The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak | Review

The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak
Publisher:Penguin Audio
Format: Audiobook (courtesy of Penguin Audio)
Genre: Childrens
Publication Date: September 30, 2014

This innovative and wildly funny read-aloud by award-winning humorist/actor B.J. Novak will turn any listener into a comedian.

You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here's how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say....BLORK. Or BLUURF. Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY.

Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)

I was so happy to get a copy of this audiobook for review! I hadn't heard of it until then, but I just knew it was a book my son would love. I played it for him today, and we both sat there laughing through the entire thing.

About the audiobook:
BJ Novak is hilarious! His inflection changes as the words change, and it had even me laughing. The audiobook is great, even if it feels a bit short (be prepared to hit replay to listen to it again...and again, and again). If you aren't feeling up to reading this and sounding silly (oh, come one, what are you afraid of?), or if your child keeps asking you to read the book over and over, the audiobook is the perfect solution. The only downside I can see is that now I want a copy in book form, so I can read it to my son myself. :)

About the book:
In a way, it reminds me of one of my favorite children's books: The Monster At The End of This Book. It calls for the reader to be interactive with the words, meaning that each time it is read, the result can be made new and fresh, creating laughs long after the child has memorized the words--and if my son is any indication, your children will memorize them, only to repeat them back to you.

It was a fun experience for the both of us. This is the perfect book for young children, as they get to hear their parent--(or any other person who reads it to them--speak utter gibberish, and say funny and completely insane things. It's fun to let loose once in a while, and this book facilitates that.

Edit: We have since played this for my nieces and nephews, after my son begged me to let them hear it during a sleepover. It was such a hit! I had to play it three times over, while five children from the ages of 2-9 laughed and giggled, and shook the entire bed.

Some quotes from these kids:

Reader: "Can I please stop reading this book?"

Four children: "No!"

Fifth child: "Never!"

Reader: "Next time, PLEASE choose a book with pictures."

Three children: "Nope!"

Reader: "The end."

2-year-old: "Again! Again!"

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you have children, or like to let your own inner child out.

Content Warning
None.

---

Purchase The Book With No Pictures:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

BJ Novak:

Blog  /  Twitter  /  Instagram

Hemlock Grove | TV Series Review

Hemlock Grove (Season 1)   TV-MA
Released: April 19, 2013
Director: Eli Roth
Creators: Brian McGreevy and Lee Shipman
Genre: Sci-fi, Horror, Thriller
Starring: Famke Janssen, Bill Skarsgård, Landon Liboiron
Based on: Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevy

A teenage girl is brutally murdered, sparking a hunt for her killer. But in a town where everyone hides a secret, will they find the monster among them?
(Synopsis link)

I typed up a quick review for this show on Netflix, and then realized I had much more to say. And when I saw that it's based on a book, I just knew I would be posting a review on this blog, as my thoughts are as complex as the show.

I watched the first episode and wasn't impressed. Despite me immediately liking the character of Peter Rumaneck (played by Landon Liboiron) and his mother (Lili Taylor), I found the camera work to be spotty, and the show much too dramatized. I wouldn't have kept going if it weren't for Netflix's nifty feature that plays the next episode if you leave it alone for long enough. I figured I would give the next episode a try, since it had begun anyway.

And that's when I started getting hooked. I won't pretend I don't have a fascination with dark and moody settings, and Hemlock Grove is like the ultimate setting for this. The town people are eerie and secretive, with enough sordid history to make the series feel like something straight out of a Gothic horror novel.

Peter Rumaneck and Roman Godfrey (played by Bill Skarsgård--none other than the brother of Alexander Skarsgård, himself!) make a fantastic pair of friends. Their characters are such contrasts, but it's like magic when they're both on screen together. Their uneasy friendship is the true gem of the series, although there are many other relationships to watch unfold. I do admit that I never ended up liking Famke Janssen's portrayal of Roman's mother. There was something about the way she delivered her lines that got on my nerves--which is a surprise, since I've always liked her in the other roles I've seen her play.

And if you haven't heard much about the werewolf transformations, let me assure you--they're eye-openers! Hemlock Grove takes werewolf transformations to the next level. I was shocked and fascinated as I watched the first time, and it took me a few moments afterward to digest what I had just seen. Horror fans will go crazy about this particular aspect.

The camera work overall isn't the best I've seen, but I did stop noticing it sometime after the second episode. The acting isn't always the best either (no complaints as far as Peter and Roman--they are fantastic). But there's something about Hemlock Grove that appealed to me, and I ended up enjoying it. It's very different and a little strange. It deals mostly in deep, dark emotions, but can be very humorous. I couldn't even begin to make a comparison to another TV show, but it's definitely a show for a very specific audience. It's not for everyone (take the TV-MA rating seriously).

If you're not sure whether you would like it or not, I suggest giving it two episodes. You'll know by the end of the second episode if it's for you. On the other hand, if you like your mysteries slightly twisted and have a thing for werewolves, this is the show for you!

Watch this if:
...you like to wander in the supernatural world, and you don't have a weak stomach.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Over the entire series, you can expect to see violence, murder, many gruesome scenes, rape, sex, nudity, and infidelity. As far as mature content, think along the lines of Game of Thrones.}

See Hemlock Grove on:
Goodreads  |  IMDB

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen | Book Review

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen (The Ascendance Trilogy #2)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: eGalley (courtesy of Netgalley)
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Publication Date: 1 March, 2013

A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

“Above all else, I think that you are a compulsive liar."

My laughter was tense, but sincere. "Hardly. In fact, I consider myself a compulsive truth teller. It's only that everyone else seems compelled to misunderstand me.” 

-Devlin & Sage, The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I began The Runaway King with the fear that it wouldn't live up to The False Prince. Sage's character is just such an interesting one, and while I had really enjoyed reading about him in The False Prince, I was afraid the dreaded second book syndrome might make an appearance and ruin him for me.

No such thing happened. Sage's stubbornly nonchalant attitude is back, and as fresh as ever.

In The Runaway King, the stakes are even higher for Jaron as he goes back to being Sage to save his life. His kingdom is on the verge of war, the council won't listen to his ideas, and he knows he can hardly trust anyone. So he does what any king masquerading as an orphan boy named Sage would do: goes on a quest to solve all the problems on his own.

The adventures and dangers Sages talks his way into are fun and exciting, and he even manages to reveal a few more of his trademark secrets in a fashion that only he could. His half truths and secrets are my favorites to try and figure out, even if they were a little easy to figure out this time. :)

I think the weak point in the story is that the villains are pretty clear right from the beginning. Some are purposely revealed, but another isn't disguised very well, making the rest of the book one long wait for Sage to catch up. There was also a part during the story where events unfolded in a way that went against what we know of the characters involved. I can't explain any more of that without giving anything away.

Even with those things, it is still an exciting addition to the Ascendance Trilogy. I enjoyed going along with Sage as he struggled and made hard decisions. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like interesting MCs, have a good sense of humor, and have a nose for danger.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the arrows to reveal the text.
>>Some violence (your average pirate and assassination attempt stuff).<<

For those who have read the book:

*SPOILER WARNING*

>> What did you think about the ending? What do you think will happen next?

Me: I really liked that Jaron doesn't end up with the girl he wants; not because I'm cold-hearted, but because I love how mature they all were about it. They each chose country over themselves, and I really respect that. Even though the last page shows that this will probably change when he goes to rescue Imogen, I still think it was very well done. 

Your thoughts? <<

My Review of The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1)

---

Purchase The Runaway King:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

Jennifer Nielsen:

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook  /  Blog

Beautiful Creatures | Movie Review

Beautiful Creatures  PG-13

Released: 14 February 2013

Directed by: Richard LaGravenese

Screenplay by: Richard LaGravenese

Starring: Alice Englert, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson

Based on: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

When newcomer Lena Duchannes arrives in the small town of Gatlin, she quickly captures the attention of Ethan Wate, who only wants to escape what he views as a boring and dead-end town. He quickly gets more than he bargained for, as Lena possesses strange powers that have long kept her at a distance from others in her life. Lena and Ethan are drawn together, but their budding romance is threatened by the dangers posed by Lena's being a Caster and her family's Dark powers, for upon her sixteenth birthday Lena must undergo the Claiming, a process that will decide her fate forever: Light or Dark. (synopsis link)

I had the opportunity to attend a press screening of Beautiful Creatures last week, thanks to the amazing Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings (you can see her preparations for, and experience at, the movie). I meant to re-read the book before I watched it, but I didn't end up getting to it before it was time. So here's my full disclosure that I read Beautiful Creatures exactly three years ago, and am fuzzy on the finer details of the book's story.

When the movie began, I had to laugh at Ethan Wate's (played by Alden Ehrenreich) horrible accent. He narrates a bit at the beginning, and his voice not only sounds squeaky, but the accent is noticeably fake. I'm not sure if it got better, or I just got used to it, but I did stop noticing it pretty soon after his narration ended.

I was skeptical at first, but I did enjoy the casting choices all around. I found myself in love with Emma Thompson's performance, as she played a woman possessed by the spirit of an evil caster, easily switching back and forth between the roles of the two characters as needed. I was also amazed at the fact that for once, teenagers are played by actors and actresses who actually pass for teenagers. And boy, did they have me sold on their love story.

The chemistry between Lena Duchannes (played by Alice Engert) and Ethan is strong...and sweet. While there are definitely some cheesy moments, I found it easy to root for them. Their cute, slightly awkward personalities led to interactions that had me smiling, and sometimes laughing. And while I say 'awkward,' it's worth noting that on the scale of awkward cheesiness, which goes from zero to Twilight, Beautiful Creatures falls nowhere near the awkwardly uncomfortable scenes in found in Twilight.

Hey, it had to be said.

Book-to-Movie

This is the part where the movie loses some of its merit. It does manage to capture the characters' personalities from the book very well. It also captures the tone of the book, and gives off a sense of foreboding with just the right amount of humor.

BUT...they changed a lot. More than just little things that only fans would know of. Even without remembering the finer details, there are big plot points that I know they changed, leading me to believe there is no way the sequels can follow the same story line. There's an entire character left out of the movie--a character I have been told plays a pivotal role in the third book (which I have not read yet). And although I really liked the last few minutes of the movie, the ending leading up to that part takes the movie in a very different direction than the book. I'm actually anxious to read the book again so I can remember the exact differences, and see if there is anything else I missed.

In conclusion, I think it's a cute movie that satisfied me with the right amount of humor, darkness, and falling in love. I will definitely watch it again. I'll just keep it very separate from the book in my mind.

Temp. Guide

Watch this if:

...you're a sucker for love stories, and you don't mind if the movie walks a different road than the book.

Content Warning

*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*

Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.

{Minor swearing, kissing, magic, a very short scene with implied voodoo, and murder.}

Beautiful Creatures on  
Goodreads  |  IMDB

Changeling by Philippa Gregory | Book Review

Changeling by Philippa Gregory (Order of Darkness #1)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Paperback (courtesy of Big Honcho Media)
Genre: Historical Fiction, YA
Publication Date: 24 May, 2012

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of this first in a four-book teen series from the #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.

The year is 1453 and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her from claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and driven to accuse her.

Forced to face the greatest fears of the dark ages—witchcraft, werewolves, madness—Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.

“Luca saw her bloodstained hands as the clerk bound them with a rope, and Luca realized that she was a thing of horror, a beautiful thing of horror, the worst thing between heaven and hell: a fallen angel.”

-Luca, Order of Darkness: Changeling by Philippa Gregory

As a big fan of Philippa Gregory, I was so excited when I found out she had written a YA book. I've always admired the way she can bring people from history back to life, and give new meaning and explanations to their actions. She's done no different with this book, although this time, her characters are completely fictional and not based on actual people.

Changeling is a book that really captures the dark hysteria of the 1400's. It's full of superstition and the fear of the unknown, leading problems caused by the conclusions that are drawn because of this lack of scientific understanding. While I wouldn't classify it as historical fantasy, I'd say that it's as close to fantasy as reality can get...while still hinting at a little something yet to come.

The downsides:
It starts off slowly and doesn't pick up until well into the story. I think part of that is because that first part is pretty predictable, leading to a long wait until the characters figure out what the reader already has. It also doesn't deliver on what I assumed to be a promise of the paranormal. I adore pure historical fiction, so it wasn't something that detracted from my reading (in fact, I really like how it was all handled), but I think it's good to know not to read it expecting that.

Those things aside, it's an enjoyable read. Gregory's descriptive writing brings the setting to life, and makes it easy to slide into her characters' personas. I admired the main characters and understood their positions. I also fell in love with two of the side characters, and found myself rooting for them in their troubles.

I eagerly look forward to whatever adventures are yet to come!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like to feel like you're living history as it happens, and you're not spooked easily.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some sexual references, death, and some violence.}

I'm giving away two copies of Changeling! 
Click here to stop by and enter the giveaway.

Other Books in the Series:

Book 2:  Stormbringers

---

Purchase Changeling:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

Philippa Gregory:

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff | Review + Excerpt

Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff (Dusk Gate Chronicles #1)
Publisher: Musefish Independent Press
Format: ebook (courtesy of Heroines With Heart Tours)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, YA
Publication Date: 16 September, 2011

What would you sacrifice to find true love and save a kingdom?

The Best-Selling Kindle series, The Dusk Gate Chronicles, will have you falling in love all over again.

Quinn Robbins has never noticed William Rose at Bristlecone High School – not until the night she almost runs him down in her car. After that, she never stops noticing him. Because William is different than the other boys…

Why does a high school senior always have his nose buried in medical journals? And how does he keep disappearing down by the river every Friday night?

When William starts to show up in her dreams, she is unsure if her curiosity has turned into obsession – or if there is something more mysterious going on.

Unable to rest, Quinn follows William to the river one Friday night…and discovers something startling – something she thought could only exist in a fairytale.

Uh oh, Quinn. 1st Period History will never be the same!

Seeds of Discovery is Book One of the Dusk Gate Chronicles, a new Young Adult series that has been described by readers as “The Chronicles of Narnia meets Cinderella.” Go on an unforgettable journey with characters who will find their way straight into your heart.

I really enjoyed this book. It started out kind of slow, but picked up around the time that Quinn discovered William's secret. From then on, it was just fun. I like that the author chose to take Quinn's story in a different direction than I was expecting. There are definitely some predictable moments, but there were a lot of things that were unpredictable. For instance: the love interest. It's not who you think it is.<--- Edit: I'm an idiot and totally read into the wrong things. Although I really like how it all goes down. :)

Quinn's character is one that I like. I've been having a problem with finding characters annoying lately (hence, my reading slump), but I didn't find hers annoying. She cares for her little brother and sister, and she comes to care for the people in William's world as well.

The one thing that bothered me was that just about every character Quinn met in William's world told her to call them by their first name--including the king and queen. No titles, no formalities. The conversations all went something like this (not a direct quote):
"Nice to meet you, your majesty."
"Oh please, call me Charlotte."
I know I'm being nitpicky, but it really bothered me after the seventh or eighth person had the same exchange upon first meeting Quinn.

Overall, the story is intriguing. William's reason for crossing over into our world is a noble one, and it was cool to see the benefits his world receives because of it. William's family is huge, which creates very interesting happenings. There was one part where the oldest brothers all band together and go in search of a villain...and all I could think was that it reminded me of my own brothers, and was a perfect example of why brothers are the best. :)

I'm really excited to read the next book! There are hints to something big being revealed in one of the next books, so I can't wait to see what it is. If it's what I think it is, I'll be extremely happy.

Edit: Seeds of Discovery is currently FREE for Kindle and Nook! Check it out.

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like medical mysteries, and you're a princess at heart.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some violence.}

     This was it. Quinn took a deep breath as she searched for a rock to tuck her car keys and cell phone under. Finding a smooth, flat piece of granite, she lifted it and propped a small stick underneath, both to keep the weight of the rock off her items and to make the place easier to find again.

     After the incident in the library today, she had decided that she was absolutely done waiting. She was going to follow him this afternoon, and if he went to the bridge again, she was going to follow.

     And that's exactly what had happened. She had watched William climb up the broken steps of the old bridge from a hiding spot behind a boulder on the riverbank, and again he had somehow just disappeared. She had seen him climb the first two steps, and then a pine tree had blocked her view. Now, he wasn't anywhere. Her eyes scanned the entire length of the riverbank and the shallow running water. She was alone.

     Fully feeling the weight of her stupidity, Quinn climbed the four crumbling stone steps, toward the end of the broken-off bridge. This time, she did not hold back or hesitate. She closed her eyes and stepped forward. Expecting only a loss of balance and the resulting short drop into the cold water below, she was surprised when it didn't come. There was solid stone underneath her right foot. Maybe she had missed. When a second attempt with her left foot also failed to produce an icy-cold plunge into the stream, she opened her eyes.

     Quinn gasped. The broken end of the half-missing structure was no longer broken, and it no longer ended. Instead of the disintegrating, broken concrete-and-stone edge, a wide stone walkway arced across the entire river. Cautiously, she put her other foot forward. The stone and mortar that should not have been there held firm. She spun around, ready to run back down the stone steps, but the sight stopped her cold.

     The sun that should have been directly in front of her had moved, and now dipped below the tree ling far to her left, casting strangely long shadows that cut obtrusively across the landscape. Even in the fading light of the irregular dusk, she could see that everything was different. Where the rocky riverbank should have sloped up to the highway, there was now a vast expanse of trees and open fields. Lights from unfamiliar buildings glimmered and sparked to life in the distance.

     Slowly, Quinn let her eyes scan the area around her. The river was no longer a rocky, mountain creek underneath the bridge. Now, a wide expanse of water flowed lazily between the bush-covered banks of either side. Downstream, the river continued uninterrupted to the southwest but seemed to widen significantly just past a break in the tree line. The view upstream was the most shocking. Instead of sloping up into the familiar peaks of the mountains she had seen all her life, a long valley spread out before her, sparsely populated by stands of trees and varieties of grass and wildflowers. In the distance where the horizon began to merge with the night sky, Quinn could just make out the outline of a thick forest.

     "Now you've done it." The sound of the voice below her jolted her like an electric shock. In the same instant that she registered the frowning face of William Rose, Quinn stumbled and fell down the steps at the end of the bridge, right into the bushes.

     "Fabulous," William muttered, bending down toward her to assess the damage.

-Excerpt, Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff

Other Books in the Series:

Book 2: Roots of Insight  /  Book 3: Thorns of Decision  /  Book 4: Blooms of Consequence

---

Purchase Seeds of Discovery:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Breeana Puttroff:

Website  /  Facebook

The Farm by Emily McKay | Book Review

The Farm by Emily McKay (The Farm #1)
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Format: Paperback (courtesy of Berkley Trade)
Genre: Paranormal, Post Apocalyptic, YA
Publication Date: 4 December, 2012

Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...

     I worry about Lily, sluggish as she is. Will she see Carter's truths? Will he tell her? God knows she won't hear them. She's moving too fast to hear anyone's music but her own. She's so set, but I know he could make her settled. I tried to sync their noise into music, but they both pushed back. Too obdurate to be oblong.
     Silly Lily. How can she resist someone who brings gum and sounds like math?

-Mel, The Farm by Emily McKay

This book came out of nowhere!

I had never heard of The Farm, when it appeared on my doorstep one day. To be honest, I wasn't all that interested in yet another story about vampires. Yet I still found myself slipping it into my bag to take to work, in case A Clash of Kings (Game of Thrones book 2) got too heavy for me. It did...and that's how three hours into my shift, I picked up The Farm and couldn't put it back down until I was finished. I was blindsided by this book!

The first thing that caught my attention is the relationship between Lily and Mel. I really liked hearing the story from both of them; their feelings towards each other, and how much they love each other, despite things not being perfect for them. Mel's chapters (which are my favorites) are short, spoken mostly in rhymes and riddles, but have a poetic quality to them that tells so much about how much she knows and understands. Lily's chapters are long and have a gritty reality to them. She fights to protect Mel, but also fights her own budding feelings of resentment for it.

One of the stranger things about the book is that it also tells the story from Carter's point of view, switching from first person in Mel's and Lily's chapters, to third person in Carter's chapters. I can't remember ever encountering that in a book before, but it worked wonderfully for the story. The transitions between chapters are pretty much flawless.

The circumstances the characters are put in are harsh. Even when things are calm, there is tension in the story. You get the feeling that the characters are never really safe--and they really aren't. Though there are definitely times when things seem a bit too contrived, it was for the most part a very twisty ride. It was hard to tell what to expect, or what would happen next. McKay created an original spin on vampires, and allowed them to take over the US (for our "protection"), causing a collapse in society. The book begins more than six months later, giving us a taste of a post-apocalyptic America. The Farm is where we find Mel and Lily, who have been corralled with other teens (again, for their "protection") and given a false sense of safety. Lily being the smart character that she is, has figured this out, and is trying to get her and Mel out of there. *Cue obstacles*

What surprised me the most about the story, were the characters. Even the minor characters are just so well developed and written. My feelings for each character changed as Lily's did--a testament to how fantastic Lily's character is. I really cared about the people in the story, and when bad things happened, I felt bereft. Likewise, I really cared about the romance. It would have been so easy to overdo it. Still, the romance isn't pushed, and it's not the most important theme in the story. But it's definitely there, and it's definitely sweet.

There are some contrivances, part of the ending was easy to guess, and I wasn't entirely satisfied when the book was through (though it was pretty close). But overall, it's a fantastically weaved story.

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like strong characters, and you want a new take on vampires.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Violence, murder, one gory scene using human body parts, a few swear words, (including use of religious names), and an attempted rape.}

If you like this book, you'll probably enjoy the following:

Most like: The Immortal Rules 
Feels Like: Delirium
Parts Similar To: Variant

---

Purchase The Farm:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

Emily McKay:

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron | Book Review

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron (LOVE this title!)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: ARC (courtesy of  Scholastic Press)
Genre: Historical fiction, Gothic, YA
Publication Date: 1 September, 2012

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

She was the clock, a clock that had lost its key, unwinding in the dark.

-The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

I just loved the dark, Gothic, feel of The Dark Unwinding. The sense of atmosphere kept me up reading all night long until I had finished. Cameron describes Stranwyne Keep in rich detail, including fantastically odd and foreboding elements that set the scene for the mysteries of Stranwyne Keep, and Katharine's uncle, to unfold. I found out after reading (because I just had to look the author up), that Cameron found inspiration for the story in real places, people (or person, to be exact), and technology available at the time. Some of the strangest parts of the Keep are actually real! Mind-blowing. I must visit that place sometime in my life.

But back to the review: There are a few things that didn't win me over, mostly the fact that after the advertising I saw, I was expecting more steampunk than I got. There are steampunk elements (automatons), but not enough that I would classify it as such. It was also disheartening to find that the outcome of the story is pretty simple to guess. But in the end, I don't think that detracts too much from the eerie goodness that exists between the pages. There is definitely a mystery as to what is going on, and because the reader is only given the same knowledge as Katharine, there were many moments where I was pretty spooked.

Cameron's storytelling is so enthralling, I literally didn't stop reading. Katharine is a heroine you can respect, and the other characters earn your trust or dislike in such interesting ways. The love story is utterly romantic, and had me sigh-smiling in the goofiest way. I can confidently say that I haven't read their story in any other book. Buko bonus points! Although what got me the most, is how much these characters care about their community. The book tackles social stigmas and economic problems worthy of any Austen or Bronte story, in a way that endeared me to the cause (uh, even though we're way past social classes). The characters and their determination pretty much solidified the story as a favorite for me.

This book has Gothic novel written all over it. Someone within has dark intentions, and the story unwinds (pun intended) in the best way. Definitely one to pick up! Don't expect steampunk, but DO expect a well-written, dark, Victorian-era tale.

Now, please tell me there's a sequel!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like historical fiction, and you're in the mood for something reminiscent of the Bronte sisters' works.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Death and attempted murder. Everything else is scary/thrilling/happy.}

Similar Books:

Jane Eyre | The Woman in White

---

Purchase The Dark Unwinding:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

Sharon Cameron:

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook  /  Blog

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout | Book Review

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #2)
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: eBook
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publication Date: 14 August, 2012

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Surprised by this review? I am, too. After posting this book as my Desperately Wanting pick yesterday, I got to wondering how in the world it had taken me so long to just buy the darn thing. So I did. And then I picked it up just to read the first chapter...and didn't put it down until I finished. That's two knockout books in a row, Armentrout! I like where this relationship is going. On to the review:

There is so much more alien goodness in this book than in the first one. I don't think there was a lack of it in the first book, but until you've read this one, you just don't know what you've been missing. There is a wealth of goodness, including more on their powers, their back-stories, a few weaknesses, and even how the government deals with them. We see more of their interaction, and get to witness the effect they have on humans. It's all really cool.

So what did I love the most in the book? Freaking Daemon Black. He's the jerk I just love to (sometimes) hate. And in this story, we get to see a softer side to him; one that I am sure he's never let out before. The way he treats Katy when he finally lets it out is just so sweet. But his playfully dirty humor is never far behind, and that's what makes him Daemon. You just have to accept and (gladly) embrace him it.

What I didn't like about the first book, was that Katy seemed to have a problem saying "no," especially to Daemon. That's an issue I had with this book as well, although now it's another character who she has an extreme inability to say "no" to. It was especially annoying because this led to unnecessary tension between her and other characters...and ultimately caused some bad circumstances. This is really my one and only complaint about the story, although it was something that happened frequently, making it especially noteworthy.

*Spoiler Alert* >>Yes these things had to happen to move the story forward, but it's very annoying to have a character tell you--the reader--multiple times, that she keeps getting a bad juju feeling from a certain character, yet she still forgives him, and she still gets in the car with him every. single. time. I mean, seriously, if you didn't know who to trust, and you were getting lots of bad signals from someone, you play on the side of caution. You never give them the upper hand! And this wasn't the only character who gave her all the bad signals, and still duped her in the end because she didn't follow through on her hunches. Come on, Katy! You're smarter than that! Fool me once...fool me twice, and all that jazz....<< *End Spoiler Alert* End rant.

And yet, I don't know what it is about her--maybe her random witty remarks, or her ability to hold her own around a bunch of aliens, or maybe it's just that she's a book blogger--but despite her inability to say "no" at crucial times, I still like the girl. I'm still invested in her character...as well as a certain other, more manly, character. ;)

I was worried that I wouldn't like the story after loving the first one so much, but I really did. This is a new and intriguing story with a definite conclusion to one conflict, while leaving room for another book to finish the entire story arc. It is NOT just a bridge between stories. And while I was able guess most of the plot points within the first 1/3 of the book, I still couldn't put the book down.

So what made it all work for me? The delivery. Excellent and enticing. It was as realistic as if it had all really happened. And who knows? Maybe it has. Dun dun dun!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...if you want to read the unofficial book version of Katy Perry's E.T. (no, seriously), and you you're looking for a different kind of paranormal romance.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Lots of sexual tension, a few make out sessions that lead to steamy situations (no sex, though), few quick conversations about sex (no details), swearing, including use of religious names as swear words, violence, including death and murder.}

HOT Deal!

Uh, whoa, Onyx is on sale for only $4.57 for both the Kindle and the Nook! 

Links are below. Get it while it's hot!

(I'm an Amazon & Book Depository affiliate, and am only posting this deal because it's the price I purchased my copy at. Also, because I want you to read this book! Deets my affiliate status, here.)

My review(s) of other books in the Series:

Book 1: Obsidian

---

Purchase Onyx:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

Jennifer L. Armentrout:

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook  /  Blog

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas | Book Review

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #1)
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Format: eGalley (courtesy of Netgalley)
Genre: High Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: 7 August, 2012

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

I was sick when I read this book, but I found myself so enthralled, that I hardly even noticed. I spent the day in bed, captivated by the world Sarah J. Maas has created. It's a world marred by a tragedy that happened when Calaena, the MC, was just a little girl. And the person who was responsible for it is the person Calaena must now fight to protect. It's an extremely enticing story.

Calaena is a fantastic character. She is strong, cunning, observant, a little flirtatious, and wicked deadly. I loved seeing how she took in her environment around her; the way she dealt with those who annoyed her, and those who intrigued her. She is "the kingdom's deadliest assassin," but underneath that, she is just a girl who gets annoyed, bored, or even flattered by a request to dance--just like the rest of us.

While love triangles usually annoy me, I was actually really into the one in this story. :) After seeing the good and bad sides of each guy, I could see why Calaena would like them both. Her time spent with each of them was important to the plot, and made the story more interesting. I'm still not sure which one I think she should be with. Not that it matters, since I'm not calling the shots...but I really like it when I'm right.

I'm wishing I typed this review up earlier, because I had two specific things I didn't quite like about the story...but can now only remember the details of one of them. Basically, I felt that the ending didn't hold all that the story was building up to. While it was an exciting ending, and I had no idea it would happen in the way that it did, I felt like the story was building up to Calaena doing more (I can't go into details without spoiling), as well as a big reveal of some information about Calaena, that I really thought was coming. The second part is my fault for reading too far into things (I'm still holding out for the big reveal in the second book), but the first part was a big letdown.

With that said, I still feel like this is a fantastic adventure. It's got great characters, and a good amount of fighting/training (some of my favorite scenes). If you are wanting to get into high-fantasy, this is the book to begin with. If you already like this genre, then this is definitely a book you don't want to miss!

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like strong female characters, a good love triangle, and life or death situations.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Violence typical to high-fantasy, including fighting and murders.}

This is the UK/Australia/NZ trailer, but I think it captures the tone of the story really well:

Similar Books:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson   |   The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson

---

Purchase Throne of Glass

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

Sarah J. Maas:

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook  /  Blog

The Carny by Brooke Moss | Book Tour Review

The Carny by Brooke Moss
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Format: eGalley (courtesy of Enchanted Book Promotions)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult
Publication Date: 7 July, 2012

At a town fair on the coast of Oregon, handsome Native American carny, Vincent Youngblood, bestows an unforgettable kiss on shy, awkward teenager, Charlotte Davenport. Then he disappears without another word, leaving her baffled and enamored.

Ten years later, Charlotte is still living in the small fishing town of Astoria, while being trained to--reluctantly--take over for her philandering hotelier father when he retires. After all, who else will do it? Her two perfect sisters are busy being married to their flawless husbands and having cookie cutter children, while Charlotte remains single, childless, and every bit as mousy as she was a decade ago.

As Charlotte struggles to climb out from underneath her judgmental parents thumb, the carnival rolls back into town, and Charlotte finds herself face to face with Vin again. He's back to run his father's carnival, walking away from a promising career in medicine he started in Chicago. Will her biased and judgmental family accept her relationship with a man who is not only a Native American, but works as a carny for a living? And what unsavory secrets bind the well-educated and seemingly superlative Vin to that ramshackle carnival? After all, you can’t judge a carny by its cover.

If you were looking for a romantic book that will have you sighing, then you've come to the right place. I began this book expecting a run-of-the-mill love story, but what I got is a terribly sweet romance with surprising depth, that had me saying "awww," over and over again. I love the connection and communication that goes on between Charlotte and Vin. I love that when there was a misunderstanding, these two characters were able to talk things out, and understand each other. And that ending! *faints* Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself.

One of the points in the book is about racism--specifically the hypocritical aspect of claiming not to be a racist, while actually being racist. While I like that the book approached this topic, I can't help but feel like it some of it was over the top. I thought the references to hypocritical racism were funny in the beginning, because I've encountered similar situations and conversations before...but they kept happening, and a few of the comments made by Charlotte in an attempt to dissuade racism, came across as unnecessarily long, and awkwardly worded, lectures about race equality.

With that said, I not only love the issues that are presented in the book, but I also love how they are dealt with. Charlotte's family is pretty dysfunctional, and that means there is a lot of family drama--most of which gets heaped on Charlotte's shoulders, as she is the last child to leave the nest. She's a sensible girl in a stressful situation, and all she needs to set herself down the path of her dreams, is a little nudge.
*Enter tall, dark, and handsome.*
*Cue swooning.* 


Brooke Moss used tried-and-true story lines, but gave them the perfect original twists. Charlotte and Vin are such a great pair, and together (or apart) they both learn more about themselves, and how to deal with their situations in life. I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a romantic story.


Side note: Sometimes I get stuck in a YA rut, where I basically only read YA for years at a time...and then a book like this comes along, and reminds me of the perks of being an adult, and of reading about adults. Thanks, Brooke Moss! ;)

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like love stories, you have a thing for the carnival life, and you don't mind a good heaping of family drama.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some swearing, racial slurs (which are addressed each time they occur), hot HOT make-out scenes, and a few instances of implied sex.}

---

Purchase The Carny:

Publisher  /  Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

Brooke Moss:

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook  /  Blog

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo | Book Review

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (The Grisha Trilogy #1)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: 5 June, 2012

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

The first time I'd entered the Fold, I'd feared the darkness and my own death. Now, darkness was nothing to me, and I knew that soon death would seem like a gift. I'd always known I would have to return to the Unsea, but as I looked back, I realized that some part of me had anticipated it.

-Alina, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone is such an entertaining read, full of adventure and a little bit of mystery. I loved Leigh Bardugo's writing. The book isn't chock full of beautiful passages--although the writing is still wonderful--but when they appear, they are perfect. I especially enjoyed the preface and epilogue, where the words read as if being told an old tale by a storyteller.

Alina isn't your everyday heroine; she has her faults, and she makes the wrong choices. But no matter what she is always trying to do the right thing, and just wants the best for herself and those she cares about. I really like the love story that comes from this--for once, there is a love triangle that makes sense! People aren't truly as they present themselves to be, and the ones who should be together (according to me), are the ones who come together. (No spoilers there; you'll be surprised!)

One thing I would have liked to see in the story was more world building; I wanted more detail about the Grisha, the people living in the land, and exactly how the Darkling came to power. These are things that I expect will be covered in the next books though, so I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt. There are still things that I wish were explained, though: I wanted more detail about the training Alina receives, and the dreams she has. I think that would have gone a long way towards making her abilities more believable.

In the end, this is definitely a story you'll remember. It's an old story made new by new terrain, interesting relationships (Alina and Mal's friendship is pretty awesome), and magic. :)

Temp. Guide

Read this if:
...you like adventures, love stories, and magic.

Content Warning
*This section may contain some spoilers about content!*
Highlight between the brackets to reveal the text.
{Some violence (fighting, murder), and a few make-out scenes.}

This was his soul made flesh, the truth of him laid bare in the blazing sun, shorn of mystery and shadow. This was the truth behind the handsome face and the miraculous powers, the truth that was the dead and empty space between the stars, a wasteland peopled by frightened monsters.

-Alina, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

---

Purchase Shadow and Bone:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

Leigh Bardugo

Website  /  Twitter  /  Blog