Rise by Andrea Cremer

Rise (Nightshade Prequel #2) by Andrea Cremer

Publisher: Philomel
Release Date: January 8th/2013
Pages: 432
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What It's About!

The sequel to Rift and the prequel to the New York Times bestselling novel Nightshade.

Everything Conatus stands for is at risk. Hoping to gather enough resistance to save their order, Ember and Barrow attempt a desperate escape. But fate offers little mercy. When their mission is exposed, the  couple face relentless pursuit by the supernatural horrors that act on the commands of Eira’s ally: the mysterious Bosque Mar. A shocking revelation forces Ember out of hiding, sending her back into the heart of dark magic at Tearmunn keep, where she must convince her old friend Alistair of her love or face dire consequences. Ember’s deception offers the only chance for the resistance to succeed, but what she discovers in the shadows beneath the keep will shatter her world and bring about the Witches’ War.

Richly sensual and full of magic, action and danger, Andrea Cremer's fifth book set in the Nightshade world is an edge-of-your-seat page turner.

 

Cover Candie of the Month

               ♥Cover Candie of the Month♥

The Light of the World by Tara Brown

Tara Brown Publishing 
Release Date: November 1st/2012
Pages: 300
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What It's About!

In dreams whispers taunt her, chant wicked things to frighten her.

Every morning she wakes, with the same sentence ringing in her ears.

'You're dead. You're dead and I just forgot to tell you.'

The problem isn't entirely the sentence.

It's the person she sees in her dreams chanting it.

It's her mother.

 

(Unofficial??) Convergent by Veronica Ross

Convergent (Divergent #3) by Veronica Ross 

Publisher: N/A

Release Date: September 26th/2013

Pages: N/A

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What It's About!


**Coming Soon!**

I had actually originally seen this cover on goodreads as an "official" book, but shortly after, it disappeared...so I don't know if this is the real cover and title!! ?!?!? If not..WHO WOULD GET OUR HOPES UP LIKE THIS?! If this cover isn't real, the person who made it is just very nasty! (see below). I will keep you updated!!

 

Otherkin by Nina Berry

Otherkin by Nina Berry

Publisher: K-Teen
Release Date: July 31st/2012
Pages: 320
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What It's About!

Dez is a good girl who does as she's told and tries not to be noticed. Then she rescues a boy from a cage, and he tells her secrets about herself. Now inside her burns a darkness that will transform her.

Everything is about to change--and neither Caleb, nor the Otherkin, nor those who hunt them, are prepared for what Dez will unleash.

Review

I devoured this book, right from the very first page it was loaded with action and never really stopped. I haven't read a ton of shifter type books, but I have to say this has become one of my favorites.

What first intrigued me by this novel, was the fact that the main character, Dez, could shift into a tiger, and tigers are my favorite animal. I hadn't really expected much going into reading Otherkin, afraid I would just be disappointed by it, but I ended up really loving it! Dez is a good strong character that knows how to think for herself and very quickly adapts to what is thrown at her. She definitely gets her share of shocking truths and things about herself thrown at her throughout the book.

I really liked Caleb, the boy who's some kind of shadow caller, whom she saved from the 'Tribunal', who are after all the animal shifters. Although I really liked him, I felt like his character could have been a little stronger somehow, and maybe a bit more mysterious, to make it more interesting. Another character I really liked was Dez's mom. Instead of the typical parental figure that would freak out over the fact her daughter can shift into a tiger quite well. She was willing to step back and let her daughter do what is necessary (not sure how to explain further without spoilers!).

Overall I thought this book was done really well, it had the right amount of story, action and character building to keep me interested through the entire book without once being bored at any point. I fully enjoyed it and look forward to reading the second one :) 

Rating 

Sworn To Raise by Terah Edun

Sworn To Raise by Terah Edun

Published by Amazon Digital

Release Date: March 15th/2013

Pages: 255

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What It's About!

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the kingdom. But beneath her kingdom’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

 

Impossible by Komal Lewis

Impossible (With Me #1) by Komal Lewis

Published on Createspace

Release Date: October 24th/2012

Pages: 254

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What It's About!

Ashton Summers is on her way to becoming the most popular girl in school and nothing—or no one—is going to stand in her way. Especially not Luca Byron, her freak neighbor, with his tattoos, loud music, and distracting green eyes.

Luca Byron has three goals in life: get through high school with a low profile, make sure his garage band becomes something more than a hobby, and try to forget about his insufferable ex-best friend, Ashton, who he can’t get out of his mind.

The last thing Ashton and Luca want to do is rekindle their friendship, but when Ashton takes a tumble down the social ladder, Luca—with his new makeover—is the only one who can help her rise up again by pretending to be her boyfriend. At first, being together is unbearable and annoying, but things start to change as Ashton and Luca discover the real reasons they drifted apart seven years ago.

Now, keeping their hands off each other seems impossible.

Review

This was a really quick read for me. I really wanted and TRIED to like it, only I couldn't. Both of the main characters, Ashton and Luca, whom both points of view are told, as well as some of the other sort of main characters, were all shallow and un-relate-able. Out of all of them, Luca was my favorite, even though he could get really repetitive. The first half of the book, every few paragraphs all he could talk about was how hot Ashton was and how bad he just wanted "to do her so bad". First time, no problem. Second, third, fourth time or so he mentioned it I was ready to choke him.

Ashton was just as bad, constantly complaining about what an emo, grungy bonehead he was, then one day he completely changes his appearance and she's all over him cause he's the "hottest guy in school". She was constantly putting him down just because he wasn't in with the "cool" kids, and it just got really annoying. Then there was the fact Ashton was one of the biggest bullies in school, humiliating other people when her so-called friends were watching then trying to be nice to them when the "friends" weren't around. She was especially like this with Luca.

Once Ashton gets to the top, with being one of the most popular girls and cheer leading captain, her so-called BFF basically overthrows her to get what she wants, which ends up putting Ashton at the bottom of the totem poll. Luca ends up being the only one there for her even though she's been awful to him throughout the whole book, which I just did not understand. Then again, they were both just as shallow as the other.

Things slowly turn around for both Ashton and Luca, until it doesn't, when Ashton's former BFF sees all the glory Ashton and Luca are getting and has to stir up trouble. Both Ashton and Luca were too stupid and blind to see what was so obviously going on, and going to happen.

Ashton and Luca had both started out as completely shallow idiots, but by the end of the book, they became more open, real human beings, that could see more than themselves for once. I never felt like I really got into the book, it wasn't one of those ones that I could get totally lost in, which was disappointing. The only reason I didn't completely give up on it is I wanted to see if the characters would grow at all and see their mistakes, which they did in a way, but not so much in others. I gave this book 2 stars (or in this case, butterflies) because it just didn't do much for me, I just couldn't quite get into it as much as I would have liked.

Rating

Here are the books I bought when I went boxing day shopping today, and I got the Kobo Glo for Christmas from Santa :) (I also got a gift card from BF for the bookstore! :D) I hope you guys got a great book haul this Christmas as well! Plz feel free to share! :)

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Lullaby (Watersong #2) by Amanda Hocking

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock 

 

Scent Of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

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

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA 

Release Date: December 18th/2012

Pages: 400

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ARC provided by Harlequin via Netgalley for review

What It's About! 

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

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

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

Review

Once again I was swept into the world of Avry, Kerrick, and the rest of the characters as they experience love, loss and many adventures. I almost wish I had waited to read this second book of the Healer trilogy until the third book was out, just because of the way this book ended!

Scent of Magic starts off with Avry and Kerrick going their separate ways in hopes of being able to get a bigger army together to go up against Tohon and his army. AT first I was worried this meant way less Kerrick, but actually, instead of just seeing Avry's point of view, we also get to see Kerrick's, which was really nice. Even though we still got a lot of Kerrick throughout the book, I found myself wishing for more Kerrick and Avry together, I just love them as a couple.

There were a few losses, some bigger than others, while another one actually got brought back, which I wasn't expecting at all. I love how instead of having so much detail that it takes half the book to explain stuff, Maria V. Snyder just gets right into the action and adventure right away, and I really love that, especially with this Healer trilogy.

When I got near the end I was SO happy about Kerrick and Avry, until the VERY LAST FREAKING PAGE. I seriously wanted to cry. REALLY?! THAT'S IT?! Total freakin' cliff hanger ending, and now I have to wait until 2014 to find out what happens! There is just not enough words to explain how amazing this book was. It was definitely just as good as the first book, but that's about all I can say without giving anyway way, it's just one you HAVE to read if you've read Touch of Power. I definitely have a book hangover after reading this one!

Rating:

Othermoon by Nina Berry

Othermoon (Otherkin #2) by Nina Berry

Publisher: K-Teen

Release Date: January 29th/2013

Pages: 320

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What It's About!

Everyone has secrets. I had no idea mine would lead me into shadow. Dez has found the place where she belongs. With the otherkin. With Caleb. Or so she thought. As the barriers between our world and Othersphere fall, a wall rises between Dez and Caleb, leaving her fiercest enemy her only friend.

And maybe something more.

Now Dez must make a devastating choice: keep the love of her life, or save the otherkin from annihilation.

 

 Meme hosted and created by Tynga's Reviews

Thank you SO much to Maria V. Snyder for the personalized signed paperback copy of Touch Of Power and bookmarks! It was like Christmas came early when I opened up the package! :) 

I also got some eBooks for review:

Taken by Kelli Maine

No Takebacks by Kelli Maine 

Hooked by Liz Fichera

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forest

The Living Curse by J.D. Swinn

Thanks so much to the authors and publishers for these review copies!   

 

 

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Fury (Fury #1) by Elizabeth Miles

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: August 30th/2011
Pages: 384
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What It's About!

Sometimes sorry isn't enough...

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems... 

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend. 

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed. 

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.
Em and Chase have been chosen.

Review

The first half of Fury is pretty much just about annoying high school kids with your typical high school drama. We get to see 2 main characters' points of view. Em is one of the popular girls in school, who "hooks up" with her best friend's boyfriend, and then we have Chase, who's not exactly popular, but he's not a total loner either, and hasn't grown up rich like most of the kids at school. He had humiliated a girl who used to be his childhood friend in a really sketchy way, and eventually, karma gets to them both.

Here and there we have the odd appearance from the 3 furies, until we get into the last few chapters, when it really picks up and the action gets going. It's basically your typical high school kids story with a paranormal twist.

Ali, Ty and Meg seek revenge on people who they think deserve it, like Em and Chase, for instance. At the very end of the book Em has to make a choice that changes everything, possibly more than what she originally thinks. It really made me want to get my hands on the second book right away!

The only character I actually liked was JD, Em's best friend from childhood. All the other characters, including Em and Chase weren't that bright and Chase didn't have much will power when it came to beautiful girls. Em was just as stupid when it came to certain things and it just drove me insane. Especially when it got near the end, I wanted to scream at Em that OBVIOUSLY it's most likely a trap, so WHY WOULDN'T YOU TAKE AT LEAST JD WITH YOU?! But then I was like no, she shouldn't have taken JD anyway, but on the other hand, the thing that unfortunately happened, probably would have happened anyway, whether he went with Em or not.

I really hope the second book doesn't start out like this one did, it dragged on until those last few chapters, when it really started to get me excited. Overall, Fury was pretty good, but it would have been a lot better without all the filler in the beginning before getting to the good stuff at the very end.

Rating

Of Triton by Anna Banks

Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends 

Release Date: May 28th/2013

Pages: 288

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What It's About!

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

 

Spellbound Book Blitz

Entangled (Spellbound #1) by Nikki Jefford

Release Date: February 20th/2012
Pages: 303
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What It's About!

Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.

Duplicity (Spellbound #2) by Nikki Jefford

Release Date:May 20th/2012
Pages: 280
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What It's About!

If Graylee Perez thought sharing a body with her twin sister was bad, dealing with a duplicate of herself is two times worse. Gray the second doesn’t seem to get that Lee’s boyfriend, Raj McKenna, is off limits. Then there’s the problem of Adrian Montez. He expects one of the Grays to be his.

Nearly a year later, the council is onto them for past misdeeds; Lee, along with the rest of the coven, has lost control of her powers; and Gray is being stalked by what looks like the Grim Reaper.

If they work together, they may stand a chance of setting things right and making it out alive.



Enchantment (Spellbound #3) by Nikki Jefford

Release Date: April 2013
Pages: N/A
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What It's About!

In the third and final installment of the Spellbound series, Graylee Perez (the duplicate), goes to Spain for a summer of escape. There she meets new friends and comes face to face with her old adversary, Adrian Montez.

When Gray tries to setup a spell that will banish Adrian from her life, she inadvertently falls under a love spell instead.

Charlene returns, having hijacked a new body, for one final battle between the twins.

 Nikki's Website/Goodreads/Facebook/Twitter

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt. She writes edgy teen fiction, including the Spellbound Trilogy and Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter.

Nikki married Sébastien, the love of her life, while working as a teaching assistant in France. They now reside in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands, 70 miles northeast of Forks, Washington.

Blood Soltice by Samantha Young

Blood Soltice by Samantha Young

Published by Create Space
Release Date: October 10th/2011
Pages: 381
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What It's About! 

Enter a world of fierce wolves, stunning magic and romance...

In the final installment of The Tale of Lunarmorte, Caia is caught between the most powerful beings in her world, and they are all desperate to use her for their own means. While Caia struggles to find her purpose, tragedy strikes close to home, and time runs out.
Now she must decide if she will join the extremists she was trying to destroy... or bring them all down on her own terms...