Tuesday 31 July 2012

I haven't written any reviews for a while. It's seems as if I am i a stump. I'm currently reading 'Hold Me Closer, Necromancer' by Lisa McBride and it's taking me quite a while to get through it. I've started it a couple of days ago already but I'm not even a quarter into the book. I'm also quite busy with revising and internals and deadlines and rehearsals that I haven't had much time to have a good read. Hopefully, I'll at least finish and post a review on it by the end of the week but I can't make any promises.

Have a nice week, everyone :)

Saturday 28 July 2012

I would just like to make a note...

That was the best opening ceremony in the whole universe. It was a celebration of all things British.
Now I wish I was one.
If only.....

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Encouraged by Josie's own proclamation over at You Only Write So Much, I would like to mention that I have not read the well-loved classic Lord of the Rings. I have read The Hobbit, but I found it to be such a drag! It took me so long to finish it and I kept having to reread passages because I couldn't process what it was talking about the first time. And I think I managed to finish like three or something book in the middle of reading The Hobbit. I'm not proud of it, but at least I can say that I tried, right?
It's such a shame, really because I loved the movies.

Monday 23 July 2012

Musing Mondays (1)

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

This week's musing asks:
Q: Do you read magazines? If so, which ones? If not, why not?

I do! I read National Geographic and Times magazines, mostly for the amazing photographs. If an article catches my eye, then I'll read it. But the layout of the text just puts me off so bad. Sometimes, I read Popular Mechanics/Science because there are some really interesting gadgets and whatnot on there. A few fashion magazines now and then.

Review: Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me (1)
Publisher: Harper/Harper Collins
Release Date: 15 November 2011
Date Read: July 2012
Rating: 

I really, really wanted to like this book. I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did. Sigh.

All her life, Juliette felt isolated. It is because of her strange ability to bring intense pain and death to others by means of physical contact. She was locked up and thrown into an asylum after accidentally murdering a little boy. She is dangerous and she must be kept away to ensure the populations' safety, is what they said.

264 days has passed since she had human interaction. It's time for her to rejoin the world. The Reestablishment has decided that Juliette can be used as a weapon in their campaign for total control over our world. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

The writing had a big impact on the novel. It was written in Juliette's first person point of view and she is supposed to be a creative, mentally unstable teenager. There were great writing like:

"Someone picked up the sun and pinned it to the sky again, but every day it hangs a little lower than the day before. It's like a negligent parent who only knows one half of who you are. It never sees how its absence changes people. How different we are in the dark.""Hope is hugging me, holding me in its arms, wiping away my tears and telling me that today and tomorrow and two days from now I will be just fine and I'm so delirious I actually dare to believe it.

Then there were these ones:
"I hate the lackadaisical ennui of a sun too preoccupied with itself to notice the infinite hours we spend in its presence.""Hate looks like everybody else until it smiles. Until it spins around and lies with lips and teeth carved into semblance of something too passive to punch." 
Mafi had all these ridiculous metaphors and figurative language. I mean, I'm all for being metaphorical but Mafi just completely went overboard with it. She tried so hard to make it deep and philosophical that it came across as an angsty, emo 12-year old's attempt at writing fiction. The writing just distracted me so much from the actual plot of the story. Oh, and Mafi had this striky thing with the words. I really liked that she used that because it can add something to the text and it's interesting. But Mafi didn't even do it right (see Every You, Every Me by David Levithan). It even seemed like she forgot that she was doing it in the first place. She did it for about 100 pages in (not well, I might add) then stopped.

The characters were all flat, unrealistic and too perfect. Juliette was interesting, only at the beginning. Adam did not have any faults. Warner was a crazy, psychotic creep obsessed with the idea of Juliette. He wasn't even a convincing villain because all he did was obsess over Juliette, having meals with her, giving her great clothes and trying to make her fall in love with him. We were mostly told that Warner was evil, instead of being shown that he was. I was actually surprised to hear that quite a number of readers are fond of Warner. They credit his character depth. Whatever. I still think he's creepy.

There was full on insta-love in Shatter Me. The author tried to excuse it by saying that Adam and Juliette already knew each other from when they were in 5th grade or something. She said that they were already in love with each other then but didn't say anything to each other because they were both scared and shy. They didn't even know each other at all. See? Full-on insta-love.

And that plot. It was really confusing. It was mainly about the love-triangle-that-wasn't-there between Warner, Adam and Juliette. The dystopian part of the novel was a side thing more than anything else.

Like, I said. I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did.

Saturday 21 July 2012

In My Mailbox (2)




This meme is hosted by The Story Siren weekly. It showcases your recently acquired books; whether it's from the library, bought, ebooks or whatever. Share.

Books I recently got:

Fire (Graceling Realm, #2)EldestDaughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1)Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops

I've heard lots of good things about Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and I really loved Graceling so I'm excited for Fire.
Not much this week. But then again, I haven't even finished the ones I borrowed from the library last week. Whoops.


Friday 20 July 2012

Feature and Follow (2)

Gain New Blog Followers
Feature and Follow is hosted by Paranjunkee & Alison Can Read every Friday. Complete Rules and Instructions are here: Feature and Follow

This week's question:
Q: Christmas in July! Someone gives you a gift card for two books (whatever that costs). What two books will you buy?

Ok. That's a hard question. But, I would have to say 'Book Thief' by Markus Zusak (the paperback with the blue-y cover) and 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' by JK Rowling (hardcover). I've just always wanted own those books and I can't find the editions I want in book stores.


Review: The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy, #1)Title: The False Prince
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy (1)
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 1 April 2012
Date Read: July 2012
Rating: ★★

Sage, orphaned at the age of ten, has been forced to fend for himself in the harsh, cruel world. He has learned not to depend or trust anyone but himself. He finds himself, along with four other boys in the middle of an extreme plan, by a wealthy regent, Conner, to gain control of the throne. Conner intends on shaping these men to find the perfect impersonator to play the king's long-lost son, the heir to the throne. Sage must use everything in his disposal to win because a certain death awaits those who are not chosen.

I was immediately captivated by Sage. I liked him the moment he opened his mouth. His voice is so entertaining, feisty and defiant. Sage puts such a wonderful sense of humour in the most serious, and inappropriate, of situations. As an orphan, Sage learned that to survive, he must be quick on his feet. He must be willing to do anything- lie, cheat, steal. He has one of the quickest hands ever. Like he could probably take out a piece of clothing from your body, one at a time, and you wouldn't realize it until it's too late (lol). But make no mistake, he has a kind heart. He cares for the downtrodden, keeps his promises, and he is more than aware of his own faults. I've got to give him credit for not complaining, or moping, or bitching, about the getting the short end of the stick. Too often, protagonists can be found feeling sorry for themselves and whatnot when things go bad. But not Sage. He accepts his horrible situation, assesses the best way to deal with it, and gets things done. He is a survivor.

I think The False Prince lacked world building. There wasn't a clear picture about how the kingdoms worked, how they really looked like. I mean, how can I sympathize with the possibility of a civil war when I don't have the details about Carthya, the kingdom Sage lives in, and its neighboring kingdoms. I'm guessing Nielsen plans on expanding on this later on in the trilogy but it would've been much appreciated if we were given more.

The False Prince is an action filled novel. It seemed like chapter after chapter was Sage finding trouble, then getting himself out of trouble. There was never a boring part. But it wasn't like Nielsen just packed the novel full of these meaningless scenes. No. It all served a purpose in the intricate plot Nielsen wove together. It was like piecing together a puzzle, the author revealing seemingly unimportant details, little by little. Then, bam! Plot twist. It was unexpected and the whole book was just a wonderful ride. It kept me on the edge on my seat, frantically flipping the pages as I read on.

I will eagerly wait for the next installment, waiting to see how Sage's world will progress. I wonder what Nielsen's plans are for the rest of the trilogy....

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Teaser Tuesday (2)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading
                                                                                                                                                                          
My Teaser

The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy, #1)Title: The False Prince
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Series: The Ascending Trilogy (1)
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 1 April 2012

Teaser:
"I haven't said much as to why I've collected you boys," Conner began. "I'm sure in your heads you've created every sort of speculation, from the likely and plausible to the wild and impossible. What I have in mind is closer to the latter of those."
pg 20                                                                                                                   .


Saturday 14 July 2012

In My Mailbox (1)


This meme is hosted by The Story Siren weekly. It showcases your recently acquired books; whether it's from the library, bought, ebooks or whatever. Share.

These are books I recently borrowed from the library...

The Perks of Being a WallflowerRaised by Wolves (Raised by Wolves, #1)Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2)Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)The Thirteen HallowsThe HelpShatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)Legend (Legend, #1)The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy, #1)

I've got quite a lot of books to get through but I'm excited! These books are ones I've been waiting for for a while. Yay!

Friday 13 July 2012

Review: White Cat by Holly Black

White Cat (Curse Workers, #1)Title: White Cat
Author: Holly Black
Series: The Curse Workers
Publishers: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: 4 May 2010
Date Read: July 2012
Rating: ★★

Curse workers are people who can control your emotions and your dreams, change your luck, your memories, or bring you death, all with a touch of their bare hands. Curse working is illegal.

Cassel Sharpe belongs to a notorious family of curse workers, a family of notorious criminals. Only, he doesn't really belong. He is the only one in the family who is not a curse worker. He doesn't have the ability, therefore he is an outsider, even if he did murder his best friend.

He counters this feeling of loneliness by trying to fit in with his school mates. He tries to be the person he thinks thy would accept, just to belong. But his guise falls apart when he starts sleepwalking. He keeps having strange dreams of a white cat. Add in the fact that his brothers are acting weird around him- weirder than normal. He soon uncovers dangerous secrets, dangerous enough that he should fear for his life and his well-being.

The White Cat is a fresh and exciting new novel. It is original and there's never a boring part in it. Holly Black created a believable world where gangsters and magic coexist. It is such a random pair but Holly Black makes it work. In parts, the book had a very old-black-and-white-film-noir feel to it, what with the gloves and the big criminal families.

Cassel is a strong hero. He doesn't bitch or whine when things go awry. His sarcastic wit and cunning nature certainly adds to the novel. But he's not perfect either. He enjoys the adrenaline that courses through his veins every time he's pulling off a scam, or if he's trying to con somebody. His personality has depth and Holly Black does a good job of writing from a guy's perspective.

The side characters are well rounded, with their own personalities and flaws. Cassel's brothers are unique to each other and it's easy for me to understand how each mind works. Cassel's school friends were humurous and offered an easy light-hearted feel to the situation.

White Cat is filled with mystery, cunning plans, powerful villains and suspicious allies. I would be very interested in continuing the series and finding out what other kinds of trouble Cassel gets himself into.

Feature & Follow (1)


FF 2012 Feature & Follow #105

Feature and Follow is hosted by Paranjunkee & Alison Can Read every Friday. Complete Rules and Instructions are here: Feature and Follow

This week's question:

Q: What drove you to book blogging in the first place?

I wanted to share my thoughts about literature and whatnot to people who would listen. I already joined Goodreads and it's great. There are great people that I've made friends with and some very helpful reviews. Also, it baffled how these reviewers got hold of so many books to read, some unpublished, and so much time on their hands to review them. I started looking around and discovered this great YA book blogging community behind it all. It was great. Reviews, books, tips about writing, people with great personalities. I decided that I wanted to be a part of it and set work making my own. So here I am, a couple of weeks later, nursing my infant of a blog, reading more books and writing reviews.



Thursday 12 July 2012

The Versatile Blogger Award



Thanks so much to Kari for the nomination. Check out her awesomeness at Kari's Crowded Bookshelf. Go on.

Versatile Blogger Award Rules:

  • Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy.
  • Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it.
  • Next, select 5 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. ( I would add, pick blogs or bloggers that are excellent!)
  • Nominate those 5 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award — you might include a link to this site.
  • Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.
Facts About Me:

1. I am in love with musicals. No matter what. Even High School Musical.
2. I love Nutella. I'm having my daily dose right now, as I'm typing this.
3. My best friend and I made a promise that we would travel to Ireland together, because it is beautiful and filled with beautiful people.
4. My dream jobs would be a book editor, a National geographic photographer or a Pixar animator.
5. I am in the process of learning how to drive.
6. Titanic is my favourite movie.
7. I live in New Zealand.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our StarsTitle: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: 10 January 2012
Date Read: January 2012
Rating: ★★★★

Fault in Our Stars is the epitome of brilliance.
I don't even know how to write a coherent review on this because I have a hard time finding just the perfect words to describe this. But I'm going to try.

Hazel Grace was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at 13 and has come to accept the fact that she is going to die. Soon. But a medical miracle saved her life and shrunk the tumours in her lungs, for now.

It's been two years since the miracle and she has been living with the struggles of her disease since, having to lug around an oxygen tank with her wherever she goes, missing school, losing friends, and living an abnormal life. She meets Augustus Waters in a fateful cancer support group session. He is gorgeous, funny, and in remission. Soon enough, they hit it off and bring the change and excitement both needed in their lives.

John Green crafted such beautiful characters. Hazel Grace is smart, witty, sarcastic and so incredibly unique that I just want her to materialize in front of me and be my best friend. Augustus Waters is just amazing. He is funny, caring, adorable and has a liking for metaphorical resonances. These are the two main characters of the book where John Green wrote and created so flawlessly, each one's personalities, faults and unique their unique voice. Even the side characters, mainly Isaac, were so realistic.

The writing was superb. Every word perfect and beautiful, not a single one out of place. I laughed, I cried, I screamed in frustration, I fell in love, I wept. The last 317 pages tore me apart. I sobbed like you wouldn't believe it.

The Fault in Our Stars is more than just a story about cancer kids. It is a heart warming tale of two lovers, the fragility of life, and so much more. It is so much more.

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Teaser Tuesdays (1)


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
 BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! 
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
My Teaser

Blood Red Road (Dust Lands, #1)Title: Blood Red Road
Author: Moira Young
Series: Dust Lands (1)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: 7 June 2011

Teaser:
"An the world' turned red.
Bright red like the heart of a fire."

pg 25

Sunday 8 July 2012

Cover Release -- Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Title: Stardust
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: 1 July 1999 (first published)
Date Read:

Hopelessly crossed in love, a boy of half-fairy parentage leaves his mundane Victorian-English village on a quest for a fallen star in the magical realm. The star proves to be an attractive woman with a hot temper, who plunges with our hero into adventures featuring witches, the lion and the unicorn, plotting elf-lords, ships that sail the sky, magical transformations, curses whose effects rebound, binding conditions with hidden loopholes and all the rest.
(from Goodreads)


Neil Gaiman and his publishers, William Morrow, has released a mock up cover of the new edition of his beloved children's novel Stardust. The hardcover will be released on 30 October 2012 as a gift edition.
Source


The cover looks amazing. It's like one of those hardcover gems hidden away in the library; leather-bound and golden lined with  yellowy, musty pages aged by time.

I've only seen the movie adaptation of Stardust and I loved it. It's one of my favourites. But I'm a bit hesitant to read to the actual book, not because it might not be good, but because i know it will be. I don't want to tarnish my love for the movie by critiquing and judging it, complaining about all the parts that they left out. I know, I know. That's a pathetic excuse and I'm robbing myself of an amazing read but I love the movie.

Then again, how can I resist that cover? It's calling me.

Review: The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness

The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking, #2)Title: The Ask and The Answer
Author: Patrick Ness
Series: Chaos Walking (2)
Publisher: Walking
Release Date: 4 May 2009
Date Read: March 2012
Rating: ★★

We were in the square, in the square where I'd run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got to Haven so I could save her - But there weren't no safety, no safety at all, there was just him and his men...

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode...

(from Goodreads)


As a second installment of the Chaos Walking trilogy, I enjoyed reading The Ask and The Answer. It was well written and there were lots of character development. You really start to understand each and every character as they face countless of adversities, Todd and Viola, especially. But I really liked reading about Davy the most. As you read on, you really start to sympathize with him. He's only a teenage boy; trying to impress his father, to be acknowledged, to feel the love a father should have for his son. (He kind of reminded me of Draco, at this point) As the story progressed, I liked him a lot more than Todd and Viola. Their voices got really annoying, really fast.

On the down side, it took a long while for the plot to really pick up and I was getting frustrated with the book because it was taking so long to get page-turner-interesting. I was already half way through the book and it was becoming such a big challenge for me to finish it. If it wasn't for my friend's constant reassurance that the book does get better, I wouldn't have finished it. But when the plot picked up, it really picked up. The pace completely changed to the point that it seemed like it was a completely different book. There were lots of action and suspense that will keep you turning the pages. I was emotionally exhausted by the end of it.

But, I must say that the cliffhanger isn't enough to get me to want to read the last book of the trilogy. My interest quickly died after finishing it and I really don't like Todd and Viola anymore. The only reason I gave it a four-star rating was because I got such a big emotional response towards the end of it. I was blubbering and crying and I have to give credit to the author for that.



Things to worry about

Review: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull

Seeds of Rebellion (Beyonders, #2)

Title: Seeds of Rebellion
Author: Brandon Mull
Series: The Beyonders (2)
Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: 13 March 2012
Date Read: April 2012
Rating: ★★

After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor.
Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping. 
(from Goodreads)


Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1)Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Series: Hush, Hush (1)
Publisher: Simon & Shuster Children's
Release Date: 13 October 2009
Date Read: July 2012
Rating: ★★

Nora Grey's life is the epitome of normal. She has everything under control; her social life, her studies, her future and her love life (even if it is non-existent). But everything changes when Patch enters her life. Mysterious and alluring, with his easy going smile and eyes that seemed to see right through her soul, Nora can't seem to resist him. But after a series of terrifying events, Nora is not sure who she should trust. Patch seems to conveniently turn up wherever she is and his demeanor is starting to frighten him. Nora is now determined to find out the truth about Patch and his past but she does not realize how dangerous it is for her to know.

I don't know why I like this book. The plot had an uncanny feel similar to Twilight, the characters were passable and the heroine was kind of annoying. The romance was scary, to be honest. It was borderline abusive and Patch was kind of creepy, but really hot, I'll give him that, and the book was packed full of sexual innuendos. Everyone was stalking each other. It was weird.

But for whatever reason, I honestly liked it. I don't know why.

Saturday 7 July 2012

Review: Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Out of Sight, Out of Time (Gallagher Girls, #5)

Title: Out of Sight, Out of Time
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Gallagher Girls (5)
Publisher: Hyperion Book
Release Date: 13 March 2012
Date Read: July 2012
Rating: ★★★★ 

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

(from Goodreads)

I have to admit, I was putting off reading Ally Carter's latest installment. Don't get me wrong, I adore the series but it has been wayy too long since I read the book before this one and I barely remember what happened. I am glad that I pushed through, though. This book was one hell of a ride.

Anyway, turned out, my confusion worked in favour of the book because Cammie herself didn't remember much- well, anything from last summer. The little bits of information she was presented with in the beginning helped fill the blanks I had with the happenings and going ons in her world. So it was all ok.

The rest of the book, I'm happy to report, was just absolutely brilliant. The romance was just adorable. Zach and Cammie were adorable. They were all adorable! (P.S. Townsend and Abby better end up together at the end of all this) Also, for some reason, I was really emotionally unstable while I was reading this. I lost count of all the times I teared up or hard out cried that the words were all blurry. Actually, it probably wasn't even that sad. Anyone else wouldn't just go all, "Aaaaw, that's so sad!" But not me. Ally Carter played me like a violin. There was a lot of action, as well. A lot. And don't even get me started on the suspense! So many intense moments throughout the book. The Circle... Zach... Mr Solomon... Catherine... The ending!

Out of Sight, Out of Time was on a whole new level of awesomeness from the rest of the series. Needless to say, it is my favourite of the series, so far, because honestly I can just feel that the next one is going to be mind blowing!

Cover Release -- Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2)Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles (2)
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends 
Release Date: 5 February 2013 (not soon enough)
Date Read: 


The cover for Scarlet, the second installment for the Lunar Chronicles, was released on 5 July 2012.

Now, look at that cover! Just look at it! Bask in all its glory and awesomeness. (Gotta admit though, I like Cinder's better.) Can 2012 be over now, and tomorrow be 5 February, 2013? I just want that book in my hands, now.

Book two, Scarlet, is based on Little Red Riding Hood. It continues Cinder’s story as she attempts to escape Queen Levana’s vengeance and learn more about her past. The story also introduces readers to Scarlet, a girl living in southern France whose grandmother has mysteriously disappeared. In order to find her, Scarlet seeks the help of Wolf, a street fighter with more than a few mysteries of his own.
(from Goodreads)

Excerpt of Chapter 1

I have to be honest. I have not read the excerpts themselves because I'll feel tortured by the time I finish reading it. I was never good with sneak peeks and excerpts. 

Friday 6 July 2012

Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author(s): David Levithan and John Green
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile 
Release Date: 1 January 2010
Date Read: April 2012
Rating: ★★
 
One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.
(from Goodreads)

Review: In The Middle of Nowhere by Julie Ann Knudsen

Title: In The Middle of Nowhere
Author: Julie Ann Knudsen
Publisher: self- published
Release Date: 5 April 2012
Date Read: May 2012
Rating: ★★


 'In the Middle of Nowhere' is the story of Willow, a sixteen-year old, forced to uproot her life, with her family, and move to a barely known island off the shores of Portland, after the tragic death of Willow's father. She rebuilds her whole life again; coping with the loss of her father while trying to balance her social, academic and home life.

Thursday 5 July 2012

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles (1)
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: 3 January 2012
Date Read: June 2012
Rating: ★★★★★

Cinder is a retelling of the classic tale of Cinderella. The plot of the book mainly follows the story of Cinderella. The evil step-mother and step sisters, the Prince, the ball, the dress, midnight striking, they're all there. But kudos to Marissa Meyer for putting such an incredible twist to the story everyone knows and love.

The book is set in New Beijing, centuries ahead of our time. It is a world filled with magnificent technological developments and unfamiliar, breathtaking environment, yet it is plagued by a deadly disease that threatens the survival of the whole population. Add in the fact that there are Lunars, creatures native to the 'planet' (moon), Lunar.

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Welcome

I have lived a thousand lives.

I was once a boy wizard, chosen to save the world from evil. I was a fearless warrior graced with survival. I was a teenage girl who suffered from cancer. As a young girl, I've lived in Nazi Germany. Once, I received a golden ticket that granted me entry to the best chocolate factory in the world. I was a son of a God. I once went to a school for spies. I've been a necromancer and a faerie, a doctor and a murderer, a princess and a pauper. I have lost count of all the times I've saved the world from certain doom, without the population's knowledge. I have made many choices, have been given innumerable second chances. I have done many things, some I am not proud of. I've traveled across great distances, space and even time itself. I have died many times, and reborn many more.

Stories create passages for readers, like me and a million others, to delve into different worlds, to live different lives, to escape reality.

I love reading YA fiction the most, but I occasionally enjoy adult and children's fiction novels once in a while. When it comes to YA fiction, I have an eclectic taste, from chick lit to dystopian and from suspense to adventure.
This blog will mostly be filled of reviews and ramblings about literature and other relate, sometimes unrelated, things.

Enjoy.

Confuddled

Ok. I am so freaking confused right now. I have no clue how to do this whole blogging thing.

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