Same book, Second look - Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Published: October 2010

Publisher: Philomel Books

Pages: 454

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Review:

OH MY GOODNESS! I was so unprepared for this book! I didn't know much about the story, just that Nightshade was receiving good reviews. I am so happy to have read it in 2010!! It exceeded my expectations. Andrea has created a wonderful and well thoughtout hierarchy with rules and complicated systems of ordering. It was like creating a brand new culture with subcultures!

The main character Cala was believeable and even though she was an alpha and expected others to follow her orders, she was 'human' enough to break rules she had been given and take chances. I love the dynamics between Ren, Cala and Shay and if I had to choose, I think I'd be Team Ren.

**possible spoiler**

Sorry Shay but you put the ones you love in too many situations that affect their well-being. I kept comparing it to cultures and respect for someone's culture. Even though Shay was not a werewolf, he was a part of their world, wanted to hang out with their pack but didn't really respect any of their rules and pushed Cala to bend them. Sure I can see how he wanted her to consider other options but I didn't feel comfortable with it.
Although, in retrospect, I did feel that Shay received a lot of "facetime" in the book so I'm thinking that they will probably end up together (If this were a movie, I'd be booing, throwing popcorn at the screen and possibly making lewd gestures).

**possible spoiler**

So let's talk Ren. MMM.....bad boys. Or should I say boys who attract EVERY girl but are attracted to only you. But how can you tell? I really felt the sincerity coming through when Ms Cremer worked in Ren's character. He was trying to shed his playboy image but continued using his rico suave technique with Cala. Smooth moves will get the girl for tonight but you've gotta change your tactics if you want to nab the one you want to marry. Go Ren!

 If you haven't already read Nightshade, you need to go out and get it now. Really, it's fantastic and I can't wait for the second in the series - Wolfsbane coming out July 12th (Seriously? That far away??)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Published: February 1st, 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

e-arc provided by: Netgalley and publisher, thank you

Summary: Goodreads

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love - the deliria - blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

When I started reading 'Delirium' I found myself wondering what all the hype was about. It didn't really seem all that special - just another dystopian story. Lena seemed a little naive for an almost 18 year old and I wasn't sure I liked her. Then the story began to get under my skin. Ms Oliver has a way of writing that seeps into you. The character development is slow but sure and you come to recognise characteristics and personalities.

The society is so very similar to the one we live in now, but as you read, differences creep in insidiously. Certain elements in the story are decidedly creepy, like the 'regulators' - wow, definite shades of 'Big Brother is Watching You' going on here! The idea that people just go about their daily business without feeling anything is positively horrendous. By the time I was half-way through the book I was completely entranced and rooting for Lena. Her choices and decision making become very, very important and you can almost feel the struggles that she has to go through - going against everything she has been taught her whole life.

I have completely fallen in love with the way Ms Oliver writes, clearly, crisply and with feeling:

'In that second it really hits me how deep and complex the lies are, how they run through Portland like sewers, backing up into everything, filling the city with stench; the whole city built and constructed within a perimeter of lies.'(197)

' Love: a single word, a wispy thing, a word no bigger or longer than an edge. That's what it is: an edge; a razor. It draws up through the center of your life, cutting everything in two. Before and after. The rest of the world falls away on either side.
Before and after-and during, a moment no bigger or longer than an edge.' (211)

This book starts out slowly, but it will grab you and it wont let go. Be prepared!

Christinabean's Friday Finds - Friday January 7th

Ahhhh....the new year! Did everyone get what they wanted for Christmas? Am I still the only one on the planet without an e-reader? Originally I was debating about whether I would prefer an e-reader or a netbook. My aunt was planning on getting a new netbook so I snagged her old one (score!). I thought I'd love reading e-books with it using Adobe EPUB....uh, not so much. So my question for you followers is do you have an e-reader? What do you love about it? What do you hate? If you could change it, what would you make it do?

So onto my news....

Lauren Kate (love love love her covers and her books) has released the next book cover for Passion. It is the prequel to Fallen and Torment. Pretty, yes?

The follow up to The Body Finder (one of my favs from 2010) is coming out soon - Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting. I've chatted with her briefly on Twitter. Such a nice gal! Too bad she wasn't on the Smart Chicks Kick it Tour when it came to Toronto.

Check out the first 77 pages of the book here!

Friday Blog Hop - January 7th

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 influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?

Last year I read Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and I found that this book really touched me. Lauren took us through all of the different types of peer pressure that you can experience growing up. When I was younger, I started to become a mean girl at school and then within a few months, things were turned around and I was the one who was ostracized from my group, rather than initiating and intimdating others. I learned quickly about making better choices and treating others with respect. Before I Fall reminded me of who I could have been had I stayed on the same path and the choices I've made to become who I am now. (Christinabean)

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

Night Star by Alyson Noel

Published: November 2010

Publisher: St Martin's Griffin

Pages: 302

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

After fighting for centuries to be together, Ever and Damen’s future hinges on one final showdown that will leave readers gasping for breath. Don’t miss this explosive new installment of the #1 bestselling series that’s enchanted millions across the world!

Haven still blames Ever for the death of her boyfriend Roman, no matter how hard Ever’s tried to convince her it was an accident. Now she’s determined to take Ever down…and destroy Damen and Jude along the way. Her first step is to tear Ever and Damen apart—and she has just the ammunition to do it.

Hidden in one of Ever’s past lives is a terrible secret about Damen—a secret that illuminates new facts about her relationship with Jude, but that’s so dark and brutal it might be enough to drive her and Damen apart once and for all. As Ever faces her greatest fears about the guy she wants to spend eternity with, she’s thrust into a deadly clash with Haven that could destroy them all.

Now it’ll take everything she’s got—and bring out powers she never knew she had—to face down her most formidable enemy. But in order to win, she must first ask herself: is her own survival worth dooming Haven to an eternity of darkness in the Shadowland? And will learning the truth about Damen’s past hold the key to their future?


Review:

Haven or Hell? Man, this gal really is Hell....Ever's personal hell. It seems that everything that Ever does ends up working to Haven's advantage. You could just feel the evilness oozing out of this ex-best friend. Have you ever had a friend like this? (not someone you've brought back to life with some magical elixir) Someone you've loved and admired who has turned into a super B**CH? Well, I think that Ms. Noel did an excellent job of capturing this. Girls are funny creatures, don't you think? Guys get pissed off and they just duke it out and get things over with. Girls on the other hand mess with each other's minds, feelings and use other tools like ostracizing and manipulating situations. It's like slow and painful torture!

I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy this book. To be honest, I was starting to lose a bit of interest in the series because Ever's attitude was bugging me but I have invested so much into reading this series that I just couldn't help myself. I had to find out. I really enjoyed the outcome. Will Damon and Ever be able to touch again?  Can they find that elusive antidote?  Will Ever and Haven have a showdown?  Well, I guess I'll have to let you read and find out (like I said, girls like slow and painful torture....)

I had a ton of quotes that I wanted to add to this post but I lost my notes! AUGH! Not a good start to the new year!!

Waiting on Wednesday - Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst

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

Summary (by Goodreads):

What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her#; She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet! Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons; the ordinary one and a magical one; and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets. When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage; and a little magic; to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

In Case You Missed It - Devoured by Amanda Marrone

Published: September 2009

Published: Simon Pulse

# Pages: 289

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Megan’s twin sister Remy died in an accident nine years ago, and she’s been haunting her ever since. Knowing how crazy that sounds, Megan keeps this secret to herself and tries to lead a normal life. But when she takes a summer job at Land of Enchantment to keep an eye on her new boyfriend and his lovesick best friend, Samantha, she meets fellow employee Luke who can see Remy, too. Things get even twistier because Megan’s new friend Ari is sporting a massive crush on Luke, who seems to be developing a massive crush on Megan…making for a love triangle that’s positively possessed. Megan wants to keep her distance from Luke, but when Remy’s visions get crazy violent; she knows she needs his help. Because someone’s definitely in danger...the only question is who?

'Devoured' was a wonderful mix of cracked fairytale and creepy ghost story. I found myself falling into the story very quickly and I loved the pacing. The basis of the story is the mirror from Snow White and it almost becaomes a character in its own right. It's a bit of a malevolent spirit and helped add to the creepiness of the ghost part of the story. Devoured is actually quite gruesome in parts and there are several mutilated bodies mentioned, so you can imagine the tension as the story progresses.

Megan can see ghosts, or one ghost anyway, so when she meets Luke, who admits he can also see Remy, Megan's dead sister, she feels she has found a bit of a kindred spirit. The inevitable triangle ensues, with Megan, Luke and Megan's boyfriend Ryan, but this was a slightly different triangle than the norm and I liked the way this one played out. It didn't seem quite as underhanded as some of them do, and I enjoyed that about it.

To sidetrack a little, I had an interesting conversation with Ms Marrone a few weeks ago after posting my review of Slayed. I had commented on how my opinion of the cover had changed after reading the story and she told me that she had changed the narrative a little so that the cover made sense, and that she had also done that with 'Devoured. When you read the story you understand why the girl on the cover is wearing that lovely blue dress and holding the apple - think Snow White and it might begin to make sense. 'Devoured' wasn't as laugh out loud funny as Slayed, but it has it's moments

' Henrietta gives a halfhearted wave, and everyone claps, though I'm not sure walking around in a park wth a stuffed goose for fifteen years is anything to celebrate.' (136)

' I scowl at my reflection. "You are a skanky ho." '(205)

That's Megan talking to her reflection in the mirror! Three guesses as to what she's been doing.

All in all I really enjoyed this one. It could be a little disturbing for younger teens, if you don't like creepy ghosts or graphic descriptions of death, but it was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading her others. Try this one if you missed it, I don't think you'll be disappointed.