The Paladin Prophecy, Book 2: The Alliance by Mark Frost

Published; January 7th, 2014

Publisher: Random House Books for Children

Pages: 352

Copy: Libray

Summary: Goodreads

Readers of I Am Number Four, The Maze Runner, and Legend will love this sophisticated adventure series by the cocreator of the groundbreaking television show Twin Peaks, with its unique combination of mystery, heart-pounding action, and the supernatural.

After exposing the sinister underground society of students known as the Knights of Charlemagne, Will West stays at the Center over the summer to explore his newly developing physical and mental abilities. Meanwhile, his roommates investigate the Knights' shadowy purpose and discover unsettling information about their own backgrounds. Will and his friends must quickly figure out what's going on and separate friend from foe as they prepare for the coming fight.

'The Alliance' is the follow-up to 'The Paladin Prophecy', which  I reviewed a while back, here, and I absolutely loved.  I'm happy to say that 'The Alliance' did not let me down at all.  We are back with Nick, Elise, Brooke, Ajay and Will and we learn more about their characters as we navigate the numerous twists and turns that make up this story about the school and the Knights of Charlemagne, or Paladins.

A new twist for this time around are aliens - well not exactly.  More like twisted beings from another dimension really.  We learn that terrible experiments are being/have been done on unsuspecting teenagers and what the long term results are of these experiments.  I really loved this weirdness quotient in the story.  Most of it is totally improbable, but there is plausibility in the way that it is written that just gave me the heeby-jeebies. I personally find stories about gene manipulation to be very disturbing, and this one takes disturbing to a whole new level.

There is a marvellous section in the story where the kids end up underneath the school on their search for answers.  What they find there is an archaeologists dream come true, but it offers up more questions than answers really. The kids have to use every one of the abilities that have been given to get themselves out safely.

It is a complex story that is well written and maintains a level of tension throughout that left me buzzing.  It is so easy to love the characters and their witty banter.  If you love high tension and otherworldly mystery, you're going to love this one, although I do suggest that you read the first book beforehand.

Follow Friday

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

This week’s question –

Share! Tell us about one of your hobbies that is NOT reading.

I have quite a few hobbies but unfortunately, I don't always have time for all for all of them.  I like to cross-stitch and quilt and I always have at least one project on the go.  For quilting, I tend to machine stitch the entire front and back pieces and then hand quilt it while I'm watching TV or just vegging out.  I find that hand-quilting gives the piece more of a homey feel and I have more control over how the project will be finished.  Right now I am working on a quilt for my husband.  On the back I am stitching the words to a song he quoted during his wedding vows.  On the front I appliqued circles in Asian fabric.  When I'm done, maybe I'll post a picture of it.

Another hobby I am looking into is working with metal for jewelry.  Metal stamping and creating chain mail jewelry really interests me.  Eventually I would love to open up a store on Etsy.  Perhaps I will post some photos of my work in another entry this summer.  :)

- Christinabean

p.s. I also just wanted to send out a big shout-out to our followers (and people who just stop by for a visit).  I love reading some of your comments about our book posts and especially the Follow Friday posts (when we talk about random bits of information).  It really makes me feel connected to our audience and humbled that people are reading what we write.  I know I don't always respond to every comment that is made but I do read them and just wanted to say thank-you for following us.  :) 

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.

Waiting on Wednesday - Always, Forever

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)

Nothing is as it seems in this darkly romantic tale of infatuation and possession, inspired by Daphne du Maurier’sRebecca.

Becca was the perfect girlfriend: smart, gorgeous, and loved by everyone at New England’s premier boarding school, Thorn Abbey. But Becca’s dead. And her boyfriend, Max, can’t get over his loss.

Then Tess transfers to Thorn Abbey. She’s shy, insecure, and ordinary—everything that Becca wasn’t. And despite her roommate’s warnings, she falls for brooding Max.

Now Max finally has a reason to move on. Except it won’t be easy. Because Becca may be gone, but she’s not quite ready to let him go…

Who doesn't want to let go of a loved one when the break up was so sudden and tragic?  What's a little haunting between lovers?  At the time of this posting, Thorn Abbey was the title of this book but it may have been changed to Always, Forever.

- Christinabean

Fragments by Dan Wells

Published: February 26th, 2013

Publisher: Balzer and Bray

Pages: 576

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Author Dan Wells is back with the sequel to the sci-fi blockbuster Partials, which Pittacus Lore called a "thrilling sci-fi adrenaline rush, with one of the most compelling and frightening visions of Earth's future I've seen yet."

After discovering the cure for RM, Kira Walker sets off on a terrifying journey into the ruins of postapocalyptic America and the darkest desires of her heart in order to uncover the means—and a reason—for humanity's survival.

Dan Wells extends his richly imagined, gritty world and introduces new memorable characters in this second installment in the Partials Sequence.

'Fragments' is the second book in the Partials sequence, which for some reason I missed when it came out last year.  When I noticed that the third book 'Ruins' was due out in March I figured I'd best get my running shoes on and catch up.  And Oh, it was such fun.  Now as you can see from the page count, 'Fragments' is not for the faint at heart.  It is a long book, that requires a fair time commitment, but it is well worth it. 

The whole premise behind the Partials strikes a chord of fear in my heart.  Genetic manipulation is something that we are starting to take for granted - certainly when it comes to our food sources anyway - and it really doesn't seem that far fetched to be 'producing' alternate humans.  As this story progresses and we begin to realise just exactly how much manipulation is going on, I could feel my pulse increase and I started to feel quite uncomfortable.  I guess it seems all too plausible for me.

Kira has gone off on her own into the ruins, Samm is god knows where.  Marcus is on the run and Haru is trying to keep the rest of civilization alive.  Every new revelation leads to more and more questions and the solutions seem farther and farther away.  I loved the uncertainty of everything in this book.  Partials are fighting humans, are fighting partials, are fighting other partials, are fighting guerilla's and so on and so forth.  Everyone is trying to find answers and yet no-one seems to be finding anything. 

I really enjoyed Fragments.  Time is slipping away for everyone and it almost felt like they were under a stop watch.  What is going to happen in 8 months?  Are the partials going to be saved or not? Is there going to be a cure for humanity or is it really going to be the end for everyone?

All I can say is thank goodness I have Ruins set up and ready to read.

Stacking the Shelves

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

This week I received - 

Summary (by Goodreads)

Sixteen-year-old Tegan is just like every other girl living in 2027—she's happiest when playing the guitar, she's falling in love for the first time, and she's joining her friends to protest the wrongs of the world: environmental collapse, social discrimination, and political injustice.

But on what should have been the best day of Tegan's life, she dies—and wakes up a hundred years later, locked in a government facility with no idea what happened.

The future isn't all she had hoped it would be, and when appalling secrets come to light, Tegan must make a choice: Does she keep her head down and survive, or fight for a better world?

Award-winning author Karen Healey has created a haunting, cautionary tale of an inspiring protagonist living in a not-so-distant future that could easily be our own.

Back in March I received While We Run from the publisher and realized that I did not have a copy of book #1 to start with...so I purchased the e-book from Kobo so I could start the series.  I try not to start a series in the middle...it happens sometimes but not very often.  What's on your shelf this week?

- Christinabean

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

 

Published: December 13, 2013

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Pages: 371

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

Review:

I guess since I started reading this one with very few expectations, I can't say that it didn't live up to them, but unfortunately, it did fall sadly short for me.  I never did feel really engaged with the characters and Grayson mainly managed to irritate me.  I think that was because he reminded me of an old acquaintance to be honest but his sense of entitlement irritated me.  Wren seemed like a nice girl, with a strong sense of family responsibility, but again, I just didn't connect.

The setting itself is a little different, the story was kind of cute and the romance is sweet with several moments where I smiled at the humor but my final feeling is basically a solid 'not bad, but not great.' Sadly, it just did not amaze -however, I did see the appeal for younger teens and I'm sure I'll find several takers at work.

Friday Follow

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

This week’s question –

Have any pets? Tell us or show us

Yes.  We have two.  This is Jake, our dog.  He is 1/2 Sheltie and 1/2 American Eskimo.  Unfortunately, he is kind of skiddish....guess that's why I've never seen any others like him.  :)

I have featured him before so I'll skip to our next pet.  We have a very annoying and occasionally lovable Bengal cat named Blaze.  He is part domestic cat and part Asian leopard.  He has lots of beautiful spots on his belly.  He is...well...challenging at times but still part of the family.  Don't let the cuteness factor fool you...he is LOUD and everything is "all about him"....wait a minute, isn't that how all cats are?

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.