Waiting on Wednesday {10}

    

 Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection #1
Pages: 327

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 24th 2012

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. 

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I love dystopians.  I love the idea of almost a pageant to complete for the crown and the Prince's affections. It is always nice to see a protagonist that isn't just following the crowd and has her own ideas. Not sure how I will like the  love triangle but I am interested to find out!

Touch of Power Blog Tour

Today I am taking part in the Touch of Power blog tour. Touch of Power, written by Maria V. Snyder, the first book in the Healer series. Maria was kind enough to answer some questions for me about the book and herself in general.


  What inspired you to write fantasy novels?

    I enjoy reading fantasy so when I first started and had an idea for a novel, I automatically went to where I was most comfortable.  Plus I love all things magical as well as swords, action, adventure, and horses.  It's  harder to find them in the other genres.  :)

If you couldn't be an author what would you like to do?

        Before I would have said I'd like to work in a library or book store, but recently I've been fascinated with the criminal mind.  I'd like to work as a criminal psychologist.

What character are you most like from any of your novels?

        I'd like to say I'm most like Yelena, but she's braver, stronger and more of a risk taker than I am (or ever will be!). I'm more like Opal.  We both have an artist flare, and are logical.  I also struggled with self-esteem issues when I was in school so I know what Opal was feeling in Storm Glass.

 If you could be any fictional character ever written, who would you be?

        Wow – I don't think I've ever been asked this question before!  Hmmm.... this is a tough one!  I would like to be Lessa from the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffery.  She gets to ride and communicate with a dragon – how cool is that?

 Can you share a little bit about “Touch of Power” and what it is about?

        Touch of Power is a fantasy novel about a healer set in a world that is recovering from a deadly plague. Avry’s world has blamed the plague on the healers and has hunted them down.  She is finally caught only to be rescued by a group who wants her to heal their Prince.  The group's leader, Kerrick, knows the healers aren't to blame for the plague and that she could do some good for a change instead of hiding. Unfortunately, she believes this Prince is the one who started blaming the plague on the healers so she isn't risking her life for some pampered Prince. As they travel to the Prince's hidden location, they're pursued by others who have realized having a healer around might just be a good thing for them, but not necessarily for her.  

Thank you Maria for your wonderful answers. You can read the first chapter of Touch of Power here.         

In My Mailbox {31}

For Review:


Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins
Pure by Julianna Baggott
Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate
172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad


What did you get in your mailbox?

Short Stories

A lot of 2012 releases have short stories or prequels to go with their novels. I thought I would share these with you, even if you haven't read them, so you can have a taster.Three releases that have short stories are:

Tempest by Julie Cross - Today is Tomorrow (amazon)
Cinder by Marissa Meyer - Glitches
Fracture by Megan Miranda -  Decker's Story

Review: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

     

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White

Series: Paranormalcy #2
Pages: 336

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: January 5th 2012 (UK)
Source: For Review
Rating: 4 stars
100 Book challenge: #1

A lot has changed in the six months since Evie escaped from the International Paranormal Containment Agency with her shape-shifter boyfriend, Lend. She finally has the blissfully normal life she’s always dreamed of including: 
1) A real live high school 
2) A perfectly ordinary after-school job 
3) Her very own locker (and by the way, rusted metal is every bit as awesome as she imagined) 

But Evie’s not-so-normal past keeps creeping up on her...and things get pretty complicated when you factor in: 
1) A centuries-old, seriously decaying vampire stalker 
2) A crazy faerie ex-boyfriend who is the perpetual bearer of really bad news 
3) A major battle brewing between the faerie courts where the prize in question happens to be...Evie herself. 

So much for normal.

Paranormalcy spoilers but spoiler free for Supernaturally

I adored Paranormalcy. Evie is such a fun character and I couldn't wait to catch up with her. Evie is living out the normal life she wanted but it has become slightly monotonous and has lost the appeal it once had. Raquel offers Evie a job at IPCA with the freedom she lacked the last time. With Evie wanting to reconnect with her other life whilst not hurting Lent, her life is anything but simple. It also seems that she is being targeted but why and who are a complete mystery.

Evie had the same spunk she did in Paranormalcy. She is a flawed character but that is what makes her so relatable. Her need to keep secrets to not hurt Lend's feelings is wrong but understandable. The relationship between the two is so nice to read about, despite that there are a few problems. 

The thing I love most about this series is that it is so unique. It isn't a typical  paranormal. This book also didn't have second book syndrome. It has the same fun as the first and White did not get Lend and Evie to do the big, predictable, break up because, you know, what else is there to do? It wasn't a romance, it has so many other elements.

The ending was a complete shock to me. I was kept in suspense the whole novel and I love it when that happens. I am really interested to see how the trilogy is going to the end. The ending wasn't a cliffhanger which was nice. I am just excited to see more Evie and Lend :)

Waiting on Wednesday {9}

    

 Title: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews

Series: Standalone
Pages: 288

Publisher: Abrams
Release Date: March 1st 2012

Up until senior year, Greg has maintained total social invisibility. He only has one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time—when not playing video games and avoiding Earl’s terrifying brothers— making movies, their own versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics. Greg would be the first one to tell you his movies are f*@$ing terrible, but he and Earl don’t make them for other people. Until Rachel.


Rachel has leukemia, and Greg’s mom gets the genius idea that Greg should befriend her. Against his better judgment and despite his extreme awkwardness, he does. When Rachel decides to stop treatment, Greg and Earl make her a movie, and Greg must abandon invisibility and make a stand. It’s a hilarious, outrageous, and truthful look at death and high school by a prodigiously talented debut author.

This novel looks like a perfect mixture of sadness and humour, of light and dark. The cover is incredible, with the three dimensional feel and the colours. It looks like a book about life, death and growth. I'm expecting some life lessons and a heartbreaking novel with light moments woven in. I'm interested to see if my predictions are correct.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

1. JK Rowling 

I'm sure this will be on so many lists. I would love to see her write some more books though I am doubtful.

2. Sarah Dessen

I love her writing and can't wait to see more from here

3. Suzanne Collins

I loved The Hunger Games so I'm really hoping she writes some other stuff

4. Megan Miranda

I loved her first novel Fracture and I can't wait to see what she does next

5. Jenny Han

I know she has some books being written but I can't wait for more!

I can't think of any more but if you have any suggestions please comment below :)