done it again! Wow. This book was so amazingly good I had to run online to write this review just to stay in the world she's created for just that little longer.
The book picks off right where it left off in Touch of Power with everyone presuming Avery dead and Tohon still advancing his power.
Each chapter alternates between the perspective of Avery- written in first person and Kerrick- written in third person; each ending with a dramatic cliffhanger that leaves you wanting to skip the next characters part just to find out what happens to the other. But I didn't...I managed to restrain myself and read on. And boy am I glad I did.
The characters in this book are written in more detail and you explore new sides to each. With action waiting at every turn for the group and a few shocker moments that will leave you open mouthed and looking dumbfounded at the pages, this sequel definitely lived up to all of my expectations...and beyond.


Bad Points: Kerrick and Avery aren't together for most of the book which is kid of a bad point but then at the same time you get to explore other characters within the series and you still have the changing focus through the chapters of going from Avery's point of view to a third person extract of what Kerrick's up to. So not really a bad point.
I don't know! I can't really think of many. It was so damn good!

To Sum Up... Omg! I loved this book. I finally feel like Maria V Snyder is back in action with this sequel. Like I said earlier I was worried a bit about the whole plot but after this book which I simply devoured I am so excited for the next one. Where is it? When will it come out!!???!!! I think you get the gist... Basically everything about this book is amazing. So read it :D
The book comes out December and I'd definitely recommend reading the first book in the series Touch of Power if you haven't already first.

Like this post, please do comment :)

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Pages: 479
Publisher: Corgi Publishing
Released: 2000

Plot: Sephy is a Cross -- a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a Nought -- a “colourless” member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood, but that’s as far as it can go. In their world, Noughts and Crosses simply don’t mix. Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum -- a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger. Can they possibly find a way to be together?

Be Warned-- There may be a slight spoiler.

Good Points: The idea behind the world Malorie Blackman has created is really interesting with the whole twist of dark skinned crosses ruling over the light skinned noughts and the struggles between them. Adding the whole relationship between Sephy, a rich Cross and Callum a poor nought and the drama has arrived!
I liked how the author chose to go from one point of view to the other but its still didn't help me get a feel for either of the characters.
There's a lot of tension within the book and the situation really does send you on a roller-coaster of emotions as you read it.

Bad Points: I didn't connect with either of the main characters and I think that was the main reason why I didn't like the book so much. Everything just seemed really rushed in my opinion. I know they've been friends for years but the idea that they can go from that to being so in love and then having a child, which, might I add that they conceive when she's kidnapped just seems a little -_-

To Sum Up... I had really high expectations for this book and although yes the plot is fairly original and that  ending! I just couldn't seem to really get into this book. I don't know why but nothing in the book really screamed out at me whilst I was reading it except the ending which reminded me too much of A Tale of Two Cities, one life for another and all that.
Anyway, I know loads of people hold this book dear and swear that its brilliant but I just didn't feel it. Sure it was dramatic at times but others I just wanted to scream at the pair and how foolish they could be. I wasn't sold.

Waiting on Wednesday #8

                                             Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by

                                                                  Breaking the Spine. 

This week's pick is....

The ELITE by Kiera Cass (The Selection book 2)

Here's the Summary from Kiera's site!

 Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

I cannot wait for this book!

Look out for it in stores and online for its release in April next year!

Like this pick, leave a comment! And don't forget to leave a link to your Waiting on Wednesday :D

Top Ten Tuesday #5

                                    Top ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme by Broke and the Bookish

 This week: The Top Ten books to get you in the Halloween Spirit.

                  1. Dracula by Bram Stoker.

                    Pretty obvious...It is a classic.

2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly 

*See previous Book comment :)

3. Anything by HP. Lovecraft 

I've just got into this author and if you want Horror, this writer is for you!

4. The Harry Potter series.

I don't think I will ever stop reading these books. Maybe I should make it my annual Halloween time reading list.

5. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Read this!!!

6. Strange Angels by Lilli St.Crow

I love this book in the series it has Zombies and everything else supernatural. Plus the heroine is kick-ass!

7. Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

I read this a while ago and really liked it. You learn a lot about Jack the Ripper and what could be more spook-ay! (Insert creepy voice here)

8. The Secret Circle series.

If you've watched the TV series which Oh No! they cancelled you need to read the books! Read them years ago and they are brill :)

9. Poison Study

Not sure why this book is Halloween-y but you need to read it anyway if you haven't. It's soooo good :)

10. Either the House of Night Series or The Morganville Series.

I couldn't decide which one to pick so I've put both down. Though they are both good at the beginning of the series I feel that both now need to just stop, 10 books plus is just too much...

Thanks for checking out my list. Like it? Comment! 

Btw - Don't forget to leave a link to yours :D

Interview with Clare Marshall (Violet Fox Blog Tour)

Hi guys! Its October 20th and that means that it is finally my turn to post for the Violet Fox blog tour and I am super excited to give you the interview I had with the books author, Clare Marshall who is so nice.

Here's the Summary...

Run.
That’s what instinct told me.
But in order to save the secrets of my people
and to protect my brother
I have to become the enemy.

Interview with Clare Marshall, author of The Violet Fox.  

1. First up, obvious question, what made you want to be an author?

I don’t think any one thing made me want to be an author. I was always writing stories--very long stories!--in elementary school, and was encouraged to keep doing so throughout high school. Eventually I learned to curb and control my writing monster and write short stories and refine my plot-lines a little bit!

2. Did you always know that you would want to write in the young adult/paranormal genre?

When I was in elementary school, I’d write about girls who were 12 or 13. In junior high/high school (it was combined in my town), I’d write about girls who were 15 or 16. Now, at 24 years of age, I write about girls who are between 16 and 18, but I also enjoy the mid-twenties perspective as well, since that’s where I’m at in life. So I guess the answer would be yes, it’s what I’ve always written, and I’ll probably continue to write in the young adult spectrum. I’d also like to write in the 10-12 age group--I think my creative juices really bloomed during that period of my life and I’d like to revisit some of the story ideas I came up with then.

As for the genre, I consider myself mostly a fantasy author, with bits of science fiction and horror/paranormal thrown in. I’m not afraid to explore scenes that might weird other people out or make people uncomfortable. The Violet Fox doesn’t really have any of that, though, but it does creep towards the edge of deeper thought and darkness at times.

3. Are any of the characters in your books based on real people?

Not specifically. I like to take traits from specific people and Frankenstein them into one person. Other times, the characters themselves tell me what they look like, or their mannerisms are clear in how they act.

4. Being involved in Indie Writing, do you think that a good cover is the sell point to any book? 

Having an attractive cover definitely helps you get noticed. It’s the equivalent to dressing up for a job interview. If you have an unattractive or unsuccessful cover, that tells me that the author doesn’t care enough about their work to make it presentable. That’s probably a superficial judgment, but without reading the entire book to see if it’s good or not, I wouldn’t know if it’s worth my time.

The other selling point to a book would be the plot description. It’s possible to have a mediocre cover and a great description. That’s enough for some people to get excited. But the cover can get people to read the plot description, so one often leads to the other.

5. If deserted on a desert island and the only thing you’re allowed to take with you is a book, what would your pick be?

A survival guide! I think this would be the most logical choice. Providing, of course, that there is vegetation of some kind on this desert island. If it’s just sand, and maybe a tree, and I’m going to die of exposure or starvation or of a giant shark jumping out of the sea and swallowing me whole, I’d take my Kindle and fill it with all of the YA books I haven’t read yet. The battery will only last a month, but if there is no vegetation for me to work with, I’ll die in less than 2 weeks. The body can go for 2 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. And once I start drinking the seawater, I’m going to go crazy. And I probably won’t be doing much reading after that. J

6. The bucket list. What are your three top things to do on your list?

•  Get certain books of mine published by a traditional publisher. Some of the ideas I have are better served by houses that have access to bigger markets (or specific markets, like schools) than I currently do.

•  Travel around the world in a small yacht. Comfortable, but small enough that only a two to three people would have to manage it. And I’d have to find a way to have near-constant internet access so I could chronicle my adventures. I would also bring a survival guide in case I am stranded on a desert island, as mentioned in the above potential scenario.
•   Improve the lives of a community. I don’t have any specifics or details about this really, but if I ever become so rich that I sweat money, I’d like to donate it to a worthy community project.

F       Find out who else is on the tour here

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Pages: 231

Publisher: Pocket Books

Released: 1999

Plot: Charlie is a freshman and he's starting out in high school with the hopes of making friends and starting his life. In a roller coaster of events Charlie meets Sam and Patrick and the're group of 'misfit' friends to which he discovers he is their wallflower, the observer who just wants to get in on the action. In a world of friendship, sex, drugs and the Rocky Horror Picture show, Charlie discovers what it truly means to grow up.

Good Points: This book manages to explore so many themes within the storyline and you soon get caught up in Charlie's world which I liked. The narrators voice (Charlie) is strong and clear throughout the book and although his letters aren't daily you still understand what his everyday life is like. 

Elements to the book made my smile when I read them and come on! They have an entire magazine devoted to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. If that doesn't spell cool then I don't know what does.

The references to the books at first I was worried about because usually when I've read books that do this before the author usually ends up sounding obnoxious with some obscure Russian poet being quoted or you just get the feeling that they've googled lists of 'books-which-smart-people-read'. In this case however this didn't happen. The books were all one's that you might read at high school or have read already and the author wasn't quoting lines from the book every page but just touching on Charlie's thoughts on them like 'I liked that one' or 'that author was great...' which I proffered.

Alongside Charlie going through loads throughout the book, the read does also, with the moral to the story being be yourself and live to the full I guess. Deep, I know but it is labelled as a coming-of-age book.

Bad Points: Charlie's naivety at times could get a little annoying and his constant crying to prove his characters innocence seemed to do the same. However who can blame him with the amount of stuff he goes through in this book. Talk about drama! This kid seems to have really bad luck...

To Sum Up... I recently went to watch the film adaptation of this book after reading it and I have to admit I think I preferred the film (mainly because they cut a lot of the crying out). However I have to admit I loved the references to books and music within the plot and you certainly get a feel of what Charlie's high school experience is like. Although it was a tiny bit cheesy and dramatic with the whole 'infinite' line going on, as a coming of age drama I thought it worked well despite there being a little too much disaster in his life for it to be even considered plausible. I liked it and I'll probably read it again.

Waiting on Wednesday #7

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by 

       Breaking the Spine. 

This week's waiting on Wednesday is...

Scent of Magic (Healer #2) by Maria V.Snyder

Summary: (Goodreads)

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avery of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avery is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avery will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avery is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and can't wait for the next one to come out December!

Like this pick? Comment below :)

Seeking Crystal by Joss Stirling

Pages: 258
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Released: October 2012

Plot: Crystal Brook has always been the dud savant of the family but when her sister finds her soul finder on a trip to Denver she meets the other Benedict boys. Unimpressed by their charm and irritated by Xavier Benedict, Crystal and the others head back to her home in Venice to prepare for the wedding. But what they don't know is things won't go as smoothly as they planned...

Good Points: First of all I have to say that I really do love this series. I just love how every book follows a different brother and is its very own mini love story and each time you think you prefer the previous brother but as you read on get hooked on to the next. I know...I used the word love a lot in that little paragraph.
Well anyway, getting down to the review I think Joss has done it again!
Crystal, the main protagonist to the story has to live in the coolest place ever! The setting to the story, in Venice, is beautifully described and you get to feel what it is like to live there. The author spares no detail in describing everything from the type of air the place has to the cost of a Gondola ride, which by the way is, how much!!???!!
Like the previous book you get to see the relationships of the other Benedict brothers who have found their soul-finders within the plot and again I think Stirling has managed to strike a nice balance between rekindling the previous characters without drawing the attention away from the main two. But then again, can anyone really draw attention away from Xav?
The  addition of a film crew being involved within the story just added to the drama (and action) allowing us, as the reader to find out not only more about the characters but the Savant world as we discover elements to their lives that they have to keep secret and away from public attention.
Basically I loved this book.

Bad Points: Again length, make these book longer Joss!!!! We need more Savant material!

To Sum Up... So glad that this book lived up to my expectations and am literally shaking with excitement for the next book. With the ending hinting at clues as to who the remaining brothers soul-finders which was awesome, the only questions that needs to be asked is which brother, and when?

Top Ten Tuesday # 4

Top ten Tuesdays is a weekly meme by Broke and the Bookish

Revisited TTT.

Top Ten favourite book quotes

No doubt I will have missed some of my favourite quotes from books on here because they're so long or there are  just too many but here it goes...

1.  'Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry'- Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel.

2. 'Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour'- Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games.

3. 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good'- J.K Rowling, The Prisoner of Azkaban.

4. 'It is a far, far better thing that I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go on to that I have ever known.'- Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.

5. 'Two rights don't equal a left'- Roald Dahl, The BFG.

6. 'My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!'- William Goldman, The Princess Bride.

7. 'I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.'- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.

8. 'True love is usually the most inconvenient kind.'- Kiera Cass, The Selection.

9. 'Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.'

- J.R.R Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings series.

10. 'Life, although it may be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.'- Mary Shelly, Frankenstein.  

What TTT did you choose to revisit. 

Leave a comment below.

:)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Pages: 418
Publisher: Hodder &Stoughton (UK)
Released: September 2011

Plot: Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague, the other errand-girl to a monstrous creature, Brimstone, who is the closest thing she has to family. Never fully understanding Brimstone's dark world nor how she came into his keeping Karou must now choose between the safety of her human life or the dangers of one that may hold the answers she has always sought.

Good Points: The main attraction this book had for me was the setting. Every word that Laini Taylor writes is poetic and utterly mesmerising; her use of description pulls you into the world she has created and makes you feel as if you are walking the streets of Prague, taking seat inside Poison Kitchen and taking a bite of Goulash as you bare witness to this amazing atmosphere.
The main character, Karou, who's name I have now grown to love is brilliantly written with her blue hair and mysterious quality that has everyone and even herself asking 'who is she?' And the idea of the characters worlds is pretty original which for me was a bonus.

I have this version (UK)

Bad Points: I have to admit at the beginning of the book I just wasn't getting into the story. I'm not sure why, I just felt that I wasn't really relating in anyway to the characters and I just didn't feel for them in a way that I would do normally. I was a little confused about the structure of the book, I know a lot is going back to revisit certain events but for me it just felt like a completely different book, which you could argue is correct in the sense that you are talking or writing, about another life. But I just didn't get into it, which I was really disappointed by seeing as though it seems everyone has given it amazing appraisal.
Also, I know he's an Angel but does he have to be that faultless, it just draws away from a character having true depth in my opinion.

To Sum Up... I'm sort of on the fence with this one. Although I love the originality of the world and it's character's history I didn't really think the characters were that great, with the exception of Karou's best friend Zuzana who I loved and thought brought the element of fun and humour that would otherwise be missing without her.
I'm not really sure it lived up to its hype for me and although I'll definitely check out the next book because the ending was quite good it's not, i don't think, a series that I will be jumping up and down with excitement for to be released.

Any thoughts on this book, leave a comment below :)

Cover Spot: The Elite by Kiera Cass

Hi Guys!

 So I don't know if any of you have noticed yet but the cover art for the sequel to The Selection by Kiera Cass has just been revealed!(well...yesterday) and my congratulations go out to Kiera on her amazing achievement of becoming a New York Time's Bestselling Author!! Whooo!

The plot (or what we know so far...)

 The Elite will start off where the Selection finished with all but six of the girls having been sent home. The drama continues with America's conflicting emotions for Prince Maxon who she can't help but be swept up by continuing to grow. But then there's Aspen, her first love who just so happens to be a guard in the Palace now and a constant reminder to the happy moments they shared together. OH! WHAT TO DO!?! *Pulls hair out in frustration* And if things can't get any more complicated, just when America thinks she's made her decision she is struck with the loss that makes her question everything, leaving the decision still standing and the rebels still attacking. The question is, will there ever be a happy ending? So without further ado, I give you the cover!

Isn't it just beautiful!!! I was really worried that it wouldn't be able to compete with the first cover's artwork because it was so amazing, but I really like it. The red especially suggests a maybe more darker tone to this book than the first and America is on the cover!
Though I'm not quite sure about the models expression -_-

Thoughts on the cover? Leave a response in the comments :)
Amy

Halloween Sucks Blog Hop and Giveaway

Welcome to the Halloween Sucks blog hop tour where only Vampires are allowed! Now to participate in this tour I was given the chance to post about any Vampire related book and I've got to admit it was hard choosing which one to select- there are so many!
After quite a lot of looking through my books I finally settled on The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine, a series that I have loved for ages and even includes the topic in the name.

For those of you that haven't read or even heard of the Morganville series the books follow Claire Danvers, a college freshman in Morganville, Texas who finds herself stuck in a world of Vampires when she leaves the college campus, having had enough of her terrible dorm mates.
Claire stumbles onto the Glass house and is soon invited to stay with its three residents Michael, Shane and Eve, however little does she know that the secrets kept within the town will trap her forever. With the founder of Morganville tasking her with the job of assisting Myrnin, the mad Alchemist vampire to find a cure for the Vampire disease that is killing their kind, Claire puts her advanced skills and knowledge to work.

Of course the series then continues on into thirteen books, of which a list can be found below.

1. Glass Houses
2. Dead Girl's Dance
3. Midnight Alley
4. Feast of Fools
5. Lord Of Misrule
6. Carpe Corpus
7. Fade Out
8. Kiss Of Death
9. Ghost Town
10. Bite Club
11. Last Breath
12. Black Dawn
13. Bitter Blood

Like Vampires? Check out T.Michelle Nelson's new book Life and Death of Lily Drake....

""For Lily Drake, slaying vampires is easy...Dating them is the hard part." Join the release party on Oct 5th at Ink spell Publishing website to find the Blog hop winners!"

Want the chance to win the book? Enter here...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for checking out my post, here's a list of some of the other blogs that are taking part in the tour! Check them out!

 www.moosubi.blogspot.com/

www.supagurlbooks.blogspot.com
booknerd.ca
bookbreather4lyfe.blogspot.com
www.lettersinsideout.net
sarahelizabethsbookshelf.blogspot.co.uk/
raelori.blogspot.com
iheartreading.net
www.christysbookaddiction.blogspot.com
bookshelf.shotgunopera.net
www.bookwhales.blogspot.com/
mommacatandherbabies.blogspot.com
www.midtown-underground.com
www.nightlyreading.wordpress.com
www.crossroadreviews.com
www.bookmice.org
pnrurbanfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/
vanessaleighbooks.blogspot.com
www.everythingatoc.blogspot.com
readingcave.blogspot.com/
andisbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/for-love-of-vampire.html
janieraeldridge.blogspot.com
www.readergirlsblog.com
book-spark.blogspot.com/
the-itzel-library.blogspot.com/
bookmaven623.wordpress.com
thelifeofanasiandreamer.wordpress.com/
booksbycenteno.com
megantalksbooks.blogspot.com
fullmoonbites.blogspot.com/
lisavoisin.wordpress.com
www.alwaysyaatheart.blogspot.com
in-interest.blogspot.com
www.bookliaison.com
teenyreader.blogspot.co.uk/
www.jbridgerwriting.blogspot.com/
www.stephaniekeyes.com
www.facing50withhumour.blogspot.com
www.readersconfession.com
www.melissakeir.com/blog.html
cecereadandwrite.blogspot.com
paranormalopinion.blogspot.com
highlyreadioactive.blogspot.in
www.snowdropdreams.ca
sweetandsassyreviewz.blogspot.com/2012/09/blog-hop.html#comment-form
booksdownmypillow.blogspot.com
www.snifferwalk.org
pinkfluffyhearts.blogspot.com/

Krystal's Enchanting Reads

Erika Knudsen  

Aliaa @ Mademoiselle Le Sphinx  

Michelle @ Mom With A Kindle