In My Mailbox - April 30th

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 was incredibly lucky to win the new Black Heart title from Holly Black this month. Thank you to Tynga's Reviews for hosting the giveaway!

I was also so psyched to come home from a long day of work only to find not one but 2 titles from Simon and Schuster Canada!  Thank you!!  I cannot wait to get these started!!

The Nightworld by Jack Blaine

Published: April 2012

Publisher: Harper Collins Children

Pages: 176

Copy: Publisher courtesy of Edelweiss

Summary: Goodreads

Scraping by in classes, hanging out with his best friend Charlie, and trying to get a date with Lara Hanover, the prettiest girl in school—that was Nick Robbins’ life.

Survival was the last thing on his mind.

Then, a strange cloud appeared over the city. A cloud that kept growing. The darkness on the horizon consumed the light around it. And Nick’s dad, a Department of Defense energy physicist, might have something to do with it. Soon, it became clear that the world Nick knew would never be the same.

Now, night is never-ending. The temperature is falling as heat leaves the world. Plants and animals are dying and people are turning into predators waiting for any small advantage. But Nick is determined not to disappear like the fading light. Desperate to glimpse a familiar face in the shadows, Nick races to find his friends—and the one clue that’s his glimmer of hope.

What made The Nightworld stand out a little from the rest of the current apocalyptic novels was the reason behind the apocalyptic event.  In this case it's not a nuclear war or a virus - the event occurs because 'people' have been messing around with particle physics.    A never-ending night falls and brings with it all of the problems that ensue with a lack of sunshine - cold for a start.  Then lack of power, food shortages etc, etc.

Nick's character was fairly sensible and I liked him.  He made one or two mistakes, but they were believable, and ultimately forgivable.   One of the things I enjoyed was the burgeoning romance between Nick and Lara.  The back story lets us know that these two have been skirting around each other for quite some time, so this is not a case of insta-love, but instead a very cute and believable, if somewhat unfortunate, case of everything finally falling into place.

Nick and Lara have a plausible reason for travelling as they do (avoiding spoilers here) and they do not meet up with any monsters in this story, unless you counnt the human ones, and they are definitely monstrous enough.  It was nice though to see a couple of good samaritans, even if only for a short time.   With a fairly satisfying finish, and no cliffhangers, all loose ends were tied up neatly -but with the definite possibility of a sequel.  I personally am looking forward to reading one if it comes.  The Nightworld should appeal to readers of Sara Beth Pfeffers Life As We Knew It and sequels. 

Apparently The Nightworld is based on a video game - but since I've never been much of a gamer that fact is not particularly significant to me.  Perhaps it will be for some of you.

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Published: April 24th, 2012

Publisher: Balzer and Bray

Pages: My copy - 377

Copy: Publishr and Edelweiss

Summary: Goodreads

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

Unraveling surprised me. It was so good and I just didn't see it coming.  I really don't recall seeing much about it, but I thought the blurb sounded interesting. Unfortunately, it does not do the book justice, at all.  Unraveling masquarades as contemporary paranormal - but really it's more contemporary science fiction with a dose of apocalypse.  Think Sliders with a side of X- Files at their most mysterious and a healthy helping of Twilight Zone for dessert.

Ms Norris's characters are well written and 3 dimensional.  There are positive, responsible adults, with adult problems.  There are various teens  who cover the high school spectrum, but each one is an individual.  Nick, the jock with a great sense of humour and a sense of entitlement.  Kate, the ex best friend who wanted to go with the in-crowd.  Alex, the best friend from Kindergarten.  Janelle, who's sure enough about herself that she doesn't feel the need to fit in.  Ben, the stoner who has much more to him than meets the eye.  All of them very real.

 Janelle is trying to solve a mystery.  Seems fairly straight forward - ask Ben why she's still alive.  But that is just the start of a much larger puzzle and the countdown is on. With a count-down clock running at the beginning of each chapter, there is a sense of impending disaster - all the more so because we don't know why the clock is counting down.  It's really quite intense.

And yes, there is a love story, with an ending that shocked the hell out of me, because I didn't see it coming.  It's not a cliff-hanger ending.  Everything gathers together nicely and all the questions are answered, but Ms Norris, if you don't write a sequel to Unraveling, I for one, will be extremely disappointed.  I want to know what happens next!  I absolutely LOVED this book.  It's mysterious, engrossing, wonderfully written and a captivating love story.  Highly recommended.

Check out Liz's blog for the trailer, and to find out more about Unraveling.

Follow Friday

Feature and 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 will answer! This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. This weeks question is:

Q: Have you had a character that disappointed you? One that you fell in love with and then "broke up" with later on in either the series or a stand-alone book? Tell us about him or her.

Wow, I think this must be one of the hardest questions in a while.  At this moment I can't think of any specific character that disappointed me - actually that's not true.  There is a character in the House of Night Series that I went off completely, but I can't remember her name.  She's the one who hid the birdman when he was injured - I think it might have been Stevie Rae.  But to be honest, that whole series disappointed me.  It started out so well and then just got weird.  I still have to read the last 2 or 3, (which I own, by the way) but I find I can no longer summon any enthusiasm for the series.

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.

Check out our latest giveaway for The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom - a hilarious look at life from the perspecive of the 'Princes Charming'.  There's a link at the top right-hand side of the page.

Missed the Boat

100 YEARS

I've been meaning to write this post for quite awhile but I kept putting it off.  So as we know, this year is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  You read more about the Titanic at Titanic Universe.

I also found this interesting video on YouTube.  

If you are interested in a couple of Young Adult titles on the Titanic, you might want to check out

Did you know that there are others celebrating their centennial years in 2012.  For instance, Universal has been delivering 100 years of cinema.  Check out how their logo has changed throughout time

Happy 100th to the Girl Scouts in 2012!

One of my favourite cookies turns 100

And my hometown celebrates its 100th Stampede!

Have you come across any other companies or events turning 100 in 2012?

Waiting on Wednesday - Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

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 -

Due for publication May 1st, 2012

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past. Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

I am such a fan of Graceling and Fire that I can't wait to read this one.

Winner of The Immortal Rules giveaway

AND THE WINNER OF 

THE IMMORTAL RULES 

BY JULIE KAGAWA IS.....

VIVIAN P!!

CONGRATS VIVIEN!!

Your copy will be sent out directly from the publisher.

(Vivien is one lucky duck.  I know this because she has won books before on our blog....) 

Don't forget that we have another contest still running.  You can win The Hero's Guide to Saving your Kingdom by Christopher Healy by clicking on the link at the top right corner of our blog.  Good luck!

Musings by Knitwits - Improv Sewing

Once a month Christinabean and I like to bring a craft, knitting or cookbook to your attention. We both love to pick up a pair of knitting needles or some other type of needle, or putter about in the kitchen and we like to share the love when we find a book that will help. This months selection is:

Published: April 24th, 2012

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Pages: 320

Copy: Publisher through Netgalley

Summary: Goodreads

These 101 creative sewing projects can all be completed in less than a day--some in less than an hour Playful and inventive, the projects include clothing for all ages, accessories, home decor items, and furnishings. Most feature embellishments and decorative effects -- simple touches that personalize a project with charm -- and use interesting textural fabrics, such as jersey knits, linen, and felt...even paper and vinyl The authors walk readers through the sewing basics, demystify the lost art of simple pattern-making, provide visual guides to stitches, and give easy instructions for techniques such as applique, doodle-stitching, and layering of fabrics

I started sewing when I was 16, with my mothers help.  I needed her help because the pattern I chose was probably one of the most complex dress patterns I could have found.  Luckily, she walked me through it step by step and gave me the confidence to keep going.  She never once doubted that I could do it and I went on to wear that dress for several years. (Thanks Mum.) Having said that, it would have been sooooo much less stressful for me to start with an easier project - like one of the 101 that can be found in Improv Sewing.

These projects are all simple and straightforward and most would be wonderful starting projects for a beginner or just for someone who loves to sew, but doesn't have a lot of time.  Many of them use already available items, such as old dress shirts (skirt), vintage table cloths (floor cushion), old t-shirts etc.  How about wrist warmers from an old sweater that has felted in the dryer?  There's even a purse made from an old leather jacket - I'm going to try that one for sure. 

Have a fancy to try embellishing?  Improv Sewing shows you simple yet effective techniques that don't take forever.  These are not cookie-cutter designs, but allow for lots of expression and personalisation    The blurb says all of these projects can be completed in a day, and after looking through the book I believe it. You can make a dress, or a napkin. A skirt or a tablerunner. Scarves, hats, pillow covers - ideas for christmas here anyone? I just wish I'd had access to this book when I started sewing.

In My Mailbox - April 23rd

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.

This week I fed my e-reader and purchased

I am SOOO EXCITED to read it!  If you haven't read this series, you have no idea what you're missing.  Its a whole lot of mystery paralleled with thrilling suspense and a dash of romance all wrapped up into an awesome story.  Oh, and so far, no sex and language!

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

Published: June 2011

Publisher: Random House

Pages: 349

Copy Provided by: NetGalley

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one.

Review:

I had been meaning to read this title for awhile now but like many books, I don't always have time to read or it falls further and further into my TBR list.  Lately though I've lucked out and been reading quite a few fantastic titles.  This one really struck home with me. 

Maybe its just that time in your life when you reminisce about the people who really matter to you and the support systems you have.  I'd seen the first Sisterhood movie but I haven't read the books.  Sisterhood Everlasting is truly about friendship and what's really important in life.  It has been a long time since the girls have been together, all 4 in the same place.  They have moved on with their lives and somehow, have drifted apart.  The jeans have long since been lost and so have some of their past loves.  They try to stay in touch but its somehow different now and they are no longer running parallel paths.  Heck, they aren't even in the same states or countries. 

The thing is, real friendship doesn't have a destination.  The best friendships are the ones that can just pick up where they left off.  Where you can finish one another's sentences, are happy for your friend's achievements, always have an ear ready to listen and just know when your friend has found Mr. Right (or Mr. Wrong)....even if it takes her forever to realize it.

I loved this book.  It touched my heartstrings to read and would be perfect for sharing with the other women in your life whom you share something special with.  I laughed a lot and cried a lot but mostly, it made me think about my own special groups of friends.  I would recommend it for a woman's or teen book club or as a gift for someone special.  One last thing it did for me is this - it made me appreciate and miss those lifelong friends that will always be in my heart. 

City of Lost Souls trailer

Freaking awesome.  Nuff said.

Guest Post What Do You Want to Do before You Die? byThe Buried Life

Published: March 27th, 2012

Publisher: Artisan Press

Pages: 224

Copy: From Publisher for review

Summary: Goodreads

An illustrated collection of answers to the age-old question, "What do you want to do before you die? "as posed by four twenty-something guys known as "The Buried Life." In 2006, four regular guys--Ben, Dave, Duncan, and Jonnie--made a "bucket list" of 100 things they wanted to do before they died. Five years later, with an MTV platform and 1.2 million Facebook followers, they've turned their attention to crossing off their list item #19: Write a Bestselling Book. "What Do You Want to Do Before You Die? "is an illustrated collection of real people's dreams. Two hundred moving, imaginative, amusing, and thought-provoking goals are brought to life through original illustrations. Peppered throughout are stories of the boys' own journey. Readers will find something to take away--touching stories, nuggets of wisdom--on every page. This is an inspirational book for a new generation: visual and sassy, lighthearted but substantive, encouraging without being preachy.


What Do You Want To Do Before You Die is a compilation of mixed media representations of various people's aspirations, as well as their accounts of how they achieved such audacious dreams. It is not a novel, nor is it fiction. It is not a hard or long read. It IS, however, thought provoking and motivating.

Jonnie and Duncan Penn, Dave Lingwood and Ben Nemtin, are the co-authors of this book, and the creators of the original list that chronicles the 100 things they would like to achieve before they die. The list is varied, ranging from the shocking (42. Spend a night in jail) the humorous (41. Make a toast at a strangers wedding) the humbling (30. Make a big donation to charity) the motivating (62. Protest something) and the ones we had in common (3. Get a tattoo, and 19. Write a best-selling book). They named themselves "The Buried Life" in an effort to prepare themselves for adulthood, achieve the impossible - and above all, elevate others to do the same.

I read this book over the course of two hours, and loved every page of it. I am a huge fan of Frank Warren's Post Secret Project (www.postsecret.com If you haven't discovered it yet, you should take a moment to explore his blog), and this project runs along the same vein as Warren's. Except that instead of sharing secrets of the past, people are sharing secrets of their aspirations.  The artists renderings of the answers to the question "What do you want to do before you die?" were my favourite part of the book. No two are the same, and each represents the sentiment in a way that words alone cannot do. The goals are similar to those of the original list, and it is obvious that each one comes from a place of hope and intention. The very last aspiration? "I want to leave a mark"

Well...You can't leave a mark if you don't step out of your comfort zone, pick up a marker, or believe that the efforts of one person can change the world...Leave a comment with a few things YOU Want to do before you die. (and thanks for letting me guest post!!)


A few items on MY list..?
1. Have a YA book in print by 2016
2. Ride an elephant across a desert in India
3. Complete 200 hour yoga teacher training in a country other than Canada
4. Own a 5 bedroom farm house with a wrap-around veranda
5. Meet someone famous
6. Get (another) tattoo
7. Be a part of a Habitat for Humanity build in another country
8. Sing in front of a crowd
9. Be internet famous :)

Many thanks to Ellie Kathryn from Wide Eyed with Wonder for her thoughts on this interesting book

Follow Friday

Feature and 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 will answer! This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. This weeks question is:

Q: Fight! Fight! If you could have two fictional characters battle it out (preferably from books), who would they be and who do you think would win?

If I absolutely had to pick 2, I'd like to see Jace from Cassie Clare's Mortal Instruments and Patch from Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush Hush Saga.  To be perfectly honest tho, I'm a bit of a wuss, and I really don't like anyone having to duke it out. I think it comes from having had a beer glass hit me in the midst of a fight many, many years ago.  Scared the livin' daylights out of me.

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.

Don't forget to check out our  giveaways that are running right now - links at the top right hand side of the page.

Starters by Lissa Price

Published: March 2012 

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Pages: 368

Copy Provided by: NetGalley

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

Review:

I had been reading some buzz on different blogs about this one so I thought I'd give it a try.  I managed to snag a copy from NetGalley and one of the things that piqued my interest even more was the Editor's letter at the beginning of the ARC raving about the concept of this book.

The idea of Enders and Starters was very interesting.  Imagine having a population of young people and seniors.  What a challenge!  Lissa Price didn't get into much about industry but it started my wheels turning and I had all sorts of questions about who would be working and making money.  How do you survive without a middle working class?  The concept of it all is baffling and left me with many questions as I was reading.  Not necessarily a bad thing but I wanted to know more about the society and more about how people lived.  It seems like a world that Ms. Price could certainly pull other storylines from.

There were many different ideas that this book touched upon!  Renting bodies, children squatting on the street, children taking on a parenting role, class variances...I admired Callie for her bravery in working with Prime Destinations and risking so much to take care of her younger brother.  She was a great heroine and the story's pace moved quite quickly.  It faltered just a little at the end and I'm eager to see what Ms. Price comes up with with her follow-up, (smartly titled) Enders. 

For me, this book is hard to discuss until you've read it.  The story becomes quite complicated with multiple characters but like I mentioned before, the pace was incredibly quick and I found it hard to put down.  I have very little time to read but I definitely lost sleep because I would start reading in the evening and just couldn't seem to stop.

It was recommended to fans of the Hunger Games but I feel that EVERYONE is referencing the Hunger Games right now to cash in on the series popularity.  Honestly, I feel tht if you had enjoyed Matched by Allie Condie or even XVI by Julia Karr, you should enjoy this one.

Favourite quote
(I read the ARC so the quote might be slightly different in the published edition)

• Did Cinderella ever consider fessing up to the prince, that night she was enjoying herself in the fancy ball gown?  Did she even think of telling him, oh, by the way, Prince, the coach isn't mine, I'm really a filthy little barefoot servant on borrowed time?  No, she took her moment.
  
  

Waiting on Wednesday - Destined by Aprilynne Pike

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

Laurel now knows the truth: Yuki is a rare Winter faerie, the most powerful—and deadly—of all, and she is working with Klea to conquer and destroy Avalon. With Tamani, David, and Chelsea by her side, Laurel prepares for a fight she never thought she would have to face.

Filled with heart-pounding action, sweeping romance, and higher stakes at every turn, Destined is the series conclusion that readers have been clamoring for—with a twist that will leave them breathless.

Tamani looked at her gravely, and reached up to touch her hair behind her ear. He hesitated for an instant, then his hands found the sides of her face, pulling her to him. He didn't kiss her, just held her face to his, their foreheads resting together, their noses almost touching.

She hated how much it felt like good-bye.

I can't wait to read this one, I just love this series.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER OF OUR GALAHAD LEGACY SERIES SET

ELIZABETH H!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Please don't forget to enter our other contests

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

and

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

Fantastic Fairytales - Review and giveaway

Published: May 1st 2012

Publisher: Walden Pond Press

Pages: 419

Copy: Arc received for Review

Summary: Goodreads

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You've never head of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as "Prince Charming." But all of this is about to change...

Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Guztav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it's up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other associated terrors to becom the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

This title is the first in a series about the adventures of Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav. The second title is due out in 2013

Ever wondered what happens after the 'Happily Ever After' at the end of all those fairy tales.  Well be prepared to hear the true story - and it's not all sunshine and roses.  Enter the Princes Charming - all four of them - and what a diverse bunch they are. I had such a great time reading about the misadventures of Prince Duncan who kissed Snow White awake because the dwarves told him to; Prince Liam who rescued Sleeping Beauty in a truly daring fashion;  Prince Frederic who wowed Cinderella at the ball with his marvellous charm and dress sense and Prince Gustav, who tried to rescue Rapunzel, but got thrown out of the tower instead. Not a sensible one amongst them, honestly!

You've heard of 'lions and tigers and bears, oh my!' ? Well how about 'giants and dragons and trolls'?  Throw in an evil witch, some savvy bandits and a host of miscellaneous other characters and you'll find yourself laughing as these four lovable idiots set out to save their kingdoms from the wicked witch.

Hero's is written for a slightly younger audience but I\m certain that any serious fairytale lover will truly appreciate the escapades chronicled in this wonderful book.  I laughed, I sniffled and I just loved the amazing drawings that are scattered throughout the book.   Todd Harris has done an amazing job illustrating Mr Healy's text (check out last months Fantastic Fairytales for a sneek peek), and it was so easy picturing the characters in my mind.  There was nothing I disliked about Hero's and I'm really looking forward to 2013 when these 4 lovable goof balls will continue their adventures. I for one can't wait.  Highly recommended.

We were lucky enough to get access to a signed copy of Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, so don't forget to enter our giveaway below.

In My Mailbox - April 16th

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.

What's in my mailbox?  Don'tcha mean What's new on my reader??

So last Tuesday I made a donation to our local book drive and depleted my bookshelves of books I just don't have the time to read.  Consider it my contribution to re-using and charity since the profits from this booksale go to literacy funds for kids around the city.  I even went so far as to help my Dad pilfer his house and together we donated about 13 boxes of books.  Sooo....when I saw this title at Costco on Tuesday afternoon, I was sure that it could be some kind of reward.  However, I did place it back on the shelf and went for the e-version when I came home.  I guess I'm still in the reduce, recycle and re-use mood.  Still leaves me shelf space and I now I can carry it with me on my Kobo.  Keep your eye out for my review shortly!!  

City of Bones - Revisited

There are many reasons for re-reading a book - it's your favourite; school; you don't remember it etc.  In my case it was book club.  I was hosting a book club at work called Not Just For Teens, a great idea that highlights teen books that adults read.  City of Bones was the first book that came to my mind (yes I did think Hunger Games, but there were reasons not to pick it).  I thought at first that I could manage without re-reading, but I realised that it was a few years since I last cracked it open. - it was originally published in 2007.  So I got down my signed copy (big grin on my face here - I met Cassie Clare!) and I settled down to read.  Less than 24 hrs later I was done.

It was so wonderful revisiting Clary's world.  I had forgotten so many small details, which is ridiculous really since I have read, listened to and reread before.  The two things that stand out this time are these - how fragile the 5 kids are and the humour.  Clary is discovering a world that she knew nothing about but is in fact her heritage; Simon is struggling with his feelings for Clary; Jace is still dealing with the loss of his father;  Alec is struggling with love for Jace and Isabel is overcompensating for everything. I had forgotten how young they all are, and what complex, involved characters Ms Clare has produced. 

The thing that really surprised me though was the humour. City of Bones is really such a serious and involved book that it's easy to forget that thread of wit that tumbles it's way through the whole story.

'Madame Dorothea shot him a dark look.  "If you were half as funny as you thought you were, my boy, you'd be twice as funny as you are."' (p102)

'Sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrup," she told him. "I can't help it.  I use my rapier with to hide my inner pain."  "Your pain will be outer soon if you don't get out of traffic.  Are you trying to get run over by a cab?"  "Don't be ridiculous," he said.  "We could never get a cab that easily in this neighborhood."' (p171)

'She thought she saw a muscle twitch in his cheek. "Hello' is girly," he informed her.  "Real men are terse. Laconic."  "So the more manly you are, the less you say?"  "Right." Simon nodded.  .........."That's why when major dadasses greet each other in movies they don't say anything, they just nod. The nod means, 'I am a badass, and I recognize  that you, too, are a badass,' but they don't say anything because they're Wolverine and Magneto and it would mess up their vibe to explain."' (p339)

How I just love the way Ms Clare writes.  You get completely drawn in to her version of the world and it's hard to remember that it's not real. 

The other exciting thing about City of Bones is that it does look as if the movie is going to be made.  I saw an actual release date somewhere, but I can't find it again and I don't have the time to do a full search. After having just finished the book again I'm excited to see what the movie industry does with one of my favourite books.  I'll try to keep an open mind.

Finally, if you  haven't read the book yet, give it a try.  It really is worth it, and I'm sorry if I just gave out any spoilers.

Guest post for Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Published: February 28th 2012

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 375

Copy: Won from Esther's Ever After courtesy of Harper Teen

Sometimes my darling daughter comes over to visit and asks me what she should read next.  I love that question :). It's every readers advisor's favourite.  Anyway, I handed her Delirium and then very shortly after that, Pandemonium.  Here is her take on Pandemonium

Pandemonium (Good Reads Summary)

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame


REVIEW (Potential Spoilers for those who have yet to read Delirium)

I frequently raid my mother's shelves for both movies I haven't seen in a few years, and books I have yet to read. Last week on a visit she handed me Delirium, Lauren Oliver's first book in this series, and said "Here, you have to read this." Within 36 hours I had texted her saying something along the lines of "OMG! This book is blowing my mind!" and 12 hours after that I was calling her begging for the second volume in the trilogy. And Pandemonium did not disappoint - I think, actually, it was even better than the first novel! The story continues Lena's personal battle in a dystopian world where love has been declared the disease, that, once contracted, is the root of many others: anxiety, depression, mania, stress, high blood pressure, etc. What a concept! We never really find out what the cure is, or how it works, but it appears to make people emotionally defunct, and essentially free from attachment or connection.

Pandemonium is an interesting contrast between NOW and THEN, a writing style that differs from Delirium, but is not irritating or confusing. Rather, the contrast of past and future create a balance in which we learn how one happens as a result of, or as a precursor to, the other. I loved the characters in this book. I loved the harshness of Raven, the uncertainty of Lena, the confusion in Julian, the motivation Alex provides, even in his absence and all of the other minor roles we stumble across throughout the story. I loved reading the development of the relationship between Lena and Julian, which, though somewhat predictable, didn't disappoint in the slightest. I loved the settings: from Portland, to the Wilds, to New York City....It is an adventure to imagine our world through such different eyes. I tore through this  book just as quickly as I did Delirium, and actually shouted a curse across the room to my husband upon finishing the last page. I CANNOT believe I have to wait an ENTIRE year to see how this huge plot twist will play out. Well worth a read in my mind (and also a re-read so everything is fresh when I finally get the last book in my hot little hands!)

Many thanks to Ellie Kathryn from Wide Eyed with Wonder for sharing her thoughts with us.  Now I just have to find time to read it!

Follow Friday

Feature and 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 will answer! This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. This weeks question is:

Q: What is one book that you would be nervous to see a movie adaption of because you think the movie could never live up to the book?

I find I'm getting nervous about the adaptation of Beautiful Creatures.  I keep reading more little tidbits about it and nothing I've read so far makes me think Yeh!  For whatever reason, the Beautiful Creatures series has become my absolute favourite, I love everything about it, much more so than City of Bones or Hunger Games, so I have set a very high bar for this movie. 

I think Christinabean's movie adaption could be for Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy, but I'm not absolutely certain there.

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.

Check out our Giveaway for Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules which runs until April 23rd.

The Gift by Andrea J Buchanan

Published: March 27th, 2012

Publisher: Open Road Media

Pages: 155

Copy: Publisher and Netgalley

Summary: Goodreads

High school sophomore Daisy Jones is just trying to get by unnoticed. It doesn’t help that she’s the new girl at school, lives in a trailer park, and doesn’t even own a cell phone. But there’s a good reason for all that: Daisy has a secret, unpredictable power—one only her best friend, Danielle, knows about.

Despite her “gift” (or is it a curse?), Daisy’s doing a good job of fitting in—and a cute senior named Kevin even seems interested in her! But when Daisy tries to help Vivi, a mysterious classmate in a crisis, she soon discovers that her new friend has a secret of her own. Now Daisy and her friends must deal with chilling dreams and messages from the beyond. Can Daisy channel the power she’s always tried to hide—before it’s too late?

Gift took me somewhat by surprise, in a good way that is.  It was so much more than I had expected. For some reason I was expecting a somewhat light-weight ghost story and what I got was a growing sense of dread that continued throughout the entire book.  There was a malevolence about Patrick that seemed totally unfounded but was impossible to ignore.  This was heightened by the fact that the reader knows what is happening, but the characters don't.  Several times while reading I wanted to warn the characters, tell them to be careful.  It was really creepy.

Ms Buchanan has put together an interesting group of characters that mesh into a cohesive group throughout the story.  Daisy, Danielle, Vivi and Kevin were all well written and believable -  each with their own cross to bear.  Danielle was wonderful as the bouncy best friend and Kevin was just lovely - not a jock, not a geek, just an all around nice guy.  Vivi was convincingly troubled and Daisy's struggle with her gift was compelling.  There is one part where I wanted to cheer for Daisy and smack her at the same time - could she not see she was being manipulated?

Gift was well written and full of ghostly possession, passion and spirit - I loved it. Recommended for those who like their ghosts with a side of nastiness.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

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

Love. Kimberly. Derting.  I'm surprised at how many people have not yet heard of this author.  You really should give her books a go.  It's like finding that undiscovered gem in YA literature.  This title is totally on my list when it comes out.  I loved the first two titles in the series and recommend them to pretty much everyone I know.

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye....

Don't forget to check out our giveaways for all 6 volumes of the Galahad Legacy and Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules

Let's Hear It For The Boys- BZRK by Michael Grant

Published: February 28th, 2012

Publisher: Egmont

Pages: 386

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Love The Hunger Games? Action-adventure thrillers with a dystopian twist? BZRK (Berserk) by Michael Grant, New York Times best-selling author of the GONE series, ramps up the action and suspense to a whole new level of excitement.

Set in the near future, BZRK is the story of a war for control of the human mind. Charles and Benjamin Armstrong, conjoined twins and owners of the Armstrong Fancy Gifts Corporation, have a goal: to turn the world into their vision of utopia. No wars, no conflict, no hunger. And no free will. Opposing them is a guerrilla group of teens, code name BZRK, who are fighting to protect the right to be messed up, to be human. This is no ordinary war, though. Weapons are deployed on the nano-level. The battleground is the human brain. And there are no stalemates here: It’s victory . . . or madness.

BZRK unfolds with hurricane force around core themes of conspiracy and mystery, insanity and changing realities, engagement and empowerment, and the larger impact of personal choice. Which side would you choose? How far would you go to win?

Michael Grant's Gone series is an amazing read that makes you question what makes you tick  His new novel BZRK takes the crazy one step higher.  It's a twisted, mind-blowing ride that leaves you reeling.

BZRK tells the story of a group of characters of diverse and somewhat strange personalities.  It would be hard to actually pin down the 'main' characters, possibly Noah (Keats) and Sadie (Plath), but really there is no one character that is of more importance than the other.  Each is necessary to the story in their own way.  It was a little confusing at the beginning since most of the characters have two names - real and alias, but as the story progresses each individual becomes clear in all their warped glory, and believe me, some of them are really warped!

This is a complex spy story told with teens and young adults.   There are several older characters in positions of power, but they fit neatly into the story.  Keats and Plath are thrown into a situation that starts with a huge bang on about page 19 and their lives are completely changed from that point on.  Their training is unlike anything they have known, or the reader for that matter, and we enter a completely different world.  A world on the nano level.  This was one of the most bizarre landscapes I have ever encountered, made even more so because it is real - that of the  human body.

There are battles with monsters, chases, explosions and enough tension for the most demanding reader. I really didn't  know what to expect when I started BZRK, but once I got over the strangeness this was an utterly engrossing read and I loved it. 

Don't forget to check out our giveaways for all 6 volumes of the Galahad Legacy and Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules

In My Mailbox - April 9th

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.

Erebos was from the library and What Do You Want To Do Before You Die was from the publisher.  I'm hoping my daughter can help me with a review for that one.

Don't forget to check out our giveaways for all 6 volumes of the Galahad Legacy and Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules

Same Book Second Look - The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Published: April 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 359

Copy: Bought

Summary: Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island. 

Until now. 

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet. 

Review:

So as some of you know, I have a massive TBR pile.  I have so many books that I've actually given some to friends to read because I just can't read them all and they were collecting dust on my shelves.  I have chosen a select few to read through before sharing them with friends.  And this is definitely one I would share with friends.

I am a big fan of Kelley Armstrong.  I have had the privilege of meeting her in person and have read her Darkest Powers trilogy.  I can't say enough great things about this author.  She has written so many fantastic novels and she is an absolute gem to speak with.  One thing that I LOVE about her is that she takes time out for her audience.  She runs a crazy schedule just so she can hold workshops on writing and meet her fans.  She's yet another author who is in touch with her craft and her audience.  Plus, she is Canadian to boot!  

I found this new series even more entertaining than The Darkest Powers trilogy.  Being that this is the first book, I can't wait for the next one (entitled The Calling and co-incidentally comes out April 10th!)  The book takes place in Canada and there are so many references to "Canadianisms"  it had me laughing out loud.  Ms. Armstrong really showcased her wit with this one.  My favourite was how Kelley incorporated poutine into her writing. LOVE IT.

**possible spoiler**

I found The Gathering to be identifiable and believable on some level.  By linking native folklore to shapeshifting, it felt more real.  

**end spoiler**

Also, Kelley's writing tone and style felt like it was aimed at an older audience.  Sure, the quips (such as those I have quoted below) are aimed at a younger audience but her delivery felt different than The Darkest Powers books.  I'm really enjoying this series though.  If you're an older young adult reader like I am, you may as well.

My favourite quotes 

“Rafe didn't just flirt-he charmed girls right up to the point where they fell for him, then he changed his mind.I called him a player with attention deficit disorder.” 

“Rafe grinned. "So we are dating?" 
"No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It'll take you awhile to compile the data. They'd like it in triplicate." 
I turned to my parents. "We have Kenji. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't officially dating, I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need." 
Dad choked on his coffee.” 

RE: Sharing with friends.  On second thought, I might not get it back....get your own copy!  :P

Still not convinced?  Here is the book trailer for The Calling.  How can you NOT be intrigued to start this series??

Don't forget to check out out Giveaways for all 6 vols of The Galahad Legacy and Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules