REVIEW: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Genre: Young Adult, YA Dystopian, YA Paranormal Romance, YA Science Fiction

Pages: 338 pages (hardcover)

Publication: November 2011

(Harper/HarperCollins)

Goodreads Summary: Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

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Review: X-men is one of my favorite comic series of all time. So, when I read that Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi was a dystopian twist of the X-Men mixed with The Hunger Games, I was sold. In my mind it didn’t live up to these claims, but it was still a great start to a new series.

Juliette hasn’t touched another person in 264 days. The last time she did, she accidently killed a person. Locked up for her crimes, Juliette seeks companionship within her own mind. Then suddenly she finds herself with a cellmate. The cellmate is Adam, a boy from her past. Adam is a test, the Reestablishment wants to see if Juliette is crazy or if she can be used as weapon to further their agenda. Juliette has a decision to make: will she join the Reestablishment, or will she use her power for good?

I just want to get this out of the way to start: Shatter Me was not reminiscent of the Hunger Games at all. It was hardly a dystopian novel. It had dystopian elements, but the main focus was on Juliette and her touch, not on the society and what they have become. There were hints of a dystopian society, but not a lot of focus. I feel that as the series progresses we will get more dystopian, but for now this is defiantly a science fiction novel.

With my genre rant out of the way, let me say that I loved the how this book was written. I found Tahereh’s style of writing amazing. She writes flowing prose that brings the story to life. I loved that we had Juliette’s inner thoughts and then crossed over to she what she really said. It added an extra element to the story. I felt that we got to see Juliette’s inner workings.

I found this book to be very promising. The characters were well developed, and I felt that Tahereh really nailed the people in the book. The story left me wanting more. At the ending of this book I immediately wanted the next book and was completely bummed with the realization that I would have to wait. Overall, I was very impressed by this fantastic debut.

Rating: 4 stars

Teaser Tuesday (56)

I’m very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Pick out two (2) "teaser" sentences that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title & author so others can add it to their TBR list

And here is my teaser:




Donna couldn't remember seeing her father fall, but she'd seen him afterwards--she was almost certain of it. There was an image that appeared in some of her dreams, a picture of Patrick Underwood lying in the Ironwood, as still and cold as the moon's reflection on the river.

p. 162 (ARC) of The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Please leave a comment letting me know what you think! Also, tell me your teasers... post them or link to your blog.

BOOK NEWS: Lover Reborn preview ~ Spoilers

*assumes properly decorous blogger demeanor*

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Saturday for some BOOK NEWS!!

This post does contain SPOILERS.


I'm sure the entire planet heard my squeeeing earlier this afternoon. Those of you who follow my personal twitter account know that it was related to my #BookJunkie ways. *bounces in seat, causing great difficulty with typing this post*

It is Black Dagger Brotherhood series related. Specifically... *quivers with excitement, breathes in paper bag to prevent hyperventilating* Lover Reborn news!!!

*pauses to allow for follower squeeing*

I learned that the first four chapters of Lover Reborn are available on Shelfari.com!!!

*listens to thuds from around the world as followers faint from excitement*

Follow THIS link to the Shelfari.com page and click on the 'read first chapter free' button under the book cover image to read the available chapters.

*lowers paper bag*

I've been VERY vocal in my displeasure with Tohr getting a book so soon. *completely ignores the fact that it has been six books and six years since the events in Lover Awakened* I personally don't know that I'm ready for Tohr's story, or to see him with anyone other than Wellsie. But, #BookJunkie and #BDBAddict that I am I read the dang chapters as soon as I learned about them. *clears throat, makes shifty eyes, mumbles* Twice. And I have to say, if the rest of the book continues the tone set by these chapters, then I have hope that Tohrment will get the book he deserves.

WARNING: Read these chapters at your own risk! Doing so will only exacerbate your desire to have Lover Reborn in your hands RIGHT NOW! #TrueFact

That's all I got, BtCers. I hope any who read it enjoy the preview... and all the new questions it will raise! *laughs*

Leave a comment telling me what you think of the glimpse we get into Lover Reborn, and what you're most excited, worried, curious or downright ticked about.

~ Louise

REVIEW: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Genre: Young Adult, YA Paranormal Romance

Pages: 452 pages (hardcover)

Publication: September 2011

(Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing)

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen-year-old Mara cannot remember the accident that took the lives of three of her friends but, after moving from Rhode Island to Florida, finding love with Noah, and more deaths, she realizes uncovering something buried in her memory might save her family and her future.

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Review: If you lost the memory of the most tragic event of your life, would you want to remember or would you want to leave it forgotten? What if it haunted your life, consumed your every waking moment? For Mara Dyer remembering is all that she wants, because if she can remember the night that haunts her then maybe she can live a normal life again.

Mara Dyer was a typical girl: she liked hanging out with her friends, living her life and going to school. She was normal until she woke up in the hospital with no recollection of the accident she had been in, no memory of her friends deaths, and unable to recall the events leading up to accident. Mara wants to start over, so her family uproots itself and moves to Florida in hopes that it will help Mara get past everything.

But starting over isn’t always easy. Mara is haunted by the tragedy of her friends death, by strange accidents that happen around her, and her attraction to a boy who isn’t exactly what he seems. Mara hopes that her memories will help piece everything together and not just prove that she truly is crazy.

I actually had no expectations with The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I had heard all the buzz about it, but never any solid info about the plot. I ended up devouring the book, I just couldn’t put it down. I loved the subtle paranormal aspect, as well as the mystery within the novel. Mara was a very well developed character. I felt that she was an actual person and really felt for her with her emotional struggles. I had a little problem with the secondary characters, mainly Mara’s family. They were a little flat and they gave in to Mara a little to easily when she wanted to move. The romance aspect was very well done. It was easy and not too over the top like some young adult novels.

This was a very well written debut. I think that the author, Michelle Hodkin, has a very promising career and after reading this first book I think that people will be picking up whatever she publishes next. I know I will.

Rating: 4 stars

REVIEW: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Genre: Young Adult, YA Dystopian, YA Fantasy

Pages: 390 pages (hardcover)

Publication: August 2011

(Aladdin)

Goodreads Summary: Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.

But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

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Review: I picked up The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann because of the cover tag line which said it was for fans of The Hunger Games and Harry Potter. Being a huge fan of both series, I had to see if it was able to fulfill that bold statement. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, as I could not put the book down. I was hooked, pulled into this dystopian magical world.

The story centers on Alex, a thirteen-year-old boy. He and his twin brother, Aaron, are citizens of Quill, a colorless, creative void of a town. At the age of thirteen children are sorted into their roles in the society. Alex is deemed an Unwanted, and Unwanteds are purged from society, sent to their deaths. Alex learns that for years the Unwanteds have been saved and taken to a magical creative land called Artime. Artime is led by Mr. Today, and he is training the Unwanteds in creative magical art defense so that if the people of Quill ever discover that the Unwanteds are still alive the Unwanteds can defend themselves. Alex misses his brother and is sure that them being twins means that Aaron must also be a Unwanted. Hellbent on bringing Aaron to Artime, Alex starts a chain of events that will likely change Artime and Quill forever.

I am happy to say that there are elements of both Harry Potter and the Hunger Games in this book. There is a magical world that Alex is part of, but had no idea existed, just like Harry and there is a sorting that puts children to there death that is semi reminiscent of the reaping in the Hunger Games, but that is where the similarities stop. The Unwanteds stands on its own with a unique storyline, and the author created an interesting new world, a magical world influenced by creative arts. Music can stun and paintings can kill in the land of Artime, and Lisa weaves a tale that brings these things visually to life.

The only problem I had with this book was the simplicity of it, and I can look past that because this book was aimed at the upper middle grade market. I will say that despite the simplicity of it, older youth and adults alike will enjoy this fantasy tale. Overall, I was totally smitten with this book, and I am looking forward to subsequent titles to come in this new series.

Rating: 4 stars

Teaser Tuesday (55)

We're very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate you:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

And here is this week's teaser:



"You've been with us for three weeks- this is your tenth dead child. It's my nine hundred eighty-second."

She paused, her silence dragging on longer than Kira expected.

"You've just got to learn to move on."



Location 53 or 1% (eGalley) of Partials by Dan Wells
Please leave a comment letting us know what you think! Also, tell us your teasers... post them or link to your blog.

Week in Review (7)

Life is crazy. People get busy. And you don't always have time to swing by your favorite blog *coughs* Between the Covers *coughs* even though you desperately want to. So, every Saturday (or most Saturdays) I will post a recap of the week's posts... just in case you managed to miss something despite the spamming I do retweeting the links on Twitter. *SNORT*

This week on BtC...
GUEST POST: Character Love Letters ~ Zsadist

REVIEW: Dreaming of Beauty by Kristen White

REVIEW: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

So there you have it... your one stop shop for this weeks posts!

REVIEW: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green

Genre: Young Adult, YA Contemporary, YA Romance

Pages: 318 pages (hardcover)

Publication: January 2012

(Dutton Juvenile)

Goodreads Summary: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

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Review: Reviewing a book that is basically on every blogger’s TBR pile can be a bit intimidating. Especially when it’s a John Green book. I have read most of John’s books and to be truthful the main reason I pre-ordered The Fault in Our Stars (TFiOS) was that every pre-order would be a signed edition. I have to say that while I was not fully a Nerd Fighter (the pop culture name John Green fans are known by) before reading TFiOS, you can rest assured that after having read it, I am convinced of the awesomeness that is John Green.

Hazel has Stage IV thyroid cancer which she has been living with, and preparing to die from, since the age of 12. However, at the age of 14 the tumors had miraculously shrunk, extending her life. Now 16-years-old, Hazel considers herself a grenade: she sees her life as a ticking bomb which will eventually detonate and hurt the ones she loves. Hazel is distant and depressed, so her mother forces her to attend a cancer support group for teens. That is where Hazel meets Augustus. Gus is a handsome and confident cancer survivor who lost one of his legs to his battle with the disease. Hazel and Gus instantly connect, but Hazel struggles to let herself get close.

So, this novel is going to be a little harder to review than most. I do not want to give anything away for those of you have not read it yet. (By the way, what are you waiting for?!?) John is known for is amazing contemporary writing style and TFiOS is no exception. TFiOS takes the subject of cancer and shows the plethora of emotions inside a person living with it - emotions which range from funny, to sad, to angry. He takes a hard hitting subject and softens it a bit with a quirkiness that is amazing.

The characters in TFiOS were absolutely fantastically written. Hazel is nothing like your typical female protagonist: she is smart, witty and down to earth. She was a breath of fresh air. I have never connected or understood a female character better than Hazel; I wanted to know her in real life. The supporting characters were also amazing, and her mother was perfectly written. I felt like he nailed the mother of a child with stage IV cancer dead on: the doting mom who is kind of suffocating, but has these layers that you don’t fully see because she isn’t ready to show you.

The relationship aspect of this book was spot on for me, as well. I loved that Hazel wasn’t instantly madly in love with Gus. It was a slow process of growing feelings. I get annoyed when a person looks at a love interest and instantly has this undying love and longing. This felt real, I could see the inner cogs turn inside her head and watched her come to the realization that there was something more.

TFiOS is a fantastic book; it may even be a contender in my favorites of 2012. I laughed, I cried (oh yes, this book will tug on your heart strings more than once). It had some twists that I didn’t see coming right away. John defiantly strayed from what I originally envisioned from the first chapters, but most importantly it was balanced. The heaviness and the quirkiness were in check and made this book awesome. If you have yet to pick up this amazing book, go do it. Seriously what are you waiting for?!? You will not regret it.

Rating: 5 stars

REVIEW: Dreaming of Beauty by Kristen White

Dreaming of Beauty by Kristen White

Genre: Young Adult, YA Fantasy

Pages: (ebook)

Publication: August 2011

Goodreads Summary: A three hundred year old curse, a timeless legend, a love strong enough to last forever...

Fifteen year old Chloe Duncan finally has her Prince Charming and her life could not be more perfect. But after she meets a mysterious new boy, Logan Salinger, on the first day of school and is attacked by a woman's hand that suddenly appears from the supply cabinet in art class, her story-book romance quickly unravels. Certain that the incident in her art class and the other bizarre things that have happened to her are due to an undiagnosed brain tumor, Chloe struggles with school and her relationships. Over the holiday break, during a much needed vacation, she travels to France with her family and it is there, at Manoir de Kergrec'h, the enchanting castle by the sea, that she learns about Camille Deveraux who lived at the manor over three hundred years ago. But things are stranger in France then they were back home, and Chloe soon discovers that she was Camille Deveraux, the real Sleeping Beauty. Now she knows the reason for her strange connection to Logan and she hopes that their love can finally break the curse that has plagued her for over three hundred years.

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Review: I usually enjoy modern day versions of fairy tales. I love to see something classic and everlasting be retold or imagined in new and inventive ways. Unfortunately, Dreaming of Beauty by Kristen White fell flat and disappointed me.

Chloe is 15 and has the seemingly perfect life. She is a good daughter who hardly gets into any trouble, has a great group of friends, and has the perfect prince charming in her boyfriend, Evan. All of that is thought to be true until Logan, the new boy in school, enters Chloe’s life. And then everything she thought she knew is shattered. Chloe starts to get agonizing headaches, sees red spots in her vision, and hears piercing sounds whenever she is around Logan. Her emotions are getting out of check and she can’t decide if she wants her perfect boyfriend, Evan, or the dark, mysterious semi-stalker, Logan. All she can hope is that she can find her happily ever after.

I really wanted to like this book, I truly did. But I found myself just wishing it would end. Despite that, there were things that I did like about Dreaming of Beauty. I like the idea behind this story. Kristen White takes the well known tale of Sleeping Beauty and attempts to give it an alternate ending, allowing her to weave her tale and have it make sense in her timeline. Although she did not execute it smoothly, the idea behind the story was very intriguing and ultimately it is what kept me reading, even when I wanted to abandon the story.

However, there were more things that I disliked about the book. To start with, the pacing was problematic; the book never felt like it found its footing. The story felt rushed, and under worked. I never lost myself in the story because I continually had to stop and think just to figure out what was going on. Also, the book was split into three parts, and while normally I do not mind this, with Dream of Beauty each part felt like it was a brand new story and we were starting all over again. Everything felt off, and the main part of the story felt convoluted and rushed, with only a dream sequence to make the story come together.

My next major disappointment were the characters; they never developed and were one dimensional. I like to feel for the characters when I read a book; I want to be able to visualize them, and feel like they could be alive and breathing. With Chloe and her two love interests, I never felt for them. I got glimpses of their development, but I think with the pacing and organization of the book, it never happened. Throughout the whole book they never felt like anything other than people written on the page.

Ultimately, Dreaming of Beauty did not work for me. I had to force myself to finish. But I am a firm believer that even though I did not enjoy this book, that does not mean that someone else may not love it. That’s the joy of reading.

Rating: 2 stars

GUEST POST: Character Love Letters ~ Zsadist

Hey, BtCers... I'm over at Vampire Book Club today celebrating Valentine's Day with my love letter to Zsadist as part of the Character Love Letters feature!!

Come check out my post and learn why I fell in love with Zsadist.

While over at Vampire Book Club, be sure to check out the other posts in the Character Love Letters feature:

Love letter to Zane (Jill Myles’ Succubus Diaries)
by Jen (@Twimom227) at That's What I'm Talking About... with Twimom227

Love letter to Rehvenge (J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood) by Kelly (@soulswallo) at Reading the Paranormal

Love letter to Bran (Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega) by Mandi (@smexybooks) at Smexy Books

Xan’s love letter to Donna (Karen Mahoney's Iron Witch series) by Karen Mahoney (@kazmahoney)

Love letter to Vishous (J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood) by Synde (@psynde) at Tombstone Trails

Love letter to Barrons (Karen Marie Moning's Fever series) by Bells (@Bellie7) at Hanging With Bells

Giveaway: Write your own Character Love Letter

Please be sure to leave a comment over at Vampire Book Club... and here, too... letting me know what you think about my surely soon to no longer be unrequited love of Zsadist!

Week in Review (6)

Life is crazy. People get busy. And you don't always have time to swing by your favorite blog *coughs* Between the Covers *coughs* even though you desperately want to. So, every Saturday (or most Saturdays) I will post a recap of the week's posts... just in case you managed to miss something despite the spamming I do retweeting the links on Twitter. *SNORT*

This week on BtC...
Teaser Tuesday (54)

REVIEW: Working Stiff by Rachel Caine

REVIEW: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Limelight Reviews (10)

So there you have it... your one stop shop for this weeks posts!

Limelight Reviews (10)

Welcome book bloggers, to the newly renovated Limelight Reviews meme! Limelight Reviews was created by Kyla at Kyla Novelista in response to a shared desire to garner meaningful comments on the reviews we spend hours sweating over, getting just right. And then...

*CRICKETS*

Enter the Limelight Review meme.

*cue wild follower applause for this brilliant and even more brilliant idea*

The meme will go live every Friday. That gives you all an entire week... SEVEN (7) WHOLE DAYS... to pop over to three (3) blogs, read their reviews and leave your MEANINGFUL, WELL THOUGHT OUT comments. Bloggers please be aware that not everyone has read the book you reviewed. If your review contains spoilers, please tell us!

HOW DO YOU PLAY?

* You are not required to follow anyone -- including me, however, if you like the content of another blog, this is a great way to build meaningful connections.

* You will use the Mr. Linky at the bottom of each week's post to enter your review information and link.

* Please only enter one (1) review per week. I realize some of you post multiple reviews per week (or day), but for this meme, we are limiting each blog to one (1) entry per week.

* You need to post the link for the actual review not just your blog address, so people don't have to search for the review.

* Visit the SPOTLIGHTED REVIEW and two (2) other reviews from the list below and leave meaningful comments... the types of comments you want left on your blog... on each of the three (3) reviews.

* You MUST comment on the SPOTLIGHTED REVIEW and two (2) other reviews from the list below and leave meaningful comments on each of the three (3) reviews.

* You do NOT need to hop back to blogs that comment on your review; however, you may if you desire.

Please fill out the form in THIS POST if you'd like to submit a review to be featured in Limelight Reviews.

Okay... now that you know Da Rulz and how to participate...

This week's featured review is from Bea at Bea's Book Nook.

Lovesick by Spencer Seidel
Goodreads info:
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
376 pages (paperback)
Publication: June 2012
(PublishingWorks, Inc.)

Now for your reviews... To help us all gravitate towards book reviews that we'd find interesting, please post THIS information in the YOUR NAME field of Linky below in the following format:

Book title, author (genre) -- Your name

Example: Lola and the Boy Next Door, Stephanie Perkins (YA, YA Contemporary Romance) -- Chris @ Between the Covers

Then post the link to your REVIEW in the YOUR URL field of the Linky.

Example: http://www.betweenthecoversblog.net/2011/11/review-lola-and-boy-next-door-by_08.html



That's it! Now... go make meaningful, tear jerking, awe inspiring comments on your fellow bloggers reviews!

Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to let me know if you have any suggestions for how we can make LLR better!

REVIEW: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky
by Veronica Rossi

Genre: Young Adult, YA Dystopia, YA Science Fiction

Pages: 374 (hardcover)

Publication: January 2012

(Harper Collins)

via NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

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Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi was one of the 2012 debuts that I was really excited for, and when I was given the chance to read it from NetGalley, I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately for me, it sort of fell flat and I had to force myself to push through and finish the book, but by the end I could see some promise in the rest of the series.

Aria is a Dweller, she was born and raised in the Pods. A child of the Realms, an artificial world, she agrees to disconnect from the Realms with her friends in hopes that she may gain information about her mother. Unfortunately, there is a accident and the results leave Aria kicked out of the Pods and flung head first into the outside world known as the Death Shop. Aria encounters Perry, a savage from the outside who has reason to blame his recent misfortunes on Aria, and he agrees to aid her in finding out about her mother if she helps him with his nephew. Aria and Perry work together and eventually find that things are not as either of them initially imagined.

As I said, I had a really hard time with this book. I just could not get into the story. I was so excited by the premise, but by chapter five I could not fathom what was going on and the story seemed to drag and drag. I would read a few pages and find myself wanting to abandon the book altogether. The first three quarters of the book were torture for me. There was no set up; we jumped right into a world with characters that were flat and annoying. The narrators kept switching back and forth between chapters, but it felt forced and unidentifiable. I just wanted a set up, to know why was the world the way it was, but nothing was ever revealed, instead we were given just passing talk and hints. Then suddenly there was a flicker, like a switch had been flipped in the writer’s mind, and the story from the book blurb started to take form.

The last quarter or so of this book was like someone entirely different had written it, and it was good. The characters were alive and vivid, there was progress in the story and it was getting interesting. The story felt like it was finally amounting to something that I would enjoy reading more about. The switch between Aria and Perry was natural, like we were seeing two sides of the same story. This was what I had been eagerly awaiting. I felt that the author had finally found her stride, and it made me glad that I stuck with the story. If it hadn’t been for the last part of the book I would have given this book a one or two star rating, but because of the dramatic turnaround and the way it redeemed itself, I gave it a higher rating. And if time allows I will be picking up the next book to see if the story continues to progress as well as the ending implied.

Rating: 3 stars

REVIEW: Working Stiff by Rachel Caine

Working Stiff by Rachel Caine

Genre: Adult Fiction, Horror, Urban Fantasy

Pages: 306 (paperback)

Publication: August 2011

Goodreads Summary: Bryn Davis knows working at Fairview Mortuary isn't the most glamorous career choice, but at least it offers stable employment--until she discovers her bosses using a drug that resurrects the clientele as part of an extortion racket. Now, Bryn faces being terminated--literally, and with extreme prejudice.

Wit the help of corporate double-agent Patrick McCallister, Bryn has a chance to take down the bigger problem--pharmaceutical company Pharmadene, which treats death as the ultimate corporate loyalty program. She'd better do it fast, before she becomes a zombie slave--a real working stiff. She'd be better off dead...

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Review: I love Rachel Caine, she is one of my favorite authors currently. Her Morganville Vampire books are a fresh young adult series, and her Weather Warden series gives new light to the gene / djin lore. When I saw that she had a new series coming out that was tackling and reinventing the zombie genre, I knew I had to read it.

Bryn is an ex-soldier who decides that handling the dead is a job that she could make a living from. Unfortunately, her first week doesn’t really go that well: she has a suicide on her watch; is harassed by Fast Eddy, the morgue’s undertaker; finds out that her boss is peddling drugs; and winds up dead. Luckily for Bryn, she doesn’t stay dead. Bryn doesn’t know why she has been brought back, or even exactly how. With the help of the undercover agent (and possible romantic interest) Patrick McCallister, she plans to find out exactly what’s going on and bring new definition to the term “Working Stiff”.

Ms. Caine has taken zombies and brought them to the modern age. Bryn doesn’t crave flesh and she isn’t a rotting corpse. She is a fully sustained person kept a live by the most ground breaking technology. Being the debut of a new series this book has a fair amount of world building and character development, but it is all done with a finesse that only a seasoned writer could possess. I love the idea behind a medical “corporate zombie,” and Ms.Caine has created a heroine that you can empathize with but who is a hardcore woman, all at the same time.

I am not sure how many books are planned in this new series, or even when the next one is planned to be released, but I am certainly watching and waiting for it. Ms.Caine has a knack for writing fantastic novels and this just adds another series of hers that I will be reading immediately upon there release.

Rating: 4 stars

Teaser Tuesday (54)

I’m very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate you:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

And here is my teaser:



It changed nothing.

Silas's jaw set. "Say you understand, Jessie."

She did. More than he knew. So she twisted, just enough, and the blanket unwound, pooled to the floor in a stream of color. Naked, trapped by his grip on her wrists, she stepped into him. Naked skin to half-naked skin.

p. 168 (paperback) of Blood of the Wicked by Karina Cooper
Please leave a comment letting us know what you think! Also, tell us your teasers... post them or link to your blog.

Limelight Reviews (9)

Welcome book bloggers, to the newly renovated Limelight Reviews meme! Limelight Reviews was created by Kyla at Kyla Novelista in response to a shared desire to garner meaningful comments on the reviews we spend hours sweating over, getting just right. And then...

*CRICKETS*

Enter the Limelight Review meme.

*cue wild follower applause for this brilliant and even more brilliant idea*

The meme will go live every Friday. That gives you all an entire week... SEVEN (7) WHOLE DAYS... to pop over to three (3) blogs, read their reviews and leave your MEANINGFUL, WELL THOUGHT OUT comments. Bloggers please be aware that not everyone has read the book you reviewed. If your review contains spoilers, please tell us!

HOW DO YOU PLAY?

* You are not required to follow anyone -- including me, however, if you like the content of another blog, this is a great way to build meaningful connections.

* You will use the Mr. Linky at the bottom of each week's post to enter your review information and link.

* Please only enter one (1) review per week. I realize some of you post multiple reviews per week (or day), but for this meme, we are limiting each blog to one (1) entry per week.

* You need to post the link for the actual review not just your blog address, so people don't have to search for the review.

* Visit the SPOTLIGHTED REVIEW and two (2) other reviews from the list below and leave meaningful comments... the types of comments you want left on your blog... on each of the three (3) reviews.

* You MUST comment on the SPOTLIGHTED REVIEW and two (2) other reviews from the list below and leave meaningful comments on each of the three (3) reviews.

* You do NOT need to hop back to blogs that comment on your review; however, you may if you desire.

Please fill out the form in THIS POST if you'd like to submit a review to be featured in Limelight Reviews.

Okay... now that you know Da Rulz and how to participate...

This week's featured review is from Vickie at ComaCalm's Corner.

Double by Jenny Valentine
Goodreads info:
Genre: Young Adult, YA Mystery, YA Thriller
256 pages (hardback)
Publication: February 2012
(Hyperion Books for Chldren)

Now for your reviews... To help us all gravitate towards book reviews that we'd find interesting, please post THIS information in the YOUR NAME field of Linky below in the following format:

Book title, author (genre) -- Your name

Example: Lola and the Boy Next Door, Stephanie Perkins (YA, YA Contemporary Romance) -- Chris @ Between the Covers

Then post the link to your REVIEW in the YOUR URL field of the Linky.

Example: http://www.betweenthecoversblog.net/2011/11/review-lola-and-boy-next-door-by_08.html



That's it! Now... go make meaningful, tear jerking, awe inspiring comments on your fellow bloggers reviews!

Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to let me know if you have any suggestions for how we can make LLR better!

REVIEW: Oubliette by Megg Jensen

Oubliette by Megg Jensen

Genre: Young Adult, YA Dystopian, YA Fantasy

Pages: (ebook)

Publication: May 2011


Goodreads Summary: Reychel thought she was finally free. She was wrong. Everyone saw her gift of prophecy as a blessing, but her gift is uncontrollable. No one alive can teach her to manipulate her unique gift and the answers she needs lie buried within a madman’s journals. She’s thrust in the midst of a brewing war and the only uniting factor for her people is their belief in the Prophet.

Will Reychel learn to control her gift or will she be forced to deliver a false prophecy that could lead her people into a violent war?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review: I read Anathema by Megg Jensen a few months ago, and upon finishing I couldn’t wait to get to Oubliette, the second book in the trilogy. Megg had created such a fascinating world in Anathema that I couldn’t wait to read more about it. I bought Oubliette right away, but had to find the time to fit it into my TBR pile. I am sorry I waited so long to get to it because it was just as fantastic as Anathema... and maybe a little more so.

Reychel had put all her faith in the council, believing that she was free. Unfortunately she was wrong. Reychel winds up in the Southern Kingdom alone, pushed threw a portal. She is being used as a pawn and is not sure who she can trust. Everyone is telling her that her gift of prophecy is amazing, but she finds it uncontrollable. She longs to be able to control it, but the only person who could help her is a dead madman who left journals that may be able to guide her. Reychel is rushed to learn to control her gift so that she can live up to being the savior to her people in a war that is brewing amongst them.

It is a rare occurrence that the middle book in a trilogy be just as good as the first. It is even more unusual for it to be even better. Oubliette is one of those rare occurrences. Megg has taken this amazing world she created and given it more depth by taking us to a different region and introducing some brand new characters. I find Megg’s characters fascinating because they are so well developed. Each character is identifiable and feels like a unique, real person. She writes them with an air of mystery and aura of uncertainty about their loyalty, and I cannot seem to get them out of my mind.

I loved that fact that this was a middle book yet it still was building a world that could pull me in from beginning to end. The world is still the same but the location has changed, giving a better grasp on the society and basic fundamentals which were introduced in book one. Oubliette ended with such a cliffhanger that I can not wait to pick up and start the final book in this amazing trilogy.

Rating: 5 stars