In My Mailbox - February 29

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week. Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.



I've been busy trying to catch up on my TBR list with books that I've got at home but I did receive a gem in the mail this week that I'm SO FREAKING EXCITED about....

Desires of the Dead is book 2 ofthe Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting. I really enjoyed The Body Finder when it came out last year and couldn't wait for this one to come out. To my surprise, the ARC arrived in the mail and it is signed by the author! Thank you! Thank you Ms. Derting!! Keep your eyes peeled for the review to come shortly!

Awakened by P.C and Kristin Cast

Published: Jan 2011

Publisher: Atom

Pages: 290

Copy provided by: Bought

Summary: Goodreads



Summary:

At the start of Awakened, the pulse-pounding eighth installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey has returned, mostly whole, from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey—or her relationship with her super- hot Warrior, Stark—ever be the same? Stevie Rae is drawn even closer to Rephaim, the Raven Mocker with whom she shares a mysterious and powerful Imprint, but he is a dangerous secret that isolates her from her school, her red fledglings, and even her best friends. When the dark threat of Neferet—who is coming closer and closer to achieving her twisted goal of immortality—and Kalona returns, what will it take to keep the House of Night from being lost forever, and what will one desperate girl do to keep her heart from being irreparably broken?

Review:
Firstly, let me start off by saying that once you have invested this much time into reading eight books in a series, it is mighty hard to give it up, despite how freaky the story gets. House of Night is definitely starting to take on a bit of a weird sexual edge. This is NOT great for a younger audience. To be blunt, Neferet gets her freak on with everyone....and I do mean EVERYONE.

It's a complicated story to begin with if you have missed the first seven books. I am not going to get into it because I'm afraid I'll give away too much of the story line. I am going to mention things that are spoilers in this review, so don't read any further if you want Awakened to be spoiler-free!!

Despite the mention of Neferet's neverending nakedness (weird), I did enjoy other aspects of this book. For instance, the development of Rephaim's relationship with Stevie Rae. It is incredibly complicated as he is a creature that has caused harm to people she respects and admires. However she is bonded to him and cares for him, as he has feelings for her. So how do they work it out? Can you imagine their kids....uhhh....let's not.

Another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was that Zoe seemed to be stronger and more mature this time around. She doesn't seem to be making ridiculous choices anymore. She is back to being a one guy kinda gal an and is slowly getting over her other men.

Neferet. I mentioned that she is overtly sexual in this book but that's not all. She's awful! She was awful at the end of Burned but OMG she actually becomes even more evil....how does she manipulate so many people into thinking that she is sincere and apologetic for her actions? She even goes so far as to kill one of the characters in the book. Yes, it is quite sad. I won't tell you any more....see? spoilers!!

Lastly, there is a cliff hanger at the end of the book as an old cast member is written back into the series! Hmmm...looking forward to how they are integrated back into the storyline! So here's my take. Definitely keep reading if you are already into the series as long as you are open to some pretty strange things happening. If parts of Burned (book 7) bothered you, you might want to pass on this one.

Empty by Suzanne Weyn

Published: Oct 2010

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 192

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads



Summary:

It's the near future - the very near future - and the fossil fuels are running out. No gas. No oil. Which means no driving. No heat. Supermarkets are empty. Malls have shut down. Life has just become more local than we ever knew it could be.

Nobody expected the end to come this fast. And in the small town of Spring Valley, decisions that once seemed easy are quickly becoming matters of life and death. There is hope - there has to be hope - just there are also sacrifices that need to be made, and a whole society that needs to be rethought.

Teens like Niki, Tom, and Gwen may find what they need to survive. But their lives are never going to be the same again.

Review:

I was looking forward to this story because the plot is so plausible. With our natural resources diminshing and the world looking towards alternative forms of energy, don't you also wonder if we will have enough viable solutions before we run out of fossil fuels? Will we be ready for a time when we need to find other forms of energy? Are we doing enough now to cut down on energy consumption and finding alternative methods?

This was not a long book and I was certain that I could read it quite quickly but to be honest, I didn't even finish it. I just couldn't seem to get into the story. The main character Gwen was depressing and made herself a bit of an outcast, Niki was completely clueless and seemed to be quite shallow and Tom, well, he didn't seem to have much depth either. I was about 1/2 way through when I gave up and started on another title. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood or had the right atmosphere but I just couldn't keep going.

Sorry Empty, I'm just not into you. You just left me feeling a little....empty. Maybe we'll meet again during our next blackout...

Friday Blog Hop - Feb 25

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question –

"Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?"

Nope.  I'm pretty happy with our name.  It suits us and The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch is one of my favourite books to read during children's storytime.  When choosing a title and URL, we had thought about trying to make it unique but indicate that it was book-related.  Our URL reflects what we do (http://www.allaboutyabooks.blogspot.com/) and the name of our blog is a bit of a play on words.  :)

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.

Listen Up - Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Published: October 2010

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Audio copy from: Library and Overdrive

Narrated by: Kevin T Collins

Summary: Goodreads

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.


Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.



I read Beautiful Creatures last year and loved it so much I decided to listen to it afterwards. You can read my review of the audio version of Beautiful Creatures HERE. I loved it, in fact it was just about my favourite book of 2010. So when Beautiful Darkness came out - and you're going to laugh at me here - I didn't want to read it in case it wasn't as good as the first one! Yep, I know, stupid. Anyway, with Christmas and everything else going on, I finally got around to listening to Beautiful Darkness last week - and of course, I loved it just as much as the first one, if not more.

Kevin T Collins returns as the narrator for the audio version and it was so nice to have that continuity. I just love the dark atmosphere on the audio. The wind whistling, doors banging, music playing. Speaking of which, Michelle McGonigle is back with her eerily haunting rendition of 'Sixteen Moons' or in this case 'Seventeen Moons'.

The story of Ethan and Lena continues in ways I wasn't suspecting, with things getting even darker this time around. Ethan has become my ideal of the perfect boyfriend. He is so supportive and protective of Lena it almost made my heart break. I don't want to give away the story, just in case there is anyone out there who hasn't read this one yet, but things are not all hunky dory in Gatlin. Even stranger things are happening than last time, and new people are coming to town. Lena is deeply depressed over the death of her Uncle and Ethan is trying to help her, to no avail.

There were some wonderful twists to the story and I loved them all. Some I expected, and some coming out of left field. Link's character is really fleshed out in this book and his madcap humour was responsible for some light relief (actually he reminds me of my son a bit, so I have a serious soft spot for him).

I am now waiting with seriously bated breath for the next volume of the series, due out in the Fall of this year, and you can be sure I won't take so long to read it this time around. If you are interested in reading Christinabean's review, you can find it HERE. She loved it too! There is also a 4th volume coming in the Fall of 2012. Way to keep up the suspense, girls!

Waitng on Wednesday - Once Every Never by Lesley Livingstone

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:

I was wandering around the Blog Hop the other day and discovered this one on The Book Whispers. I just had to share it.

Due for publication: July 2011

Clarinet Reid is a pretty typical teenager. On the surface. She’s smart, but a bit of slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker… but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes. Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins.

Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there’s still time—literally—maybe even get a date. This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every… never.

Musings by Knitwits - Knitting Block by Block by Nicky Epstein

Published: November 2010
Publisher: Potter Craft
Copy from: Library
Summary: Goodreads

No one forgets the sweet victory of completing their first knitted block, but most of us quickly move on to more complex constructions, only making swatches for guage. In this comprehensive volume, celebrated designer and innovator Nicky Epstein reimagines the humble block with 150 new patterns and masterfully demonstrates how to mix, match, and easily combine them into stunning one-of-a-kind garments and accessories.

Inside you will find: 150 original block patterns, from simple textures to embossed pictorials, intricate lace to cables, colorwork, double knit, and more, all with Nicky’s signature wit, verve, and style.
More than ten exclusive project designs that will make you say “I can’t believe that is made out of blocks
Detailed guidance for creating exciting pieces out of block knitting, without using increases or decreases
Exclusive cut-and-paste project design pages. Simply cut out the printed blocks and arrange them to help create your own masterpieces.

Blocks are quick to knit, portable pieces perfect for group and charity projects, and now not limited to just afghans! Knitting Block by Block gives you the tools to unlock a world of creative possibilities and confidently build your own design “blockbusters,” one block at a time.

Ok, knitters beware! This is a beautiful book and as soon as you see it you will want to add it to your knitting library. "So it's just another stitch book" I hear you saying to yourselves - but you're wrong. Nicky Epstein has taken the humble 'block' and raised it to new heights.

You will find simple blocks and blocks so complex you'll want to tear your hair out. There are intarsia blocks, cable blocks, 3-dimensional blocks, striped blocks, lace blocks, entrelac blocks, fair isle blocks - do you get the picture? This is a stunningly photographed book that is a delight just to look at. The extras come when you see the projects that can be made from these blocks, which include wraps, shrugs, gloves, bags, toys and many more.

There is plenty in here for more experienced knitters, but also lots for a newer knitter who is ready to try something a little more challenging. Check it out - you'll love it.

In My Mailbox - Feb 21st

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week. Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.


Here's this weeks haul from the library - I've been waiting for 'The Splendor Falls' for ages, so I'm really looking forward to it.

What's in your mailbox this week?

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Published: August 2010

Publisher: Atheneum

Pages: 543

Copy from: Library

Summary: Goodreads

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore! --from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game.

Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares. His life depends on it.

Nevermore is a wonderfully creepy journey through the mind of a troubled teen, and a troubled author perhaps. Ok, sorry Ms Creagh, you're not troubled, just very obviously a Poe fan - it was Poe that was troubled! This book was quite unlike anything I have read in a while. A little hard for me to get into, but it sort of got under my skin and I found myself really enjoying it.

Set in a fairly typical US highschool, the story unfolds slowly, but takes place over only a week or so. Isobel and Varen are forced together because of a school project and end up connecting in unsuspecting ways. I loved the way the layers were peeled back on both of them and the reader comes to understand that they are much more than appearances would suggest.

'He enfolded her hand between both of his, and she felt the silver bands of his rings press into her skin. she turned her head slowly in his direction, though she dared not meet those eyes." (291)

As far as minor characters, Gwen was brilliant. I would have loved her as a friend. She was non-judgemental and so genuine. Brad, Isobel's ex-boyfriend was a typical jock. I found myself wondering if we don't help create people like him because of the way we treat athletes. After a continuous diet of adulation, why are we surprised they lose their tempers' when they don't get their own way? Anyway, Brad, Nikki, Alyssa and the others were well fleshed out and believable.

Ms Creagh's writing was beautiful and captured the atmosphere of Poe so well. Dark colours, wispy fogs, scary birds, creepy strangers - all of them combined to fill in the background so successfully.

'A deep, bold sound arose from behind, halting her steps. The noise vibrated through the carpet, strong enough to stir the curtains. It rolled through Isobel's shoes and through the solid black walls. Dread, like a poison, spread its way through her and she turned toward the source of the noise.
Like a dark sentinel, an enormous ebony clock now stood in place of the door she'd walked through not a moment before. The clock's face, like that of an unforgiving god, glowed white in the surrounding blackness while the chimes sang out a discordant melody.' (417)

Doesn't that just send shivers up your spine? So I have to ask - am I the only person who did not realise this is the first book in a trilogy? Right up until about 15 pages before the end - that 530 odd pages - I was convinced everything was going to turn out fine. (Oops, sorry if that's a spoiler.) Ms Creagh, you're killing me. Having pulled me in completely with this story, you've left me hanging - I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS! Ok, hissy fit over. In a nutshell - wonderful characters, wonderful story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Sneak Peek - Cover of Supernaturally

I am a huge fan of Kiersten White's 'Paranormalcy'. Just loved the story and Kiersten's writing - so much so that I started following her blog. She is my daily dose of humour before going to work. Sometimes she just cracks me up. Today, she was waxing lyrical about the cover of her soon to be published follow-up to 'Paranormalcy' - ' Supernaturally'. You are correct Kiersten, it is an amazing cover, and I am happy to share it with everyone.

If you are interested in reading some of Kiersten's hilarious blog entries you can check them out HERE

Congratulations on the birth of your new cover Kiersten and a special mention to HarperTeen for obviously going above and beyond!

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Published: November 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 443
Copy Provided by: e-book on Overdrive
Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

For Rose Hathaway, everything seems out of kilter. Ever since she made her first Strigoi kills, a dark shadow has been creeping over her. Looming in the background, too, is another realization: If she follows her forbidden love for guardian Dimitri Belikov, she might lose her best friend forever. And these sleep-shaking worries couldn't have come at a worse time. The immortal unloving are prowling everywhere, famished for vengeance against her. An adrenaline-laced episode of the teen pop favorite Vampire Academy.

Review:

I tried Shadow Kiss as an e-book. Normally I prefer to read regular books but I thought I'd try something different and 'borrowed' it from our local library. What was nice is that I didn't have to worry about late fees because it is automatically 'returned' after a set number of days. Love it. I always have library fines. You'd think that working at a library would have certain perks like waiving fees....think again! My only beef about the e-book format using my netbook was that I had to click or touch the mousepad and it would often skip 2 pages instead of turn one. That is my computer though, not the novel itself.

So let's be honest here. I think I'm seriously becoming obsessed with this series. In fact, I'm wondering if I should start up the first chapter of Vampire Academy Addicts Anonymous. Raise your hand if you'd like to join and earn your "chip". I wasn't able to get Book #4 at my library (it was signed out) so I tried to get it via e-book and it wasn't available so instead of hauling butt to the local bookstore, I decided to purchase the e-book on Kobo. Luckily, Kobo gives you a discount for your first purchase so I saved right away and I was able to start reading right away. I'm liking these e-books!

So back to the review....Ms Mead really packs in a punch with this book as we delve deeper into understanding Lissa and Rose's bond. The Shadow Kissed are not always peachy keen participants. There are some serious side effects that occur when Lissa uses her magic. We also get to know Adrian a bit better which I like...oh and Dimitri. Mmmm....Dimitri. I wish I could meet him in person. Adrian seems so much younger than Dimitri in life experience and maturity. In Shadow Kiss we also see Dimitri and Rose's relationship take a few drastic changes. The ending was shocking and believable leaving me to wonder how Richelle Mead churns these novels out so that you're dying for more. To be honest, I'm glad the series has ended because I'm not certain I could have waited for each book to come out...can't get enough of Vampire Academy....

Friday blog hop - February 18

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.


This week’s question - "What book(s) would you like to see turned into a movie?"

Ok, this one requires some thought, but not too much. My first thought is 'Rot and Ruin' by Jonathan Maberry. I really loved that book (check out my review HERE), and I think with its post apocalyptic background and lots of shambling zombies, not to mention the amazing coming of age story, it would translate wonderfully into film. My second thought, following behind very quickly is for 'Nevermore' by Kelly Creagh, which I just finished about 30 mins ago. You'll have to wait for Sunday to see my review on that one - don't forget to hop back then. With it's dark creepy atmosphere, it would make a great movie. I'm sure I could come up with others, but I'll leave it at that. Don't know what Christinabean's choice would be, I'll have to ask her. What's your choice?

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. Happy hopping!

Fat Cat by Robin Brande

Published: Oct 2009
Publisher: Knopt Books for Young Readers
Pages: 330
Copy provided by: Library
Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

You are what you eat. . . .

Cat smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice. . . .

Review:

I'm not even sure where I originally came across this book but I'm glad that I did. It was a nice change from my regular supernatural series titles....because sometimes you just need a change of scenery.

So many girls always worry about their weight and although I wouldn't recommend following a hunter-gatherer type diet, as Kat started out on, it was good to see Kat taking on a healthier lifestyle. The premise of the experiment was an interesting take for this novel. Interestingly, the author avoided using sizes or numbers to define Kat and show a comparison between what she weighed or what her size was prior to this project and afterwards. I liked this because the reader could use their own judgement rather than the author setting precedence for what one would consider overweight.

A couple things to mention about this book - I felt like the author was really pushing for a vegetarian lifestyle. It's not that I disagree with it or anything but it was definitely a pro-vegetarian lifestyle and I felt that she focused on that a little too much. Another thing was that I felt the book could have been about 30 pages shorter. Some of the story became redundant and Kat's obsession with Matt and McKinney and what he did YEARS ago was a little tiresome. Mind you, do you know many women who have been scorned who don't forget? It was a little bit lengthy for the content but still enjoyable nonetheless.

Try this one out. I haven't seen many reviews but Kat was kinda cute and she did go through many of the same scenarios that everyday teens encounter. Fun book with a few life lessons. Good teen reading.

Waiting on Wednesday - Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield

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:

The world’s gone. Worse, so is her daughter.

Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Having no idea how many days—or weeks—have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: Ruthie has vanished. And with her, nearly all of civilization. Where once-lush hills carried cars and commerce, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters—people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.

In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a harrowing quest to get her Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider, let alone a woman who became a zombie and somehow turned back, but she finds help from an enigmatic outlaw, Smoke. Smoke is her savior, and her safety. For the Beaters are out there. And the humans grip at survival with their trigger fingers. Especially when they learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, of weapons in a brave new world....

Fantastic Fairytales - Ash by Malinda Lo

Published: October 2010

Publisher: Little Brown company
Pages: 272

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.
The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.
Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Cinderella, almost everyones favourite fairy tale. It's the rags-to-riches, poor girl finds love story that we all dream of when we are little girls. Well Ash is a beautiful retelling of the original but with some major "well that's an interesting twist" moments. At least there were for me. Ms Lo herself describes Ash as "a lesbian retelling of Cinderella.” , but goes on to say "That’s the basic truth, but it does strip away the complexities of the story."

All the characters we expect are there - father dying, wicked stepmother, 2 step sisters, fairy godmother - well not quite - and that's where the story starts to veer from the original. The reader will find considerably more fairies in this version - and they are not particularly friendly -but they provided an interesting twist. There are several surprises in this version of the story that make it fresh, original and modern and I'm sure it will be enjoyed by fairytale fans.

If you're interested in seeing more of what the author says about Ash, check out her website HERE. Her new novel, 'Huntress' is due out in April 2011.

In My Mailbox - February 14th

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week. Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store.

I lucked out this week and snagged some new to me books that I've heard of but not seen many reviews about. Has anyone read them? I'd love to hear your comments! What's in your mailbox?

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Published: February 15, 2011
Publisher: Harper collins
e-arc provided by: Netgalley and publisher
Summary: Goodreads


This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.


On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed Angelfire. For the most part Ellie and Will's relationship was believable and developed nicely, although at one point I found myself thinking of them as being a bit like Buffy and Angel - him not telling her things for her own good when he should have come clean. I could explain more, but I would be giving away major spoilers, so you'll just have to see what you think when you read it. The romance between Ellie and Will is sweet and inevitable, but nicely handled. I just wish I could have met a nice guy like him when I was young.

The bad guys - reapers - were many and varied and some were particularly nasty. Ellie is able to defend herself against these nasties by summoning her swords, which are covered in angelfire - hence the title of the book. There was one thing that puzzled me though. If Ellie could summon the swords out of thin air when she needed them to fight, why did she have to look for and find them physically when she dropped them in the middle of a fight - which seemed to happen with surprising regularity? Not a big deal, but it puzzled me. The action flowed at a swift rate though and kept my interest so I'm looking forward to seeing where Ms Moulton goes with the trilogy.

Ellie's parents have a strong presence in the story, although not all of it is positive. Without giving away too much of the story, I will be really interested to see if her fathers' behaviour is relevant in the next two books. Ellie's mum is supportive and understanding to a point, but still punishes her for her sins. Personally I thought she got off lightly, but it was refreshing to see parents in a strong role.

All in all, a strong start to the trilogy and I look forward to seeing where the next volume takes us.On a side note, I just love Ellie's name, but I think I'm a little biased - it's the same as my daughter's.

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

Published: May 2009
Publisher: Puffin

Pages: 259

Copy from: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Aerin Renning is a scarred fugitive, Dane Madousin a rebellious son of privilege. On the surface, they have nothing in common. But the two most competitive freshmen at Academy 7 share an undiscovered bond. Both harbor a dangerous secret that threatens their own destruction. And while their safety depends on their staying apart, the two are inexplicably drawn to each other.

Even as unknown forces conspire to separate them, their competition turns to friendship, and their friendship to romance. Now not only their lives—but their hearts—are at stake. To survive, the two must unite all their knowledge, skills, and gifts to uncover a secret bigger than either could have imagined. A secret as big as the entire universe...

I discovered Academy 7 on the shelf at the library when I was looking for something else. I had never seen or heard of it before, and I was not aware of the author, so I was doubly delighted when I read and really enjoyed it. The 2 main protagonists, Aerin and Dane are from 2 wildly different backgrounds and are both emotionally scarred for wildly different reasons - a match made in heaven? You'd think so wouldn't you, and eventually, yes, things do turn out well, but they have a long harrowing road to get there.

Set at some unknown point in the future, when space travel is taken for granted and there are many inhabited worlds, Aerin and Dane end up together at the most prestigious school in the universe. Not the 'World', but the universe! Other than that, it could be any boarding school in America. What I found interesting was the lack of secondary characters in the school. This story really was centred just around the 2 students, and other than an annoying queen bee who pops up every now and again, most of the other characters are adults, good and bad.

I enjoyed the growth of the characters, who despite their differences, had a lot in common, and the journey to acceptance of each other was fun to read. There were a couple of rather disturbing interludes with Dane and his father, and Aerin's parents, but they added dimension to the story. The romance was gentle, the mystery exciting and the characters were real. If you haven't already come across this one, try it out, I think you'll enjoy it.

It turns out that Anne Osterlund has also written 'Aurelia' and 'Exile', so I'm off to see if I can find a copy of either, or both!

Same Book, Second Look - The Candidates by Inara Scott

Published: August 2010

Published by: Hyperion

Pages: 293

Copy provided by: Author

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.

And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

Review:
I was lucky enough to win a copy of The Candidates from Miss Scott herself via Twitter. It came signed and I was so excited to find it in my mailbox. Unfortunately it has been sitting in my TBR pile for awhile and Curlypow read it before I did. You can find her initial review here.

I enjoyed The Candidates but I did find that it was a bit slow and picked up right at the end of the book, maybe with 50 pages left. The story definitely reminded me of X-Men and Xavier's school for the gifted. I was expecting a little bit more action but was still not disappointed because there was plenty of character development. Dancia seemed like a very sweet, honest, down to earth kind of girl with unusual troubles. There was a love triangle between her, Jack and Cam and I have to say, I wasn't sure who she would go for. I know Curlypow was rooting for Jack but I have to say that I'm a good boy kinda gal so I was Team Cam with this one. I won't tell you who won out...you'll just have to read the book for yourself!

If I were recommending this one, I would suggest it to a younger teen audience. Personally, I found that some of the language and writing style would be better suited for a younger pre-teen audience. Also, Dancia and the other teens seemed younger to me in terms of maturity and growth. I am looking forward to Book 2 - The Watchers coming out in the fall of 2011 by Miss Scott. Can't wait to see how this story starts to unfold. So far, it has a great base! Two thumbs up from me!

Friday Blog Hop - February 11th

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question -"Tell us about one of your posts from this week and give us a link so we can read it (review or otherwise)!"


Earlier this week I posted about 'Runaway Storm' by D E Knobbe. Check out the review HERE. This was a wonderful adventure story about a 15 yr old boy who, disappointed with his parents' lack of commitment, decides to go on a kayaking holiday by himself off the west coast of Canada and the US. A great mystery/adventure with lots of excitement and interesting characters.

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. Happy hopping!

Behind Green Glass by Amanda Von Hoffmann

Published: 2010
Publisher: Soto Publishing Company
Pages: 184
Copy: Bought
Summary: Goodreads

Isolde is a shy and artistic sixteen-year-old who moves into a house rumored to be haunted. When she discovers a shard of green glass, a new world opens for her. Through the glass she sees Lyric, who mistakenly believes that he is a ghost, and other ethereally beautiful creatures. As their mystery unfolds, Isolde learns that they are not ghosts, but The Forgotten Ones, fairies cast out of their realm, labeled imperfect for their physical and mental differences. Isolde's friendship with Lyric and The Forgotten Ones teaches her that sometimes our "imperfections" can also be our greatest strengths.

I picked up Behind Green Glass meaning to read for a short while. Three hours later I closed the book and thought, "I really enjoyed that". It is a wonderful fairy story with an underlying message that we should all be aware of. Just because someone is different, doesn't make them any less a person than anyone else, whether they be human or fairy. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.

The main protagonist, Isolde , is a shy 16 year old, with a kind heart and an amazing talent for drawing. She struck me as being a really 'nice' girl, genuine and caring. She continually questions her ability to see fairies - thinking that perhaps she is just creating imaginary friends. I loved Ms Von Hoffman's descriptions of the fairies, ethereal and otherwordly with animal characteristics.

' She froze. Perched in the maple outdoors she saw a figure, human in shape, animal-like in posture. A smooth expanse of bare muscled chest, light tangled hair, glowing irises.' (33)

Lyric, Ffafnir, Damarian and Nola, all fairies, were fun and had very distinct personalities, I loved them all, especially Ffafnir's stutter and Damarian's moodiness. Matt was enjoyable and believable as Isolde's slightly naive boyfriend, and I found the uncertainties of the two of them to be very refreshing and a nice change from the usual boldness of teenagers in books today.

All-in-all a quick, enjoyable fantasy story for fans of the genre. I just wish it had been a little longer. I look forward to seeing more from Ms Von Hoffman in the hopefully not too distant future.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney Feb 9

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

Expected Publication Date: Feb 8, 2011

Summary:
Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.


When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Let's Hear it for the Boys - Runaway Storm by D E Knobbe

Published: Jan 2010

Publisher: Emerald Book Company

Pages: 223

Copy: Received for review

Summary: Goodreads

When Nate discovers his mother is not moving home and his father cancels their summer kayaking adventure, Nate is devastated. He decides to solo the Canadian wilderness in his kayak. Half drowned after risking his life in a wild storm to avoid getting caught, Nate reaches an uninhabited island paradise. His tranquility is shattered by the arrival of a girl named Kat, but she has something Nate needs, an ample supply of fresh water. As romance blossoms, another threat drifts in: a drug smuggler with a sailboat full of marijuana. Soon Kat and Nate find themselves fighting for their lives.

When I was reading 'Runaway Storm' I kept thinking of old-fashioned adventure stories. Not old-fashioned in a bad way - more the exciting, what's going to happen next, kind of way. The story is set in the islands of Vancouver and Washington State, an area I would now love to visit, and tells about the adventures Nate has during the summer of his 15th birthday.

Nate read as a very believable character. He has been uprooted to New York with his mother when she and his father separate and Nate feels he is being given the run-around by both his parents - neither one willing to really explain to him what is going on. When Nate's father cancels their summer plans, he decides to go on holiday anyway - by himself. I liked the fact that Nate thought things through and didn't just run off without preparation. There is a part in the middle where Nate has to use his credit card and I was sitting saying to myself - "no, no, they'll be able to find you if you use it" - that's when I realised how completely I had fallen into the story.

The characters that Nate meets on his adventure are many and varied, and not one of them struck a false note with me. David and the boys, Joey and Beagle, were fun and I loved the way they were able to teach Nate some skills and he return the favour. Kat was wonderful, her rebellion totally believable. I also enjoyed the friendship that blossomed between her and Nate.
As the tension mounts and the bad guys get really creepy I was having a hard time putting the book down, which can be distracting when you're trying to get ready for work.

'Runaway Storm' is a fairly quick read, but I am certain that you will enjoy the suspense and excitement. Everything ties up nicely and the ending was very satisfactory. Final decision - great adventure story for guys or girls - nothing in it that younger teens can't read at all - I loved it. And the good news, it looks as if there is going to be a sequel!

Ms. Knobbe is a Canadian by birth who now lives in California. I'm sure she's missing our snowy winters here in Canada. Any Canadian readers out there, spread the word - I'd love to see more of Ms Knobbe's books here in Canada.

In My Mailbox - February 7th

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers post about the books they have received for the week. Books may be won, taken out from the library or bought from a store

Interesting selection from the library this week, I just hope I can find time to read them all.

Mistwood by Leah Cypress

Published: April 2010

Publisher: Harperteen

Pages: 303

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.
Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.
Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Mistwood started out for me at a slow walk. I wasn't too sure whether I was going to like it, but I thought it was worth a try. As I kept reading, that walk became a trot. Things started happening, mysterious things occurred, people were betrayed. The main protagonist, Isabel, was confused and unsure - I loved her. She starts to question her loyalties, but accepts what she believes is right.


Near the end there was a major twist that I personally did not see coming and I galloped through the last portion of the book - couldn't put it down at that point. There are so many twists and turns in this story that it is hard to keep it all straight. In a couple of places I had to go back and reread, because things weren't making sense first time around.


Is there romance in the book? Well, kinda, sorta, may'be, if you know what I mean, but it is definitely not the focus of the story, and there isn't the usual love triangle either, which was nice.
If you are a fantasy fan, I'm sure you're going to love this one. I certainly did.

I noticed that there is a second volume coming out later this year called Nightspell. Personally, I thought the story wrapped up very nicely, with just a little bit of uncertainty and I thought it would be a stand-alone. Guess I was wrong - again.

The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith

Published: November 2010

Publisher: Atheneum

Pages: 309

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Since losing both of her parents, fifteen-year-old Katie can see and talk to ghosts, which makes her a loner until fellow student Law sees her drawing of a historic house and together they seek a treasure rumored to be hidden there by illegal slave-traders.

Law Walker knew Katie Mullens before she was crazy. Before her mother died. Law knows Katie’s crazy now, but she’s always been talented. And she keeps filling sketch pads even though her drawings have gone a little crazy as well—dark, bloody. What Law doesn’t know is that these drawings are real. Or were real. Katie draws what she sees—and Katie sees dead people. People who have died—recently, and not so recently—in accidents, from suicide, even a boy who was trapped in a house that burned down more than 100 years ago. And it’s this boy who makes Law want to get to know Katie all over again. So what if his dad doesn’t want him dating a white girl? So what if people think Katie is dangerous? The ghost boy is hiding a secret that Law needs to know—and it’s much bigger, much more shocking than anyone ever expected.

How to describe this book? Here's what I came up with - thrillingly mysterious, historically ghostly, coming of age story - I think that just about covers it. Katy and Law are just wonderful characters, 3 dimensional, flawed, scared, real. My heart just went out to Katy - she is trying so hard to convince herself she's not seeing ghosts, that she's not crazy - and Law, well I just wanted to hug him.

There is so much history in this book it's astounding, but it was interesting history, about a dark time that should not be forgotten. The beauty of it is, the history itself is almost a character in the story, which was so well written. There is a treasure hunt that will have your pulse pounding, some really scary ghosts and a beautiful romance that will leave you smiling. Written in the two voices of Law and Katy in alternating chapters, the story is beautifully represented from both points of view. I just loved it and I'm sure you will too.

One thing I just noticed as I finished the book and I was lovingly rubbing my hand over the cover - there are faces on the cover! Am I the only one who didn't see them originally? I was so busy enjoying the colours in the flames that I didn't see the faces!

Black Hole Sun by David MacInnis Gill

Published: August 2010
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 340
Copy provided by: Library
Summary: Goodreads

Durango is playing the cards he was dealt.

And it’s not a good hand.

He’s lost his family.

He’s lost his crew. And he’s got the scars to prove it.

You don’t want to mess with Durango.


When I finished this book, the thought in my mind was 'I really enjoyed this book .... But!' And I really did enjoy it ....... But there were a few things about it that really puzzled me.

Firstly, why did we not find out how old the main character is until page 199. (He's 17 by the way). Secondly, if he's that young, why is he leading a bunch of trained Regulators (read soldiers) that are mostly older than he is? Thirdly, why is Mars the way it is? And Fourthly, what the heck does the title have to do with anything? Honestly, I can't come up with a reason for the title at all - may'be I just missed it? I definitely felt that there was some serious backstory missing - the reader is plunged into this futuristic Mars and left to flounder around in confusion for quite some time.

Now, that said, the story was GREAT! Have you ever watched an episode of 'Firefly' or seen the movie 'Serenity'? Well, 'Black Hole Sun' reads like an episode of Firefly - I was so bummed when they took that series off the air (serious SF tv fan here). The main protagonist in the book, Durango (or Jacob Stringfellow as we find out eventually) is a shoe-in for a younger Malcolm, Vienne for ?(sorry I can't remember her name without watching an episode again - which I might do later today), and Fuse was perfect as the tv character Jane. There are 2, no 3, really kick-ass female characters in the story, and one of them is the villian, nice change there from the usual male character. One of the best things tho' is the interaction between Durango and Mimi - an artificial intelligence inserted into his brain - it's hilarious and she is a character all on her own.

"Fuse whistles and rubs his head.

"You drew this, chief?"

"Affirmative." With help from Mimi.

"Help?" Mimi says. "I created ninety-nine percent of the design."

"Eighty percent."

"Ninety"

"Eighty-five is my final calculation," I say. "Take it or leave it"

"With your math skills, I'll leave it," she says.

Durango and his team of mercenaries end up on an old, almost abandoned mine out in the wilds of Mars and have been hired to protect the miners from the Draeu. (These are majorly revolting cannibalistic creatures that are very puzzling until almost right at the end of the book.) There is continuous action throughout the book with lots of guns and explosions and blood - this book is definitely more for the guys - but there is a tiny, really tiny, thread of romance in there than might just tweak the girls interest - it did mine!

By the end of the book almost everything was explained and I was really glad I had read it ..... but!

Friday Blog Hop - February 4th

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week’s question -

"What are you reading now and why are you reading it?"

Ok, this is where I begin to sound a bit manic. I'm actually reading 4 books right now if you count the audio book I'm listening to in the car, which is 'Beautiful Darkness', that one is self-explanetory I think - got to keep my hands on the wheel! Actually reading - well I have 'Mistwood' by Leah Cypress, which is my general go-to book, I'm reading 'Wither' at work, so that Christinabean and I can do a joint post before it comes out in March (thank you Simon and Schuster for that one). I'm reading 'Angelfire' on my e-reader and trying to get that finished before its release in about 10 days (thank you Netgalley) and then there is 'Behind Green Glass' which is beside my bed. Oops, I think that's 5 books, not 4. Overachiever or what! Christinabean is away for a few days, but I'm pretty sure she's reading 'The Candidates' right now.

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. Happy hopping!

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Published: April 2008

Published by: Razorbill

Pages: 327

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

Review:

Ahhh.....another totally satisfying segment of the Vampire Academy saga. I'm starting to feel like this series is a bit like a drug. I love the plotline, most of the characters (even though a few of them infuriate me) and how everything plays out. There are so many things going on at once and always enough that continues to drag you back for more. Like a good soap opera...only with vampires....

So in this book we see Rose starting to take a bit of responsiblity for her bad girl behavior. Sure, she still runs off at the mouth and lets her emotions dictate her outrageous behaviour but our little Rose is slowly growing up. We also see where some of her resentment comes from as her mother enters the picture and the reader learns how female Guardians choose between family and duty.

Again, like the first book, I don't want to get too much into the core story because I don't want to reveal any spoilers. Just know that this book is action-packed, full of surprises, love triangles and hilarious situations (aka, awkward moments via Rose and Lissa's connection). Frostbite is sure to keep you entertained and itching for Book #3 - Shadow Kiss.