Authorgraph - a bookie website

www.authorgraph.com

I wanted to share a new and interesting bookie website with you.  I stumbled across Authorgraph after following Jeri Smith-Ready's newsletter.  Authorgraph is a free website for users to gather their favorite author's virtual autographs.  It was set up by a software designer in Seattle a few years ago.   I tried it out last month and it is actually really cool!  You can request your author make the autograph out to someone in particular or for them to write something in particular.  Then you will receive a PDF in your account with a photo of their book title.

Things to cheer about

• This site doesn't seem to be used very much and is a free service.  Make sure you check it out and give the designer props!
• I love going to author signings but they aren't always logistically feasible.  The authorgraph can be downloaded to the Kindle or as a pdf.  It is perfect for those of us who are also starting to gather more e-books rather than physical titles
• There are lots of authors that I recognized on this site - Nikki Jefford, Sylvia Day, E L James, Jeri Smith-Ready so it is not just filled with new authors or self-published people that you may not be familiar with
• Very visual and easy to use 

Things to work on

• I would love to see this site enhanced more to include things like author bios and website links etc.
• When new books or authors are added, I'd like to see an update or email alert to remind me to visit the site
• I would also love to see more information about the website besides having to visit the blog

Despite the few things that need improvement, I would love to see other bloggers and book lovers using this site.  What a great idea Evan!  Make sure you check out Authorgraph via the link below and follow Evan on twitter!  Don't forget to tweet him and let him know you learned about him from The Paperback Princesses!

http://www.authorgraph.com/

Follow Authorgraph on Twitter

Pulse by Patrick Carman

 

Published: February 26th, 2013

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Pages: 371

Copy: Library

Summary:  Goodreads

From New York Times bestselling author Patrick Carman, a teen fantasy-adventure of epic proportions. In 2051, some teens have a “pulse,” the power to move objects with their minds. Compulsively readable, with thrilling action scenes and a tender love story.

The year is 2051, and the world is still recognizable. With the help of her mysterious classmate Dylan Gilmore, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a “pulse,” and Dylan has the talent, too.

In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters so powerful they will flatten their enemies by uprooting street lights, moving boulders, and changing the course of a hurtling hammer so that it becomes a deadly weapon. But even with great talent, the mind—and the heart—can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she’ll have to harness the power of both.

Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy is a stunning, action-filled triumph about the power of the mind—and the power of love.

I just finished reading Pulse about 30 minutes ago and I wanted to get my thoughts down before I lost that tingly feeling.  You know that feeling you get when you end up enjoying a book way more than you expected to?  Yep, that's what happened with Pulse.

I don't think I've ever read a book by Patrick Carman before, which is surprising, since he's written a fair number of book - middle school and YA.  This one appealed to me because of the cover.  A tree hanging in midair?  What could it possibly be about? I thought it would be fantasy, but no, it's really a dystopian paranormal, if that makes sense.

Carman has managed to take a couple of fairly relevant issues - global warming and technology - and has crafted an intriguing and riveting story.  In some parts of this story I was totally creeped-out - not by the action, but by the absolute plausibility of the text and the way technology was controlling lives.  In some cases we're almost already there. It was eye-opening in a way.

Top that off with amazing characters and the combination is a winner.  Faith's story unravels slowly and there are several surprises that I wasn't expecting.  She was easy to like and easy to sympathize with. Her best friend Liz has a small but pivotal role that blew me away, and the third wheel in their group, Hawk, is so sweet.  A bit like a little brother you let tag along because he can be useful - but you've no idea how useful.  Dylan is mysterious and good looking and I'd love to meet him - so much going on with this guy.  Then we have Wade and Clara, the twins from hell.  My God, these kids are evil. We've all seen someone like them, good-looking, talented and with a huge sense of entitlement.

Love triangle - you'll be pleased to hear the answer is no.  Love story - a beautifully poignant sleeping beauty tale that will have you sighing.  Final verdict - Pulse will surprise you.  The story takes its time to develop, but then it just takes off and leaves you breathless, with your heart pounding.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will be recommending it frequently.

Friday Follow - May 17

Friday Follow is a blog hop that was started by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  Each week a different question is posted by our hosts and we wil answer!  This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. 

This week’s question –

Q: School is out! What is your favorite Summer Reading book??

For me, summer is a time for light-hearted humorous reading.  I like to throw in some Sophie Kinsella titles and other chick-lit authors like Marian Keyes and Emily Giffin, Meg Cabot and Jessica Brody.  I don't have a specific summer reading book though.  Maybe I'll find a favorite THIS year!

- Christinabean

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

 

Published: 2012

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Copy: Library

Pages: 451

Summary: Goodreads

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

 

Calling all fans of Anne McCaffery's Pern series! Or anyone who loved Christopher Paolini's Inheritance series. Really, all dragon-lovers will adore Rachel Hartman's Seraphina, and not just because it has some of the most interesting dragons the fantasy world has seen in quite some time (or this reviewer thinks so anyways). Seraphina is a beautifully written and wonderfully engaging story of dragons and humans.

This fantasy world is expectedly medieval, but plays on elements of the Celtic, Norse and other cultures - winding them in with Hartman's own ideas of how her dragon infested world should function. Not only is the story set in a fantastically built world, with an enrapturing story line, it also touches on ideals of humanity and racism, in a unique way that could only be accomplished in the fantasy genre. Dragons are no longer giant fire-breathing lizards sitting on mounds of hoarded gold – instead, they have adapted to join into life with the human race – and not all humans take it the same way.

Seraphina is our heroine – and a wonderfully relatable heroine at that. She’s clever and strong-willed (as most heroines tend to be), but she also doesn’t understand what everyone’s problem is with dragons. She’s aware of the fact that her exposure has probably adjusted her viewpoint, but she is a great advocate for treating people as they deserve to be treated, not because they belong to a certain class or race.

This could truly be a fabulous ISU book – the correlations between race (or even gay equality) and the human-dragon interactions are astounding and well-written; not to mention really enjoyable! Five stars for Seraphina – this is a book I’m really excited to have as the beginning of a new series.

Waiting on Wednesday - Towering by Alex Flinn

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine,  that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating or books that are in our TBR pile.  This week’s “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Rapunzel!  Ahhh...Alex Flinn is one of our favorite fairy tale remake authors!  Be sure to check out our review in a Fantastic Fairytale post!

- Christinabean

Let's Hear It for the Boys - Seven Wonders: The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis

Published: February 5th, 2013

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 348

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

One Boy

Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In a few months, he’s going to die.

One Mission

Jack needs to find seven magic loculi that, when combined, have the power to cure him.

One Problem

The loculi are the relics of a lost civilization and haven’t been seen in thousands of years.

Seven Wonders

Because they’re hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

I picked up The Colossus Rises when I was tidying the shelves at work yesterday because I had forgotten to take my Ipad to work and I didn't have anything to read.  It's aimed at a little younger readers than we normally review for, but it was fun to read and I finished it at work today. 

This was a really fun adventure story, full of young teenagers coming into their previously unknown powers.  There's Jack, who doesn't actually think he has any power, but in fact he's a bit of a genius at making crazy gadgets - a la McGyver style for those who remember that far back.  Then there's Marco, who's very strong and athletic; Aly who is the computer whiz - there has to be at least one, hasn't there - and then Cass, who is a bit of a wimp really, but he has an absolutely prodigious memory. 

The four kids are really under the guard of Torquin, whom I loved.  He's really the comic relief - a huge man with a long beard and who likes to run around with bare feet.  I loved him.   Then there is the father figure, Professor Bhegad - I think he's a good guy, but there are a few weird things about him.  The kids of course have to end up working together  to defeat the Great Gryphon and find the first of the 7 stones they need to bring back Atlantis. 

Of course, there are all sorts of obstacles and adventures to overcome with several very convenient co-incidents, but really the book was just great fun to read and should be a sure-fire hit for fans of Percy Jackson and the like.  A perfect fit for younger teens, particularly the boys, but girls should enjoy it too. 

Stacking the Shelves

 

 



Stacking the Shelves allows us to share the books we have added to our collections - physical, virtual, borrowed, bought or received. 

I have two non-YA books this week - especially for my holiday. 

 

 

These are two of my favourite authors and I can't wait to hit the sunshine and read them.