tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17501333632407120102024-03-28T08:05:57.462-04:00Bookworm in LoveA blog about the best YA books, and my favorite guys in them!Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-29865964629057904512014-05-09T10:48:00.000-04:002014-05-09T10:48:13.087-04:00{Review} A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3682.A_Great_and_Terrible_Beauty?from_search=true" target="_blank"> A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1)</a></i></b><br />
<b>Libba Bray</b><br />
Pages: 403<br />
Publisher: Simon & Schuster<br />
Format: Hardcover<br />
Source: Library<br />
Age Group: YA<br />
Date Published: December 9, 2003<br />
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<i>A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.</i></div>
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<i>Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.</i></div>
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I read this series waaaay back in middle school, when I was still too embarrassed to read kissing scenes (I know) and I was ridiculously judgemental of other girls. So, I skipped a couple scenes and didn't grasp the different struggles each girl faced, like I thought Felicity was a slut. I'm not proud of that, but I was young and stupid. Anyways, I've seen a couple people on Tumblr talking about the book a lot, and I remembered liking it, but I couldn't actually remember what happened in <i>A Great and Terrible Beauty</i>, so I picked it up again. And I am so glad I did. I devoured it in one sitting. I read during dinner, I got mad at my family for distracting me from my reading. I was a little intense.</div>
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I think what I loved so much was the humor. Gemma is really snarky, and makes all these mental observations that had me giggling. Felicity feeds off of shock factor, so her humor is usually dirty (something I don't think I grasped at age 12, sigh). Pippa is a spoiled little brat, but she's sweet and a lot of the jokes are at her expense. Ann is usually accidentally funny because she's so innocent and sweet. Oh, and the teachers are great. Miss Moore is radical for the time period, with all these feminist ideas that women can make their own choices and do what they want. </div>
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The development of the friendships was really well-written. The way Gemma goes from judging and hating these girls without even knowing them, to being best friends with them is cute. We don't get enough girl friendships in books these days. And the fact that their friendship is the main focus of the book, even over Gemma's little budding romance, is fantastic. I loved the fact that they were all so wildly different from each other and still became best friends.</div>
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There's a little romance starting up, with this boy named Kartik, but he's not a major player yet, so I don't know enough about him to offer judgement. He's hot, though, so there's something.</div>
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<i>A Great and Terrible Beauty</i> was witty, interesting, and featured some fabulous female friendships. I'm strongly disappointed that I didn't pick up <i>Rebel Angels</i> when I was at the library. Dumb. But, you should read the book too and then come talk to me about it (if you're on Tumblr you can shoot me a message<a href="http://aperfectbookshelf.tumblr.com/ask" target="_blank"> here</a>, and that would be really cool).<br />
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9361589-the-night-circus?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Night Circus</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Erin Morgenstern</b></div>
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Pages: 512</div>
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Publisher: Anchor Books</div>
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Format: Paperback</div>
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Source: Borrowed from <a href="http://whatsupthestairs.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Paige</a></div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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Date Published: September 13, 2011</div>
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The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
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But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.</blockquote>
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You know that after-book daze that sets in after reading something particularly life changing? I am currently in that state upon finishing <i>The Night Circus</i>. I want to do nothing but think about the book and write this review. My sister came into my room a few moments ago and I had a hard time formulating words. I knew before I picked it up that I would love <i>The Night Circus</i>, but I had no clue how much. There's something like magic in the words. As I read, I got to know the characters so well that I fancied myself friends with them. <i>The Night Circus</i> isn't a laughing book. It has its moments of wit, but they are brief. The book is somewhat stoic, in that the words don't really convey specific emotions. Morgenstern lets you, the reader, go through the plot and events of the story as though you are there. Nothing really sways you in your feelings, the imagery is so vivid that it pulls you in and you live through this circus of dreams.</div>
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I will admit that the real plot of the novel took ages to begin. However, in those 200 or so pages before everything really began happening, I got to know the characters. I didn't realize I was getting to know the characters, but, all of a sudden, I found myself rooting for Celia and Isobel and Tsukiko and Marco and everyone else involved in the circus. I wasn't quite sure what all of the characters wanted until the very end, I just knew that I wanted them to have it. The intertwining plotlines certainly helped me get to know the other characters, as well. It seems like just Celia and Marco's story, but it is so much more. And that's certainly the point of the book, I think. Their "game" affected everyone, so the plot of the story had to follow everyone. The blurb makes the book sound like its going to be this epic romance, but it's really the story of this amazing circus and all the events and mystery surrounding it. </div>
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Morgenstern's writing swept me off my feet. From the very beginning of the novel, I found myself inspired. Something about the magic and the way everything is <i>described </i>made me want to write, to be creative. <i>The Night Circus</i> made me want to write a story, to draw something, to paint again. Celia's ability to manipulate reality made my heart swell. The depth of the circus and the performers' abilities drew me in. I don't think I'm doing Morgenstern's writing ability any justice, so you're just going to have to believe me when I call it <i>transcendent</i>. From the first page, I was riveted. The plot was a little dull in the first half, but her writing made me invested in the story. It took me about a week to finish the book (though, that was mostly due to my own inability to sit still long enough to finish the 500 page novel), but I could never get it out of my head. I went prom dress shopping last weekend, and I kept seeing dresses I though fit the ambiance of the circus. I don't think <i>The Night Circus</i> is going to release its hold on me for a while yet.</div>
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I want to live in <i>The Night Circus</i>. I wish to visit <i>Le Cirque des Rêves</i> and drink cider and see the magnificent clock. I want to have my cards read by Isobel and watch the illusionist. I want to be there so badly. And when I was reading, I was there. It's so rare that I find a book that so utterly sucks me in, and makes me forget where I am, that draws me into its pages and doesn't let me go long after I've set it down. I feel differently after finishing it, and that is a feeling I have always treasured.</div>
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-63697199520156561092014-04-22T18:11:00.000-04:002014-04-24T13:02:27.727-04:00{Top Ten Tuesday} Top Ten Characters With POWERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, and today's theme is "Top Ten Characters Who X." I've chosen Top Ten Characters Who Have Super Powers. </blockquote>
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1. <b><span style="color: #e69138;">Juliette Ferrars (Shatter Me Trilogy)</span></b> - She has some killer skin.<br />
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2. <b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer Trilogy)</span> </b>- Mara's got some killer wit. (Why can all my favorite characters kill people? Because that makes for really interesting books, okay?)<br />
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3. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Clary Fray</b> <b>(The Mortal Instruments</b>)</span> <b>- </b>Clary has some amazing drawing skills, as in she makes runes stronger just by drawing them <i>and</i> she can create new runes. Cool beans, right?
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<a name='more'></a>4.<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> <b>Everyone</b> <b>(The Darkest Minds Trilogy)</b></span> - All of the main characters have cool powers. For instance, Ruby (my homegirl) can get in peoples heads and mess with their minds.<br />
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5.<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <b>Sam Temple</b> <b>(Gone Series</b>)</span> <b>- </b>Sam can shoot lasers from his hands... sort of. Read the books. He even has an evil twin, so he's doubly cool.<br />
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6.<span style="color: #0c343d;"> <b>Percy Jackson</b> <b>(Percy Jackson & the Olympians)</b></span> <b>- </b>Percy's dad's the sea god, so he can control water and breathe underwater and choose whether or not to get wet... in water...<br />
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7. <b><span style="color: #20124d;">Alina Starkov (The Grisha Trilogy)</span></b> - Alina is a Sun Summoner, which is pretty self-explanatory. I love her powers, even though I have yet to read the next book (After AP tests!! *shakes fist like an angry old woman*)<br />
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8. <b><span style="color: #660000;">Katy Swartz (Lux Series)</span> </b>- After being mutated by a glow-worm/freaky-hot-next-door-alien Kat develops glow-worm powers too. Which is really fun. Or not so fun later in the series...<br />
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9. <b><span style="color: #e06666;">Rory Deveaux (Shades of London)</span></b> - Rory can see ghosts, and that's reallyreallyreally cool. Her powers mutate in the second book, which is really interesting. One of my favorite series. Why isn't she higher on the list? Because I'm dumb.<br />
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10. <b><span style="color: #351c75;">Sophie Mercer (Hex Hall Series)</span> </b>- Sophie is a witch. With magic. And stuff. (I haven't read the series in a while, but I really enjoyed it...)<br />
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YAY I got 10! I know this post is going up late, but better late than never, right? I was just lucky enough that I didn't have 5 hours of homework tonight. UGH. AP tests are in two weeks (AHHHH), and I will be around so much more after those are OVAH. Woohoo. Link me to your post if you want! :D<br />
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-33178893145838822102014-04-15T10:08:00.000-04:002014-04-15T10:08:06.075-04:00{Top Ten Tuesday} Top Ten Bookish Things That I'd Like To Own<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, and today's theme is "Top Ten Bookish Things (That Aren't Books) That I'd Like To Own." </blockquote>
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1.<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <b>New Bookshelves</b></span> - My current bookshelf is old and overflowing. There's a hole in the back for like a cord? But it was "handmade" (as in someone poked a hole in it with a hammer or something equally ratchet). I'd really like something like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQOfXdr8LykKH36tPdugIvjLNJWf4ujMhXChzplmT68DhwMCdUWSTO5D1bSF_s8V-6nhzeGOkkGfZ3ieLoRt0OFQB_g44XZIAdO-X_zH706j-cDYIRKiFARd7LjRNS1r6ag3-ursH1RI/s1600/modern-billy-bookcase-426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQOfXdr8LykKH36tPdugIvjLNJWf4ujMhXChzplmT68DhwMCdUWSTO5D1bSF_s8V-6nhzeGOkkGfZ3ieLoRt0OFQB_g44XZIAdO-X_zH706j-cDYIRKiFARd7LjRNS1r6ag3-ursH1RI/s1600/modern-billy-bookcase-426.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></a></div>
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2. <b><span style="color: #e69138;">Bookmarks to match every book I own</span> </b>- You know that odd feeling of accomplishment when you have the matching bookmark to go with the book? I WANT THAT FOR <i>ALL</i> OF MY BOOKS.<br />
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3. <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Book Page Nail Press-Ons</span></b> - Sally Hansen sells some I think. Like the zebra print nail stickers? Except with words.<br />
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4. <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Who is Mara Dyer? T-shirt</span></b> - Remember way back in like 2011 when Michelle Hodkin showed those ridiculously cool Mara Dyer shirts on her blog? I want one still.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8GmUFkf69ZcK8hAkP_UxkVa26E-VFSyIdyWNFNMmFf_HA7Z4FVzZwYrsDUeYrRnNu5ncNCVO4bamYCGTtVAmGIBLuCOHWUqEMdGarBHyw-VZrvDhAdQ3vnUXrJlaQb7naNYfd4MDR7c/s1600/maracollage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8GmUFkf69ZcK8hAkP_UxkVa26E-VFSyIdyWNFNMmFf_HA7Z4FVzZwYrsDUeYrRnNu5ncNCVO4bamYCGTtVAmGIBLuCOHWUqEMdGarBHyw-VZrvDhAdQ3vnUXrJlaQb7naNYfd4MDR7c/s1600/maracollage1.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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5. <b><span style="color: #45818e;">Alice in Wonderland Shirt</span></b> - Modcloth has a rocking <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/search?keyword=alice" target="_blank">Alice in Wonderland collection</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HcLkdF_KaHz_MBaZ1VE5w_ypsC92Ggrp0qbuXs1XzmqLN6c-e-nPbITexRwBNUc7I0G0FnKRJutEegb5HfyLRWM7c_xP5i3DqFUHXPx_-e_R2wJ4cED2sds-pieC4Fdu0SuwcKUC6dI/s1600/alicetee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HcLkdF_KaHz_MBaZ1VE5w_ypsC92Ggrp0qbuXs1XzmqLN6c-e-nPbITexRwBNUc7I0G0FnKRJutEegb5HfyLRWM7c_xP5i3DqFUHXPx_-e_R2wJ4cED2sds-pieC4Fdu0SuwcKUC6dI/s1600/alicetee.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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6. <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">T.S. Eliot Coffee Mug</span></b> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/home-gift-jeff-fisher-ts-eliot-quote-mug/23720135" target="_blank">B&N has made a coffee mug quoting my favorite poet ever from my favorite poem ever.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNchsfzXcyj1paN8gIzJPbGkYMp0UY9Qjf2vkYhkIOwJ0n-cgtfT5__83MCWSYs8twWCMGZbciwcS1m3aBLx7hcwhnv1Duici-UAlOlkqrnmkqBt7Xr7G8Zw-IteZQhkvTQWrFTyDKoM/s1600/eliotmug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNchsfzXcyj1paN8gIzJPbGkYMp0UY9Qjf2vkYhkIOwJ0n-cgtfT5__83MCWSYs8twWCMGZbciwcS1m3aBLx7hcwhnv1Duici-UAlOlkqrnmkqBt7Xr7G8Zw-IteZQhkvTQWrFTyDKoM/s1600/eliotmug.JPG" /></a></div>
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7. <b><span style="color: #674ea7;">New Blog Design</span></b> - I run a book blog so this is bookish, right? Not that I don't love my blog design, I just really want a change. I'm really loving <a href="http://www.missiontoread.com/" target="_blank">Mission to Read</a>'s header, <a href="http://www.nosegraze.com/" target="_blank">NoseGraze</a>'s entire blog design, and, of course, <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>'s look (particularly the border around their blog. it's so cool)</div>
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8. <b><span style="color: #a64d79;">A Book-Print Scarf</span></b> - It's not exactly scarf season, but, come Fall, I can't stop wearing them!! I particularly like this <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/88642480/pride-and-prejudice-book-scarf?ref=v1_other_2" target="_blank">Pride and Prejudice Scarf</a> from Etsy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfr61O12p882xrXhsoQ1kNa0jxlodpREKaJDCoOusWuiCHCdxSttHeb75mPRQ-7HDrgc70ApqRjGWPbNdEc-QL9gXNPdZi909uBh1-UrtIBy5gYcHmwVWTtFKLEzqKPrhGSC_H9vVVRQ/s1600/p&pscarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfr61O12p882xrXhsoQ1kNa0jxlodpREKaJDCoOusWuiCHCdxSttHeb75mPRQ-7HDrgc70ApqRjGWPbNdEc-QL9gXNPdZi909uBh1-UrtIBy5gYcHmwVWTtFKLEzqKPrhGSC_H9vVVRQ/s1600/p&pscarf.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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9. <b><span style="color: #0c343d;">Dantless Tank Top</span> - </b>Because it is tank top season, and I'm totally on a <i>Divergent </i>kick (have you seen the movie yet?! I loved it) this<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181274569/i-am-dauntless-shirt-crossfit-tank-top?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share" target="_blank"> Dauntless Tank</a> from Etsy speaks to me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbCDRmoboW7jBjaF1yLvrvm6nyQHe0KwU4M38i1o0o98rcqtNab4_zSZzdo6IEFfwg0DnuGpoh6CdWgsoP30c-nqgVilalWFEIb87CxAbF9lNP7hVa5UNe6VJRfJNpiK277VCpd6tC-o/s1600/dauntlesstank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbCDRmoboW7jBjaF1yLvrvm6nyQHe0KwU4M38i1o0o98rcqtNab4_zSZzdo6IEFfwg0DnuGpoh6CdWgsoP30c-nqgVilalWFEIb87CxAbF9lNP7hVa5UNe6VJRfJNpiK277VCpd6tC-o/s1600/dauntlesstank.jpg" height="200" width="155" /></a></div>
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10. <b><span style="color: #274e13;">Bookish Tote Bag</span></b> - I need a new bag to carry books to and from the library in, and <a href="http://www.cafepress.com.au/+killed_you_off_tote_bag,322707803" target="_blank">this one</a> is just mean enough to suit me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMOcRDM_8AqzmsE6RoJ0jbkox2Sm8XENzMLFa9-a4lcMHKIJ8XH7HMeph9q-Dxkm02PTpWqtkhKwGEU0XhzHGi5odwttkjmoyNW9z1DoEamwvgoQOC8JEbwfnJ3wPpDMW9KsVUDYmbNY/s1600/killed_you_off_tote_bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMOcRDM_8AqzmsE6RoJ0jbkox2Sm8XENzMLFa9-a4lcMHKIJ8XH7HMeph9q-Dxkm02PTpWqtkhKwGEU0XhzHGi5odwttkjmoyNW9z1DoEamwvgoQOC8JEbwfnJ3wPpDMW9KsVUDYmbNY/s1600/killed_you_off_tote_bag.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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So, that concludes my bookish items wishlist! Nana, if you're reading this, feel free to purchase anything from the list ;) </div>
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What's in you top ten?</div>
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-89968971461223900462014-04-14T10:35:00.000-04:002014-04-14T10:35:25.968-04:00{Review} Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17061490-untold" target="_blank">Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Sarah Rees Brennan</b></div>
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Pages: 370</div>
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Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers</div>
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Format: Hardcover</div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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Date Published: September 24, 2013</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wJHJu7YX5VJwCuTo_1QkRAz57y3bbzySJqTlzUfCMo2iPU4hmF2Vd1xhQdGfYs8ZOFHGF442srqoc_o-O-VIJ3486T8KbRXAnMUw-waZNFx7Lm1P-HigOf3wx1F1fFVfmy4XXzvNFbQ/s1600/untold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wJHJu7YX5VJwCuTo_1QkRAz57y3bbzySJqTlzUfCMo2iPU4hmF2Vd1xhQdGfYs8ZOFHGF442srqoc_o-O-VIJ3486T8KbRXAnMUw-waZNFx7Lm1P-HigOf3wx1F1fFVfmy4XXzvNFbQ/s1600/untold.jpg" width="210" /></a><br />
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<i>It's time to choose sides....</i><i>On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.</i><i>But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?</i><i>A darkly humorous take on Gothic romance, Sarah Rees Brennan's Lynburn Legacy weaves together the tale of a heroine desperate to protect those she loves, two boys hoping to be saved, and the magical forces that will shape their destiny.</i></blockquote>
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Holy angsty sorcerers, Batman! <i>Untold</i> brought down a rain of feels from the heavens of YA literature. But, this was to be expected, considering the evil ending of <i>Unspoken</i>. <i>Untold</i> made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me bring the book to school and read passages aloud to unsuspecting bystanders. <i>The Lynburn Legacy</i> is the type of series that you want to share. The characters, the plot, the world all beg to be discussed. I loved Untold (even though it took me like 3 weeks to finish it, but more on that later).<br />
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I should have expected my heart to be torn apart and dragged through the mud when I started this book. But, I'm not one to really think about things before I do them, and it caught me by surprise. I am a diehard t Jami shipper, and <i>Unspoken</i> set up for that relationship to be feelsy. Kami and Jared are dealing with each other being real still, but now they have to get over their seperate feelings of betrayal that the occurrances at the end of the first book caused. I thought the way SRB wrote their individual struggles with being individuals for the first time in their lives was strangely realistic. Because, even though there haven't been any documented cases of kids mentally joined together in the womb, their reactions (particularly Kami's) to being alone are really relatable. For instance, Kami, whom I've always thought of as the epitome of a self-confident heroine, struggles with being sure of herself without Jared in her head to tell her that she's doing ok. Self-confidence is an issue everyone struggles with, and that really made Kami's character universal.</div>
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Of course, it wasn't just Jami that had my heart twisting and aching. Holly's POV comes in during <i>Untold</i>, and that was an emotional rollercoaster. I didn't really ship Holly/Angela in the first book, just because I felt like they were both too screwed up to be in a relationship yet, and Holly really needed to get herself figured out before she could move forward with anyone, but <i>Untold</i> showed a different side to that relationship (i.e. Holly's) and I feel now that Angela might be good for her. We learn about Holly's homelife, and her personal prejudices (which aren't what you'd think they'd be), and her internal struggle. SRB does a really good job of developing secondary characters because, even though the series is really Kami's story, we know so much about her friends and their parents and the lady who owns the bakery down the street. In a lot of books, secondary characters are kinda flat, but those in <i>The Lynburn Legacy</i> are so 3D they're practically IMAX.</div>
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It took me <i>forever</i> to finish the book because SRB did the thing where everything wraps up really nice<i> 20 pages before the book ends</i>. So, I read that far in like 2 days and then stopped. I wanted my babies to be happy for at least a little while. (I finally finished it yesterday right before I wrote this review).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0olTRGq9D46-TRspiaYtYT9vhycD-B3fK9glQpfuYcyJ0tzbqI1hlu-1qJQ4E4bGs9eUoFlOgG1FxOxo3vsw0Bx5Fwb-zglqD7hWlIc0h8tfhl2LhDMloQHojRU2eQRzLDhKYdDlJHs/s1600/5%255B2%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0olTRGq9D46-TRspiaYtYT9vhycD-B3fK9glQpfuYcyJ0tzbqI1hlu-1qJQ4E4bGs9eUoFlOgG1FxOxo3vsw0Bx5Fwb-zglqD7hWlIc0h8tfhl2LhDMloQHojRU2eQRzLDhKYdDlJHs/s1600/5%255B2%255D" height="24" width="320" /></a></div>
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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>, where we book bloggers talk about upcoming releases we are excited for. This week I'm looking forward to:</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15844362-the-one?from_search=true" target="_blank">The One (The Selection #3)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Kiera Cass</b></div>
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Publisher: HarperTeen</div>
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Formats: Hardcover, eBook</div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVv1_zi-MHk9fZ7fnCK-bd01UeHYWLBLVEU8TFYGEWGa2JoBiRfdtPrYQdQMK-2rGeHMgDa6A9Xp39YLmeYq-an6N2h7luNobrIer0A1Hg06r2LQzowiR2LrCSReXzXDmcobEze9k3II/s1600/theone.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVv1_zi-MHk9fZ7fnCK-bd01UeHYWLBLVEU8TFYGEWGa2JoBiRfdtPrYQdQMK-2rGeHMgDa6A9Xp39YLmeYq-an6N2h7luNobrIer0A1Hg06r2LQzowiR2LrCSReXzXDmcobEze9k3II/s1600/theone.jpg" width="211" /></a>Expected Publication: May 6, 2014</div>
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<br /><i>The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.<br /> America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.<br />From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.</i></blockquote>
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I'm not the BIGGEST fan of this series, but I have become a little emotionally invested in them since I read <i>The Selection</i>. I just need to see America get with Maxon (because, let's be real, he's clearly the better choice). Plus, I can throw it at the wall if she gets with Aspen (I may damage the book more than just <i>throwing </i>it, though...) Plus, the cover is stunning. I love that dress!!</div>
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What are you waiting on this Wednesday?</div>
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, and today's theme is "Top Ten Most Unique Books I've Read."</blockquote>
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<strike></strike><a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338729878l/10929432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>1. <span style="color: #134f5c;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Archived</i> <b>by Victoria Schwab</b></span> - Victoria's vision of this archive for the dead is so new and fascinating. I never imagined anything like the archive, and the way the book is written and the world is created is amazing. I just... read it.</div>
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2.<span style="color: #38761d;"> <b><i>The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer </i>by Michelle Hodkin</b></span> - I love the way Michelle combines the PTSD and Mara's potential superpowers. Is Mara killing people with her mind? Or is she crazy? We may never know.</div>
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3. <b><span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>The Lightning Thief</i> by Rick Riordan</span></b> - I read this for the first time when I was 11, and I've never seen such a unique take on Greek mythology since. The demigods, and camp half-blood, and the personification of the gods are so great.</div>
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4. <b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>The Name of the Star</i> by Maureen Johnson</span></b> - JACK THE RIPPER GHOST COPYCAT. Like how unique can you get?</div>
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5. <b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Cinder</i> by Marissa Meyer</span></b> - I know fairy tale retellings have been around for a long time, but the way Marissa does them brings a unique twist to the old stories. Who else would have thought of a cyborg Cinderella?</div>
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6. <b><span style="color: #e69138;"><i>The Darkest Minds</i> by Alexandra Bracken</span></b> - The different powers of the children and the colors and the world is so crazy and new. I love it. (It also broke my heart)</div>
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7. <span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b><i>Fangirl</i> by Rainbow Rowell</b> </span>- I don't think I've ever related to character more than I related to Cath. I've never read about a girl in her first year of college with that much anxiety and nerdiness. The characters, the Simon Snow books, the romance, it's all really unique.</div>
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8. <b><span style="color: #274e13;"><i>The Raven Boys</i> by Maggie Stiefvater</span></b> - Welsh kings and cute prep school boys and a not-psychic girl? Yeah. Unique.</div>
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9. <b><span style="color: #e06666;"><i>Unspoken</i> by Sarah Rees Brennan</span></b> - Angsty sorcerers and a mind-connection. Also, a badass leading lady who likes to wear dresses.</div>
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10. <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><i>Something Strange and Deadly</i> by Susan Dennard</span></b> - Steampunk zombies. Need I say more?</div>
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Looking at my list, I've basically made a list of some of my favorite books. I think I love them all so much because of their uniqueness. I mean, who wants to read a carbon copy of another book? Not me. Okay, sometimes me, but those never really stick with me, you know? These are the books whose worlds I will live in forever, that I'm not going to forget. Clearly, there's something to be said for uniqueness.</div>
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What's on your list? (Also, you like my new graphic?)</div>
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-36049682190244959132014-04-03T07:00:00.000-04:002014-04-03T07:00:03.909-04:00{Review} Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194157-shadow-and-bone?from_search=true" target="_blank">Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Leigh Bardugo</b></div>
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Pages: 358</div>
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Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.</div>
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Format: Hardcover</div>
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Source: Library</div>
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Age Group: Young Adult</div>
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<i>The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.</i><i> Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?</i><i> The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.</i><i> But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?</i><i> Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.</i></blockquote>
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I love the concept of <i>Shadow and Bone</i>: the Grisha and the shadowfold and the DARKLING (swoon). It's so immensely creative that I couldn't <i>not </i>love it. I'm also a major fan of non-traditional lore (i.e. mythical things other than vampires, werewolves, fae, etc.) and <i>Shadow and Bone</i> is sooo different. I've been interested in all things Russian since I saw <i>Anastasia</i> as a kid, so the book was already right up my alley. <i>Shadow and Bone</i> is a unique adventure story with some seriously swoon worthy romance and badass ladies.</div>
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I adored the characters. Alina was super interesting to read about. I think my favorite thing about her character was that she's really self-conscious of how skinny she is. Her unhealthy-skinniness wasn't glorified <i>at all</i> (there weren't even any of those stereotypical "vain" characters who were jealous of her, literally everyone thinks she looks sickly and needs to eat more), and, as someone who was unhealthy-skinny for a long time, I really appreciated that message. Alina is also incredibly strong, especially in her love, her beliefs, and her loyalty to those she cares about. The way she treated Genya when everyone else looked down on her was impressive. And Alina's behavior later in the book when *MAJOR PLOT TWIST* happens shows her personality and makes her more dynamic as a character. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but she follows her heart and, in the end, her faults make her so much more interesting to read about than if she had been perfect.</div>
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One of my favorite YA tropes is physically weak characters getting stronger. Alina is frail at the beginning of the book, but has to learn how to fight as part of her training. She was a badass before, don't get me wrong, but reading about a girl learning to fight is one of my favorite things ever. Mackenzie Bishop can fight, Tris Prior can fight, and now we have Alina Starkov. There's this trend starting and I love it because empowering teenage girls in any way, shape, or form is AMAZEBALLS, and a generally great thing in YA lit. I basically love girl fight scenes, especially the ones where they take out grown-ass men. It's so cool. So cool.</div>
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Back to the character topic, we also get to know two male characters pretty well. Mal is the sturdy, reliable (most of the time), boy-next-door type. He and Alina have known each other for forever and their changing relationship dynamic is neat (and by neat I mean swoon-worthy and heartbreaking at times). There's also the Darkling: tall, dark, and mysterious. Alina, lonely in the Little Palace, is intrigued by the Darkling. He saves her several times, before she learns how to save herself. He's kind of funny, but in a serious way. Like, he's really stoic a lot of the time, but some of the things he says made me smile. I love his ability to be mean-nice, like you can never tell if he genuinely cares or if he's an ass. It's great. (I love him)</div>
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The world building is genius. As I read, I quickly learned what the different colored <i>keftas</i> meant and what powers those Grisha had. It wasn't forced, it was like being immersed in Ravka and learning their culture like being in France and learning their culture. And <i>Shadow and Bone</i> has a map in the front! I love me a good fictional map. Having the map as reference as the characters referenced Shu Han and Fjerda and tsibeya and the Unsea/Shadowfold was really helpful. It made everything feel so much more real. </div>
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Basically, I thought <i>Shadow and Bone</i> was brilliant. The characters, the plot, the world, everything about the book was made of awesome. If you like deeply creative fictional worlds and dynamic teenage heroines, I totes recommend this book.</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13638131-the-unbound?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Unbound (The Archived #2)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Victoria Schwab</b></div>
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Pages: 368</div>
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Publisher: Hyperion</div>
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Format: Hardcover</div>
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Age Group: Young Adult</div>
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Date Published: January 28, 2014</div>
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Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.<br />
<i>Last summer, Mackenzie Bishop, a Keeper tasked with stopping violent Histories from escaping the Archive, almost lost her life to one. Now, as she starts her junior year at Hyde School, she's struggling to get her life back. But moving on isn't easy -- not when her dreams are haunted by what happened. She knows the past is past, knows it cannot hurt her, but it feels so real, and when her nightmares begin to creep into her waking hours, she starts to wonder if she's really safe.</i><i>Meanwhile, people are vanishing without a trace, and the only thing they seem to have in common is Mackenzie. She's sure the Archive knows more than they are letting on, but before she can prove it, she becomes the prime suspect. And unless Mac can track down the real culprit, she'll lose everything, not only her role as Keeper, but her memories, and even her life. Can Mackenzie untangle the mystery before she herself unravels?</i><br />
<i>With stunning prose and a captivating mixture of action, romance, and horror, The Unbound delves into a richly imagined world where no choice is easy and love and loss feel like two sides of the same coin.</i></blockquote>
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Okay, so y'all know how much I loved <i>The Archived</i>, right? Like, so much I got to help promote it for Victoria, right?? Well, <i>The Unbound</i> was <b>EVEN BETTER</b>. We got the intrigue of the Archive, but it was coupled with private school and more Wesley and friends and family and psychological problems, and I am one huge sucker for characters with psychological problems. It was so well written and brilliant and darling and I constantly wanted to give poor Mac a big hug <strike>(and also make out with Wesley)</strike>. It was beautiful.</div>
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One of my favorite things about <i>The Unbound</i> is the dialogue. It's so real and funny. The way Mackenzie and Wesley talk is perfect. I love their banter and his ability to be both mean and charming at the same time. Like, you know he's not actually being mean, he's just being sarcastic and adorable. I love wit in men. Seriously. And I like the way the new characters were introduced. Cash and the gang were hilarious. Safia is literally my fave. I love the fact that she can't say anything nice. I feel like we'd totes be friends.</div>
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I am also a total sucker for private school books. Like uniforms and rich kids and weird-ass gym classes are so up my alley. I really liked that we got to know Wes and Mac outside of school in the first book, and then saw how they interacted in school. Mac's many dilemmas with dealing with her two lives are incredible to read about. There's this MASSIVE convergence of her Archive life and real life that is equally incredible and heartbreaking. AND WESLEY JUST WANTS TO BE THERE FOR HER BECAUSE HE'S A SWEETHEART. God, they just give me feels, man. Also, we get to see Wes and Mac spar and it's so cool. I love trained fighting. It's like sexy knowing that people can take care of themselves in a fight. </div>
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On that note, Mackenzie proves that she can totally take care of herself several times. She can do anything she wants on her own, even though it sometimes isn't such a good idea. Basically, I want her to take Wesley everywhere with her, just in case, but that's not always what happens.</div>
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I love the relationships in this series. Nothing is one-dimensional and it's amazing. Like, Mac is still having a hard time with wanting to be with Wes because her life is complicated and she doesn't want to overcomplicate it with him. However, Victoria throws some more obsticles in their way and everything is murky in that department. There's no clear answer and you never know if they're going to be together or not. I love how nothing is a given. There are plot twists and turns that I never saw coming, and that's one of my favorite parts of reading, you know? Like, being surprised by a book is the coolest thing ever. You're reading and a lot of the time you can totally tell what's gonna happen next, but then something totally different happens and you're all *<b>MIND BLOWN*. </b></div>
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The world of <i>The Archived</i> sucks you in and makes it hard to leave. Before I was even done with <i>The Unbound</i>, I was ready to reread it. I love the darkness that surrounds Mac's life and the different struggles she faces. My favorite part of the book is her mental health issues after the events with Oliver in the first book. It's really well written and just perfect. I didn't think this series could get better than the first book, but <i>The Unbound</i> stepped it up a notch. </div>
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I started this review over week ago, and had a really hard time finishing it. I love the book. I wanted to reread it immediately after I finished it. I just couldn't seem to get my thoughts out in this review. I'm basically just really upset because I heard that the third book in the series wasn't picked up by Hyperion and there's so much more I want to know about Mackenzie's story. I'm not ready to be done with the Archive. I'm not ready to let go of Mackenzie. I'm not ready to release Wesley. I need more. I'm just really sad that, as of yet, I won't get more. </div>
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Also, even though there isn't going to be a next book (yet), there isn't a cliffhanger. So it's not like we don't get any closure (I know that might turn some people off from reading it). There are definitely some things that I would like to know in a third book, but it's not like Mac and Wes are trapped in a collapsed underground cave surrounded by demonic Histories at the end. Everything wraps up nicely, so don't let that deter you from reading it! And, hey, if we can get a big enough fanbase together, somebody other than Hyperion might pick up the rest of the series (remember when this happened for Wendy Higgins??) So, yeah. Something to think about.</div>
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, and today's theme is "Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List." According to Broke and Bookish, these<br />
could be blogging related, book related etc. -- meeting authors, reading x many books per year, finishing a daunting book, etc.</blockquote>
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1. <b><span style="color: purple;">Review More</span></b> - I suck at reviewing consistantly. I've been trying to put out two reviews a week, which, in the past few weeks, I've totally failed at. I've read a couple books, I just haven't been reviewing. AND THEY'VE BEEN GOOD BOOKS. I just suck. ugh.<br />
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2. <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Post Consistently</span></b> - This sort of goes along with the first one, but I'd like to get back into a routine of posting, because I love blogging and I'm lame.<br />
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3. <b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Read Over 100 Books This Year</span></b> - I failed miserably at this last year, but I did it in 2012! I have to read a ton for English, but I want to read for fun more. There are so many books out that look incredible that I just haven't gotten to (I did finally read <i>The Unbound</i> AND IT WAS SO GOOD AGH)<br />
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4. <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Read Pride & Prejudice</span></b> - I have it on my shelf, and I know I'll love it, but it's a classic and I can't seem to get my head around reading a classic for fun.<br />
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5. <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Write More</span></b> - I love writing little stories and snippets of things. I want to write sometime in the future, and I desperately need practice with writing fictional stuff. I'm good at AP essays, but not anything else. :/<br />
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6. <b><span style="color: #38761d;">Figure Out How to Do Those Book Nails</span></b> - You know the cute nails that are all over the internet, with the printed words on them? I know <i>how</i> to do them, really, I just haven't gotten around to it. I have done <i>Alice in Wonderland </i>nails recently, though, and those were pretty rockin.<br />
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7. <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">See More Authors</span></b> - I got to meet Victoria Schwab, Beth Revis, Megan Shepherd, Meagan Spooner, and Lenore Appelhans at Malaprops last year, and that was super cool and I'd love to meet more authors (or even the same ones because they were super cool).<br />
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Yeah, that's it :) What's on your bookish bucket list?<br />
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-74207829715292255812014-03-04T00:00:00.000-05:002014-03-04T13:11:15.759-05:00{Release Day} Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18360175-best-kind-of-broken?from_search=true" target="_blank">Best Kind of Broken (Finding Fate #1)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Chelsea Fine</b></div>
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Formats: Paperback, eBook</div>
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Publisher: Forever</div>
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Age Group: New Adult</div>
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Publication Date: March 4, 2014</div>
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<i>SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN<br />Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can't. And the damage is done. She's hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there's a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more--until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he's right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she'd long buried . . .<br />Levi can't believe he's living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple "sorry" won't suffice--not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie's better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she's so close, Pixie's heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear--he can't live without her.</i><i></i></blockquote>
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<b>Reviews:</b><br />
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"By turns humorous and heartbreaking, Best Kind Of Broken has become one of my favorites!" <br />
--- CORA CARMACK, New York Times bestselling author of Losing It.<br />
"You'll fall for Pixie and Levi, just like I did!"<br />
--- JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT (J. Lynn), #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait For You<br />
"Tangled with friendship, history and heartbreak--not to mention a huge dose of<br />
humor--Chelsea Fine's New Adult novel is not to be missed! Beyond an<br />
incredibly HOT read, Pixie and Levi's longing for each other will have<br />
you rooting for them till the very end."<br />
--- JAY CROWNOVER, New York Times bestselling author of Rule<br />
"This book destroyed me. Tore me into little tiny pieces. But somehow with<br />
lots of laughs and some very steamy times, Chelsea put me back together<br />
again! Chelsea Fine's style is witty, visceral and fresh. All I wanted<br />
to do was crawl inside this book and live with the characters. And now<br />
all I want is MORE."<br />
--- CHELSEA M. CAMERON, New York Times bestselling author of My Favorite Mistake<br />
"Sandwiched between laugh out loud moments and some serious heat, Best Kind of Broken is an unforgettable story of loss and forgiveness that will leave your heart aching."<br />
--- LISA DESROCHERS, USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far <br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635c34/" id="rc-26635c34" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<br />
Where to buy: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Kind-Broken-Finding-Fate-ebook/dp/B00EHMG34E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392944627&sr=8-1&keywords=best+kind+of+broken+chelsea+fine">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-kind-of-broken-chelsea-fine/1116414142?ean=9781455583140&itm=1&usri=best+kind+of+broken+chelsea+fine">Barnes and Noble</a><br />
<br />
<b>Excerpt:</b><br />
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Levi is so distracting. His arms are all raised, and his shoulders are all broad, and he’s fixing crap, and it’s just…it’s just…annoying.<br />
<br />
With a huff and a puff and some choice words in my head, I grab my sliced bell peppers and force my feet to the stove. I throw the vegetables into a frying pan, grab a wooden spoon, and ignore Levi’s close proximity.<br />
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My body hums.<br />
<br />
I ignore that too.<br />
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I steal a glance in his direction and watch as the corded muscles in his forearm flex as he unscrews something on the fire alarm box. Why does he have so many muscles in his forearm? That can’t be healthy.<br />
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I drop my eyes to the frying pan and focus on bell peppers, because bell peppers are interesting and they don’t have backs the size of Alaska or copious amounts of forearm muscles.<br />
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The forearm muscles that I’m not thinking about lightly brush my shoulder and the humming inside my body knots together and zips around like a bumblebee on crack.<br />
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I casually turn down the heat on the stove, like that’s the reason I’m suddenly a human vibrator, and go back to stirring. Levi goes back to screwing.<br />
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Bell peppers.<br />
<br />
I’m thinking about bell peppers.<br />
<br />
He brushes against me again, except this time his forearm grazes my breast and my body immediately goes wild like I’m some love-starved teenager and the humming dives low in my belly and the stove gets hotter and my breaths get shallow and suddenly bell peppers are the sexiest vegetable on earth.<br />
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From the corner of my eye, I catch his Adam’s apple bobbing with a nervous swallow, which can only mean one thing. The boob brush was an accident.<br />
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Well crap.<br />
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If he had been trying to cop a feel with his Hulkish forearm, I could have responded with some kind of snarky “you’re a pervert” comment. But it wasn’t on purpose and somehow that makes it sexier and now the cracked-out bumblebee is buzzing in my nether regions and my hands are starting to tingle and why the HELL is this stove so hot?<br />
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I turn the burner down another notch and take a slow, deep breath. I have a boyfriend. A great boyfriend. So this sexual frustration I feel around Levi is nothing to get my bee-loving panties in a bunch about. I just need to calm down.<br />
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Levi lowers his arm for a moment, his eyes still on the alarm, and stretches his neck.<br />
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Ah, the neck stretch. The universal sign of stress. Well at least I’m not alone in my frustration. My hot, distracting, pants-are-so-inconvenient frustration.<br />
<br />
Wait, what?<br />
<br />
Who said anything about pants? I am NOT thinking about pants—or lack thereof. Damn you, bell peppers!<br />
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I toss the wooden spoon to the side and move back to the counter where the threat of being turned on by a handyman or, you know, a sautéed vegetable is much less severe.<br />
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I bite back a groan. What was I thinking, living under the same roof as Levi? There’s no way I’ll survive the summer.<br />
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Hell, I can barely survive breakfast.<br />
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ABOUT CHELSEA FINE:<br />
<br />
Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.<br />
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LINKS: <a href="http://www.chelseafinebooks.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChelseaFineBooks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ChelseaFine" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ChelseaFineBooks" target="_blank">YouTube</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/chelseafinebooks" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4984399.Chelsea_Fine" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>, where we book bloggers talk about upcoming releases we are excited for. This week I'm looking forward to:</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9627755-isla-and-the-happily-ever-after" target="_blank">Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #2)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Stephanie Perkins</b></div>
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Formats: Hardcover, eBook</div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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Expected Publication: August 14, 2014</div>
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<i>From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.<br />Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.</i></blockquote>
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<a name='more'></a>I haven't read <i>Lola and the Boy Next Door</i>, yet. I plan on it, but I think I can still be excited for <i>Isla</i>, since she had a little cameo in the <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i>. I love France, and I love Stephanie Perkins' writing style. I love Etienne and Anna, and I hope we get to hear about them a little bit. I will read <i>Lola</i> before <i>Isla,</i> I promise. I just realized that this is Josh, as in Etienne's friend, Josh. OMG. I love him. Okay, yeah definitely super duper excited for <i>Isla</i>.<br />
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Where to pre-order: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Isla-Happily-After-Stephanie-Perkins-ebook/dp/B009VMBPX4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393426356&sr=1-1&keywords=isla+and+the+happily+ever+after" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/isla-and-the-happily-ever-after-stephanie-perkins/1113599254?ean=9780525425632" target="_blank">B&N</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Isla-Happily-Ever-After-Stephanie-Perkins/9780525425632" target="_blank">Book Depository</a><br />
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Also, you should totally enter my <a href="http://bookworminlove.blogspot.com/2014/02/giveaway-love-is-in-air.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a> :)<br />
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-64136079837941444582014-02-24T07:00:00.000-05:002014-02-24T07:00:10.321-05:00{Review} Angelfall by Susan Ee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11500217-angelfall?bf=500&from_search=true" target="_blank">Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Susan Ee</b></div>
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Pages: 325</div>
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Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton</div>
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Format: Paperback</div>
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Age Group: Young Adult</div>
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Date Published: May 21, 2011</div>
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<i>It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.<br />Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.<br />Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.<br />Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.</i></blockquote>
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Most of the time I waste is spent on Tumblr, which is a useless hellhole that I can't seem to escape because I'm addicted, and very few good things come out of all the time I spend there. However, I follow a lot of people who are <i>in love</i> with this book. I've been hearing about it for a few months on there, so I finally requested it. I mean, angels, the apocalypse, and angsty love is totally up my alley. And I was <i>not</i> disappointed. <i>Angelfall</i> was incredible and it ripped my wittle heart into tinsy shreds. </div>
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Penryn is both a badass and a normal girl. I mean, she learned to fight young because of years of self-defense classes (which reminds me I gotta start bugging my mom again to sign me up for one), but she also worries about her greasy hair and whether or not she smells. Of course, the way she looks isn't a priority. It's the apocalypse and she's got a mom and a sister who need her to take care of them. However, when she starts travelling with a sexy angel, she gets a little self-conscious. There's this one scene near the beginning-ish before either of them can really stand each other, and... well, read the book you'll know which one I'm referring to. I think my favorite parts of the book are where she beats up grown men. There was this one particularly raunchy guy who she just wiped out. It was impressive. I loved it when she fought, I loved it when she worried about her family, I loved it when she realized she though Raffe was hot... I loved her. Penryn rocks.</div>
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Raffe is like snark-master. I love the way his snarkasm is mixed with his vulnerability. Penryn would look at him every so often and realize that he's hurting, and he doesn't use his sarcasm to cover that side of himself. He's not open, of course, but he vulnerability is as much a part of his personality as his attitude is. I love Jace, don't get me wrong, but you know how he like loses the sarcastic, rude way he acts when Clary learns about all his problems? I feel like Raffe and Penryn aren't going to be like that. They're both rude dorks, but they're also caring and problematic around each other. I loved it. </div>
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I'm not sure what ethnicity Penryn is, because all we know is that she has dark hair, but I liked to imagine her, or at least her mom, as Asian. Not because her mom was crazy (because there's plenty of crazy white ladies out there), but mainly because there was this Tumblr post with a series of texts from this girl's worrisome Asian mother and they made me think of Penryn's mom. (<a href="https://imgur.com/gallery/avhHg" target="_blank">this</a> is the link to the texts, it's not on Tumblr, but it's the same thing) </div>
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Penryn's family really got me. I loved her little sister and we barely get to see her. Paige is disabled and her kindness and generally ability to be wonderful makes my heart swell. I don't want to spoil anything, because the way this information comes in made me cry and I want you to cry too, but we learn about Paige's friends from the World Before, and yeah. Get this tissues. The way Penryn loves her with all her heart is so wonderful to see in YA. I love sisters. Sister always get me crying. I sobbed throughout <i>Frozen</i> because Anna and Elsa weren't friends anymore. Seriously. Anyways, Penryn's treatment of her psychotic (literally) mother was really interesting. The way she both feared her and wanted to take care of her was a really interesting dynamic. </div>
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Basically my heart has burst and I want you to read this book.Yes, you. Do it, I dare you.</div>
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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>, where we book bloggers talk about upcoming releases we are excited for. This week I'm looking forward to:</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18296030-don-t-look-back" target="_blank">Don't Look Back</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Jennifer L. Armentrout</b></div>
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Publisher: Disney-Hyperion</div>
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Formats: Hardcover, eBook</div>
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Age Group: Young Adult</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pW9Jx3T1fr7DZUZTa6MMezRxyegfiOAfp4-OmQ4UQb5XGrbZBuNvHyZxNJXalSsCrQcoNBEcBkIp5F9_SsZ6PPkGVBPO-vE22sP4ZX_iMQR7t97JzyNcZD3p9Nao7l42cwe4z8XOxWM/s1600/dontlookback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pW9Jx3T1fr7DZUZTa6MMezRxyegfiOAfp4-OmQ4UQb5XGrbZBuNvHyZxNJXalSsCrQcoNBEcBkIp5F9_SsZ6PPkGVBPO-vE22sP4ZX_iMQR7t97JzyNcZD3p9Nao7l42cwe4z8XOxWM/s1600/dontlookback.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a>Expected Publication: April 15, 2014</div>
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<i></i><i>Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.<br /> </i><i>Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.</i><i>But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?</i></blockquote>
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<a name='more'></a>I am really excited for JLA's new book! I love the <i>Lux</i> series and I really enjoy the <i>Covenant </i>books, so I'm hoping that her new YA endeavor will be just as fun. The cover is gorgeous and interesting, and I've loved every YA book Disney-Hyperion has put out for the longest time. I mean, they published <i>Percy Jackson</i> and <i>The Archived</i>, two of my favorite series. I have high hopes for this one. Amnesia is interesting, and the blurb reminds me a little of <i>Mara Dyer</i>, so we shall see.<br />
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Where to pre-order: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Look-Back-L-Armentrout-ebook/dp/B00GSZHYK0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1392831279&sr=8-4&keywords=don%27t+look+back" target="_blank">Amazon </a>| <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-look-back-jennifer-armentrout/1116342742?ean=9781423175124" target="_blank">B&N</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Dont-Look-Back-Jennifer-L-Armentrout/9781423175124" target="_blank">Book Depository</a><br />
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Also, you should totally enter my <a href="http://bookworminlove.blogspot.com/2014/02/giveaway-love-is-in-air.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a> :)<br />
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27266.Glass_Houses" target="_blank">Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires #1)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Rachel Caine</b></div>
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Pages: 239</div>
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Publisher: NAL Jam</div>
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Format: Paperback</div>
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Source: Library</div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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Date Published: January 1, 2006</div>
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<i>From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.<br />College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Will she be able to face the town's terror or will she drown like everyone else?</i></blockquote>
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I really enjoyed this one. I've been meaning to get into <i>The Morganville Vampires</i> for a long while now, and I'm really glad I did! I love the whole long series thing, so I guess that's what I'll be reading for the next while. Vampires are fun and interesting, and I love all the different takes on them that have been coming out since forever, right? I think Caine's vamps are closest to Holly Black's in the social hierarchy and the characteristics. Although, <i>Glass Houses </i>is a lot lighter than <i>The Coldest Girl in Coldtown</i>. </div>
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I really loved the plot. It was fast, but not overly so, and crazy interesting and intense. I love the way "vampires exist" is just a thing, and how Claire just has to accept it. It's funny and new (I know this book was written a while ago, just bear with me). I've seen some people upset over the fact that Claire is kind of "immature," which I find kind of silly because she's 16 and she acts like she's 16. I know plenty of super smart people who are super awkward and very young, myself included even though I'm nowhere near Claire's level. She's led a very sheltered life - her parents still decide a lot of things for her. She's <i>young</i>, but not unlikeable. On the contrary. I enjoyed reading about Claire. I think she rocks. </div>
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I love the books where the MC has to go live with a group of new people and learn new things and make friends even though they're young. That's like my favorite thing to read about. I loved Michael and Shane and Eve and the way they all act towards each other and Claire. I love the way they react immediately when Claire shows up with bruises and she's crying and they just want to help because all three of them had been there at one point or another. I love the way Eve is so friendly, despite her described appearance. I love the harsh banter between Eve, Shane, and Claire and the way Michael just puts up with it because they're his friends and he loves them so much. I adore all the chili making and the cooking and the arguing for bathroom rights because they're all still technically teenagers. I love roommates. I love it. It's so fun. Roommates + Vampires = super fun.</div>
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So yeah, clearly I loved the first book in this new-to-me series. I've heard a bajillion (scientific term) raving reviews of the series and I'm so excited to get into it now. Highly recommend.</div>
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-82999927967636539942014-02-14T12:00:00.000-05:002014-02-14T12:00:00.420-05:00{Giveaway} Love is in the Air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, because this is Bookworm in Love, Valentine's Day should be important here, right? As a proclaimed book lover, books are the most important thing to me today ;) (Also, like Jace, my one true love remains myself). To commemorate this momentous day, and the fact that I hit 400 followers a few week ago (woop), I'm gonna have a little giveaway!</div>
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You can pick any romance book you want, preferably YA, but whatever it's Valentine's Day! I mean, I've been dying to read <i>Wait for You</i> and that's definitely not YA, so pick a book to your heart's desire. For inspiration you can read my <a href="http://bookworminlove.blogspot.com/2014/02/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-that-will_11.html" target="_blank">Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon</a>, though you probably know what you want for a romance book :)</div>
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Rafflecopter and giveaway rules beneath the cut...</div>
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<b>Giveaway Rules:</b></div>
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<li>Worldwide, as long as the Book Depository ships to you (if you don't know check <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/help/topic/HelpId/3/Which-countries-do-you-deliver-to#helpContent" target="_blank">this list</a>)</li>
<li>13+ to enter (if you're only 13 don't you dare ask me for like <i>Fifty Shades of Gray</i> because that's so not happening)</li>
<li>Try to keep it under $15 (if it's a little over just ask me, I'm reasonable)</li>
<li>That's it.</li>
<li>Happy Valentine's Day ;)</li>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3691846/" id="rc-3691846" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-69734201837639171322014-02-12T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-12T08:00:00.792-05:00{Wishlist Wednesday} Cress by Marissa Meyer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pentopaperblog.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2txkF8m1LQfkbPSxYzIPiygtx2oFlXgB5QvxSHpXODLu241qI90v5h_-8m2T2eAw8kQ_Nm5THsg9fRjxp0avKq3ACGa_-or_l-ZI3lm1qs1MTOi3cQ2wl9KpbHaaB5oGgrHCXPqGXxc/s1600/Wishlist+Wednesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Wishlist Wednesday is a new meme I'm trying. I know I've always done Waiting on Wednesday, but all the books I want are already out! So, I searched up some new memes and found this one and it serves my purposes perfectly. It is hosted by <a href="http://www.pentopaperblog.com/" target="_blank">Pen to Paper</a> and I suggest you check it out.</blockquote>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13206828-cress" target="_blank">Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Marissa Meyer</b></div>
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Publisher: Feiwel & Friends</div>
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Formats: eBook, Hardcover, Audiobook</div>
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Age Group: Young Adult</div>
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Publication Date: February 4, 2014</div>
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<i><br />Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.<br /> In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.<br /> <br />Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.<br /> <br />When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.</i></blockquote>
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<a name='more'></a>I <i>loved</i> the first two books of this series. As everything is gettting more and more connected and the stakes are being raised, I'm getting more excited. I love the way Meyer is combining the fairy tales, it's so creative. I'm hoping for some Cress/Captain Thorne action because he's such a cutie and he needs somebody to love. I was at the bookstore on Saturday and it was <i>so hard</i> to leave without this one. I want Cinder and Kai to get back together so baaaaaaad. Basically, I just need this one NOW.<br />
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What's on your wishlist?<br />
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-50643320808572846582014-02-11T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-11T08:00:10.312-05:00{Top Ten Tuesday} Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon<div style="text-align: right;">
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<a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMKYhJr7q7CBDSv6tNx_lII0mnQ7fpmbN32Tkp-y4jmBfO8sQC9t6IelVvX8aPGejTI0ZMlYt0daX5-ej-SjbCfxAHqh-Lb2vsm0l99BhyLey-BxbQ0ag0u1C9xFmjyDBrIq5fV6bf6bu/s320/toptentuesday2.jpg" /></a> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: start;">
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, and today's theme is "Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon." </blockquote>
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1. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8591107-the-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer" target="_blank">The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer</a> </i>by Michelle Hodkin - I mean, this is my favorite book series, and Noah is my #1 book boyfriend. Rich British boys do me in every time. The way it's written ends up really romantic, even though they barely make out at all. It's beautiful. </div>
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2. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22205.This_Lullaby" target="_blank">This Lullaby</a> </i>by Sarah Dessen - This is my all time fave Sarah Dessen book. I love Dexter with all my might and their relationship if so friggin cute. He's such a goober, and she's so sure of herself and together their just a mess. I love it. Especially the scene where he forgets to pay the power bill. It kills me just thinking about it. </div>
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4.<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429045-shatter-me" target="_blank"> </a><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429045-shatter-me" target="_blank">Shatter Me</a> </i>& <b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13104080-unravel-me" target="_blank">Unravel Me</a></i> </b>by Tahereh Mafi - I'm counting both of them because Tahereh made me fall in love with two different boys in one series. It's beautiful. I loved Adam in the first book, and then we got to know Warner in the second and *swoon*. I might catch some flack for this, but I love him because he's the bad guy. I think he's screwed up as I'll get out and I love it. I mean, their relationship is unhealthy and dangerous and should never happen in real life, but in the books? Hell yeah. Let's go. I just think Warner is so hot. Man.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-d4-oqhYV-pkaF3o9PDDc9pzbn3zTewphTmcl-4hri-CuFLd6CTURoXN0OeIDIOCfYBD8u-fWs_9y8LTlc64wVG2XdOTqbw6MKs5wtrKN54Eji9W10HBFmtd4XOc7ztsD3gS1FndHMs/s1600/clockworkangel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-d4-oqhYV-pkaF3o9PDDc9pzbn3zTewphTmcl-4hri-CuFLd6CTURoXN0OeIDIOCfYBD8u-fWs_9y8LTlc64wVG2XdOTqbw6MKs5wtrKN54Eji9W10HBFmtd4XOc7ztsD3gS1FndHMs/s1600/clockworkangel.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a>5. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7171637-clockwork-angel" target="_blank">Clockwork Angel</a></i> by Cassandra Clare - I LOVE WILL HERONDALE AND I WILL SING IT TO THE HEAVENS UNTIL I CAN NO LONGER SING (not that my singing's any good now, but you get my point). I loved Will in the first book and then fell more in love with every proceeding book. I love him. I love his snark and his wild sense of humor and his determination that demon pox is real. His and Tessa's mutual love of books is so wonderful and now I want to reread the series and bawl my eyes out at the last book again...</div>
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6. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10576365-the-darkest-minds" target="_blank">The Darkest Minds</a></i> by Alexandra Bracken - Liam melts my heart more and more with every word he speaks. He's such a darling. I love his gentle southern gentlemanlyness and how accepting he is of Ruby. I love the way he takes care of everybody and how he and Ruby slowly fall in love. I love all of him. Goodness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T_8NdoGFRQ4ff3aiNiO5yuFyNIhOTO89M2twL2VQwNvB6e-QbZqqi6Ua6JgN5IH2LUB-mjm8S1FyEIJ3G6rRVoqozvuv3HhZ_i9PQwldisbMJnCnU7IaWmn3fQXjMIGedJP5a57a-Hg/s1600/annaandthefrenchkiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T_8NdoGFRQ4ff3aiNiO5yuFyNIhOTO89M2twL2VQwNvB6e-QbZqqi6Ua6JgN5IH2LUB-mjm8S1FyEIJ3G6rRVoqozvuv3HhZ_i9PQwldisbMJnCnU7IaWmn3fQXjMIGedJP5a57a-Hg/s1600/annaandthefrenchkiss.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>7. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6936382-anna-and-the-french-kiss" target="_blank">Anna and the French Kiss</a></i> by Stephanie Perkins - ETIENNE ST. CLAIR. need I say more? No, but I <span style="text-align: right;">will. Falling in love in Paris is one of the most romantic plot lines I can think of. I love how funny he is, and how he and Anna become BFFs before they fall madly in love. I love their crazy excursions into France and the way they're there for each other (for most of the book until the end when there's a million miscommunications and everything goes to Hell in a handbasket). I love this book. Go read it.</span></div>
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8. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17347389-the-dream-thieves" target="_blank">The Dream Thieves</a> </i>by Maggie Stiefvater - Yes, I'm picking the second one. This series isn't really intended to be a romance, or that's really not the main plot of the book (thank you Queen Maggie), and in <i>The Raven Boys</i> we spend so much time getting to know all the characters that there isn't any time for swooning (who wants to swoon on a quest anyways. that's not how to get things done). But, in the second? I think I fell in love a little with every single one of the boys (and Blue is like my biggest girl crush). Gansey is such a goober and Adam is so broken and Noah is smudgy and Ronan is so dynamic and I love them all. LOVE. (especially Gansey's glasses)</div>
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9. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9859436-something-strange-and-deadly" target="_blank">Something Strange and Deadly</a></i> by Susan Dennard - Daniel Sheridan is wonderful. He calls her Empress and they argue and I love it. I love steampunk zombies, especially when a cute boy is involved. He and Eleanor and such a great team and he's such an awkward dork and I love it. </div>
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10. <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13450339-poison-princess" target="_blank">Poison Princess</a> </b>by Kresley Cole - Jack is sexy. He and Evie hate each other and there's so much sexual tension you could cut it with a knife. I love the way they argue and how they're both so stubborn. Plus, this series has some of the sexiest scenes you can find in YA. The second book gets really daring and it's hot. Really hot. Read it.</div>
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Any other swoon worthy books I need to check out?? :)</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13138635-these-broken-stars" target="_blank">These Broken Stars (Starbound #1)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner</b></div>
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Pages: 374</div>
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Publisher: Disney Hyperion</div>
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Format: Hardcover</div>
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Source: B&N</div>
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Age Group: Young Adult</div>
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Date Published: December 10, 2013</div>
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<i>It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.<br /> </i><i>Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.<br /> </i><i><br /></i><i>Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?</i><i><br /></i><i>Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.</i><i><br /></i><i>--</i><i><br /></i><i>A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.</i></blockquote>
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(I had to remove the authors' first names from the heading b/c it was too long) I loved <i>These Broken Stars</i>. When I picked it up, I half expected it to be mediocre because of the whole "star-crossed lovers" phrase in the blurb. Like, lame much? BUT NO NOT LAME AT ALL. I started the first chapter and I knew I had to have it. I've been trying to find it at the library for a long while now, and I was at the bookstore with $20 and instructions to only buy something that my sister could read, too. </div>
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When I first started it, I was hooked. I loved Tarver's voice, and I loved Lilac so so much. I loved hearing from the both of them, and I don't usually like dual POVs. Tarver was a sarcastic jerk sometimes, but he wasn't really a sarcastic jerk. He wasn't mean or abusive or whatever. He was so sweet at the beginning, but she messed that up and embarrassed the poor shmuck. So, they get trapped on a deserted planet together and he has to take care of her. I was honestly super surprised at how much I liked Lilac. The way she desperately wanted to save face should have been off-putting, but it really wasn't. She was so strong from the very beginning. I don't think she complains once. She sees him able to trek and hike and not break a sweat, and she becomes determined to be just as good. I loved it. </div>
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Their relationship dynamic was really unique. You know when you see that cute boy in the glasses at Barnes & Noble and he's reading something you think is cool and you automatically like him? That's how the book starts out. Tarver thinks she's beautiful, and then she stands up for someone in a bad situation and he thinks, "Now that's a girl I'd like to get to know better." There's no "love at first sight," but there is a spark of interest. Of course, she pisses him off and ends that like. So, when they're stuck together, he's pissed. He's such a jerk to her, but never enough that he'd leave her or let her get hurt. She's a jerk right back, of course. I think that maybe if one of them had caved and said something nice to the other they might have gotten along better. It wouldn't have been quite as fun to read, though. </div>
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The plot is really character-based. It reminds me of The Deathly Hallows Part 1 in which Harry, Ron, and Hermione take a long hike through the woods but it's still captivating because the characters are so loveable. They hit a few bumps in the road (back in <i>These Broken Stars</i>, not <i>Harry Potter</i>), of course, but it basically just a deserted island story. It's the story of the two learning more about each other and gradually falling in love. Two people from different worlds (literally, hehe) who manage to fall in love. I love the characters and their strength and their cuteness and I love the book. Really. You should read it.</div>
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Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165168344056462743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750133363240712010.post-89175747060618203702014-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:002014-02-06T08:00:08.739-05:00{Review} Unbreakable by Kami Garcia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12371862-unbreakable?from_search=true" target="_blank">Unbreakable (The Legion #1)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Kami Garcia</b></div>
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Pages: 305</div>
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Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers</div>
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Format: Hardcover</div>
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Source: Library</div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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Date Published: October 1, 2013</div>
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<i>Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia.<br /> I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.<br />When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.<br />Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.<br />Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.</i></blockquote>
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<i>On</i>e word to describe <i>Unbreakable</i> would have to be intense. The whole fast-paced "come with me if you want to live" thing added to Kennedy's desperation to be accepted along with learning about lore and battling ghosts and demons definitely made for some heart-pounding reading. I plowed through the entire book in like two and a half hours, if that's any indication. I felt like it was a little <i>too</i> fast-paced, but it definitely hooked me. </div>
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Hunters. I said a little while back that I wanted more hunters in my books. And <i>Unbreakable</i> has the whole rock-salt guns and general badassery that I was looking for. I love <i>Supernatural </i>with a fiery passion, and the fighting and the lore and the journals of <i>Unbreakable</i> were remiscent of the show. I thought the idea of "the Legion" was really interesting, too. The five people meant to fight a big scary demon, possibly not together, was really interesting. I liked how the teens were all sort of struggling to keep their heads above water in the fight. They had no guidance, no one to tell them what they were doing or if they were even going in the right direction.</div>
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I liked the characters. Kennedy reminded me of someone falling down a hill and whenever she latched onto something she'd start falling again. She had really fast character development, I guess, so I never really felt like I knew her. I always felt like I knew the people she thought about better than her. I mean, yeah she liked to draw, and she wore dark skinny jeans, and she's "normal" looking, but I felt like I never really went a lot deeper with her character. I didn't dislike her, of course. She made an acceptable narrator, but I just felt like I wanted to get to know her better.</div>
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It was the same with all the characters, really. From the very beginning, I knew she liked Jared better. I just couldn't really tell why. And sometimes, that's fine, and it's actually a good think, like you fall for the boy along with the girl, and you don't realize it's happening until you can't stop thinking about him. Unfortunately, I just sort of felt like what Kennedy had for Jared was a sort of infatuation. He's hot and mysterious and supposedly like her in the way that he doesn't want anyone to get close to him, but what else is there than that? I'd write another paragraph about his brother, Lukas, but he was even more of a wet blanket. Because he was just sort of there, and he liked Kennedy but I didn't know why.</div>
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I <i>did</i> really like reading about Priest and Alara. Priest was such a dork, and he was a mechanical engineer, which is cool beans with me. I liked his weapons and his nerdiness and his music. And Alara was a badass. She was tough and learned cool supernatural things from her Haitian grandmother. Which is totally sick. I loved her from the moment she came in.</div>
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I think my main problem with the book was that it was too fast. I think that if it had been longer, if I knew more about Kennedy's backstory, if it took place over weeks instead of days it would have been awesome. I just felt like it flew by, and not enough went into each character and their adventures. I did like it though. Please don't get me wrong, I just wanted more from it. I will most certainly be reading the next book.</div>
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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>, where we book bloggers talk about upcoming releases we are excited for. This week I'm looking forward to:</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16007855-sweet-reckoning" target="_blank">Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Wendy Higgins</b></div>
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Publisher: HarperTeen</div>
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Formats: Paperback, eBook</div>
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Age Group: Upper YA</div>
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Expected Publication: April 29, 2014</div>
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<i>It’s time.<br /> Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.<br />The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.<br />In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.</i></blockquote>
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<a name='more'></a>I love Anna and Kai. I can't wait to see if they'll get to be together or what. I need to know how this whole fight between the angels and demons is going to turn out. I'm concerned about what the summary means about the Duke of Lust sending Kaidan against her. I mean, if that entails sexytimes, let's go (I know Anna's not going to do anything that could screw up her thing with the hilt). I'm excited. These books are addicting. And I'm hoping that whole Kope/Anna/Kai love triangle is finally gone. It felt weird, because I never liked Kope.<br />
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We'll just have to see, won't we?<br />
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Where to pre-order: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Reckoning-Evil-Wendy-Higgins-ebook/dp/B00FJ3768W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390435026&sr=8-2&keywords=sweet+peril" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sweet-reckoning-wendy-higgins/1117005020?ean=9780062265975" target="_blank">B&N</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Sweet-Reckoning-Wendy-Higgins/9780062265975" target="_blank">Book Depository</a><br />
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, and today's theme is "Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry." I don't read very many "sad" books, but I do read books with traumatizing endings, and that's what this list will mainly consist of.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnrYTaAj57oUwqtVT7-YwT-TQRCz-RCUoX_pHlkX-RgEcOx3flqtC3oqx9TIA7G-xTm3XTpaUIBeU_OKvdlfzwyS7yImqO2NAfBlrjk48o5fpFHpaB-AQOmbUb0fPM3P9MUAcNYpvaqg/s1600/themadnessunderneath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnrYTaAj57oUwqtVT7-YwT-TQRCz-RCUoX_pHlkX-RgEcOx3flqtC3oqx9TIA7G-xTm3XTpaUIBeU_OKvdlfzwyS7yImqO2NAfBlrjk48o5fpFHpaB-AQOmbUb0fPM3P9MUAcNYpvaqg/s1600/themadnessunderneath.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a> 1. <b><i><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The Madness Underneath</span></i> - </b>I recently read this one, and the ending broke my heart. Thank God there's going to be more of them to ease the pain. Can't really tell you why I cried, because that's spoilery, but I did cry, and you <i>should</i> read this series. You'll see a lot about it in the next few days here.<br />
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2. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">City of Ashes</span></i> - This is the most depressing of all <i>The Mortal Instruments</i>. I don't know who <i>hasn't</i> read this series, or doesn't know what happens in it, but I don't want to spoil anything - again. The first three books are AMAZING so read them.<br />
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3. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The Darkest Minds</span></i> - I don't have to be Ruby to sense a pattern here. Can't really tell you <i>why</i> I cried, but just know that I did. That the ending ripped my heart into little bitty pieces and made me cry at the kitchen table. I did read <i>Never Fade</i>, and it was just as good as TDM, but I never reviewed it. Whoops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekr719makzcx9ElZlwzgRWzVBc3BHgbfmFMq0ktwyXGGE9vA7NsWVQjy357ARQejkIHEiPSAeSUiuaPBGU5IBjt-wPUiKRzVE5AZ6cK5bACkD5pmelL0JVNntsHmcVtXv8yKqjvzIFWw/s1600/clockworkprincess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekr719makzcx9ElZlwzgRWzVBc3BHgbfmFMq0ktwyXGGE9vA7NsWVQjy357ARQejkIHEiPSAeSUiuaPBGU5IBjt-wPUiKRzVE5AZ6cK5bACkD5pmelL0JVNntsHmcVtXv8yKqjvzIFWw/s1600/clockworkprincess.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a>4. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Clockwork Princess</span></i> - This is my favorite of the Shadowhunter series. I freaking love <i>The Infernal Devices</i>, and the end of <i>Clockwork Princess</i> is beautifully sad and glorious and whatever else you wanna call it. I love it. I also bawled my eyes out and layed on my floor for a few hours after I finished.<br />
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5. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">This Lullaby</span></i> - This is my very favorite Sarah Dessen book. Remy's story is so wonderful and redemptive and I love it. When she and Dexter broke up my heart shattered (I think it's old enough to spoil...) but it's worth reading over and over and over again.<br />
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6. <i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">East of Eden</span></i> - Now, don't get me wrong, I actually really enjoyed this book. However, it's 601 pages long and it was assigned as summer reading between my sophomore and junior years. Believe me, I cried when I started reading it. The story is really intricate for like the first 450 pages. And intricate means dull. It picks up the last 150 and everything comes together and that's awesome, but 601 pages? Ugh.<br />
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That's it. That's all I have. What books made you cry?<br />
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17624010-the-madness-underneath" target="_blank">The Madness Underneath (Shades of London #2)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Maureen Johnson</b></div>
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Pages: 304</div>
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Publisher: Speak</div>
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Format: Paperback</div>
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Source: B&N</div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE-yUTJu8ZHXOEpEk0Sacghac5lO1PzqAm3i3zFim_1trXC_q7yGmOO34j4BInefZhOz1sbcYd3NO_PWYBZENFR0svG8el74iTM8BWHkcFytQoyTBPn25oIQs-R_d2KySouLGSrACeBE/s1600/themadnessunderneath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE-yUTJu8ZHXOEpEk0Sacghac5lO1PzqAm3i3zFim_1trXC_q7yGmOO34j4BInefZhOz1sbcYd3NO_PWYBZENFR0svG8el74iTM8BWHkcFytQoyTBPn25oIQs-R_d2KySouLGSrACeBE/s1600/themadnessunderneath.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Date Published: December 10, 2013</div>
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<i>After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Deveaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades--the city's secret ghost-fighting police--are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late. In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated THE NAME OF THE STAR, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.</i></blockquote>
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OK so I know I've already written a review for this one, but the ending hit me so hard that I needed to make a second post about it...</div>
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Basically, <i>The Madness Underneath</i> was perfect. It was twisted and sad and funny all at once. I just kept reading and thinking "this book is about <i>me</i>." I mean, I don't see ghosts or anything, but I did know what Rory was going through in her recovery from being stabbed. I mean, I missed the end of my Junior year and made my first B. When Rory talks about feeling lost and you can just tell she feels dumb because she's so behind, I've been there. Thank God I managed to overcome that before I read this book, because I think it would have had a different impact on me. If I had read it at the time, I might have felt even more lost and y upset. I mean, Rory doesn't even finish her classes. She gets <i>expelled</i> because her grades got so bad. If I had read this when it first came out, when I was in the hospital, I probably would have been a basket case. But, because I read it when I got better, when I had <i>finally </i>caught up it school (I missed a month this school year, too...), I was able to read it as someone who had gone through it and felt stronger for it. I was able to see Rory as someone in the position I had been in and empathize with the way she felt. And the way she felt was <i>so realistic</i>. God, I felt the exact same way, like I just wanted to sit on the couch and do nothing and ignore my school work and hope to God it went away. But, like Rory, I realized that it wouldn't. That I would have to face it eventually. I just really want Maureen to know that her book helped me. </div>
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I have shipped Stephen and Rory since <i>The Name of the Star</i>, and then they FINALLY kissed (it was glorious and my shipper heart soared), but he freakin' dies right after!! I'm hoping that Jane's cult who wants to defeat death can help. I want him back so so so so so bad. I know that Rory can touch ghosts, right? Except her touch kills them! So, no more make-out sessions with Stephen (dead or not) until that gets fixed. And you know he's gonna be <i style="font-weight: bold;">PISSED</i> when he comes back as a ghost. If Callum's reaction was any indication. Although, I would like to know what Mr. Stoic is like when he's angry... I was so excited when they kissed. SO EXCITED. And then with the whole "comatose" thing, I never saw it coming that he would <i>die </i>on me! I'm so upset, and I can't find the release date for book three :( If anyone knows when that might be I would be much obliged if you'd help a sister out. </div>
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I gotta go buy the paperback of <i>The Name of the Star</i> so I can reread the whole series and cry my eyes out again. I just love Rory so much, though, so no matter what happens on the Stephen front, I still love the series. I gotta read more Maureen Johnson, 'cause I really like the way she writes. </div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17624010-the-madness-underneath" target="_blank">The Madness Underneath (Shades of London #2)</a></i></b></div>
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<b>Maureen Johnson</b></div>
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Pages: 304</div>
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Publisher: Speak</div>
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Format: Paperback</div>
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Source: B&N</div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE-yUTJu8ZHXOEpEk0Sacghac5lO1PzqAm3i3zFim_1trXC_q7yGmOO34j4BInefZhOz1sbcYd3NO_PWYBZENFR0svG8el74iTM8BWHkcFytQoyTBPn25oIQs-R_d2KySouLGSrACeBE/s1600/themadnessunderneath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE-yUTJu8ZHXOEpEk0Sacghac5lO1PzqAm3i3zFim_1trXC_q7yGmOO34j4BInefZhOz1sbcYd3NO_PWYBZENFR0svG8el74iTM8BWHkcFytQoyTBPn25oIQs-R_d2KySouLGSrACeBE/s1600/themadnessunderneath.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Date Published: December 10, 2013</div>
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<i>After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Deveaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades--the city's secret ghost-fighting police--are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late. In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated THE NAME OF THE STAR, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.</i></blockquote>
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OHMYGOODNESSTHISBOOKWASTOOGOOD You know that state after you finish an amazing book and just want to lay on the floor for three hours and <i>think</i> about what you just read? Because that's me right now. I can honestly say I <i>needed</i> <i>The Madness Underneath</i> today. I related to Rory on so many levels, and I knew what she was going through. I loved the characters and the ending made me so upset I just want to snot cry all over the place.</div>
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OK so, Rory is dealing with the aftermath of being stabbed at the end of <i>The Name of the Star</i>. She's missed three weeks of school and hasn't done ANY schoolwork. She's stressed out about failing her classes but also wants to work with the Shades still, because they're the only ones she can talk to about what she went through. Now, I know nothing about being stabbed by a ghost or whatever, but that whole "missed a ton of school and now are failing your classes and feel dumb because of it" thing? Yeah. That was me like two weeks ago. I knew the way Rory felt about her classes, and that feeling of wanting to just sit on the couch forever and ever and not face the heaps of school things you need to deal with was so accurate. I almost took this year off of school because of it. But, like Rory, I decided to get back on that horse. I even have a nasty tummy scar that no one has seen except my parents. I loved feeling like it was <i>me</i> in those pages. I loved seeing something similar to what I went through on paper. It felt amazing. That right there was enough for me to love this book.</div>
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But, of course, I loved everything else. I loved the characters and the therapy and the danger and the murders and EVERYTHING. Also, Stephen!!!! I love Stephen. He's so awkward and I love him and he's so wonderful. I just want to make out with his thin face and his inability to speak. I've loved him since the first book, and I really love him quite ardently. He's such a grump and I love it. I just really appreciate his character and I love everything about him. </div>
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I also love Maureen's writing style. If you follow her on Tumblr or Twitter, you probably know how <i>funny</i> she is. That shines through in <i>The Madness Underneath</i>. Like:</div>
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<i>Also, for the record, if someone is called a Romantic, it should mean some sexy times, I think. Instead, what it really means is people in puffy shirts who probably had a lot of real-life sexytimes, by produced almost exclusively pictures of hillsides or people in dramatic poses, like pretending to be Ophelia dead in a swamp. I definitely call shenanigans on this. (p. 80)</i></blockquote>
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I don't know of many authors who use the term "sexy times" in their writing. I thought it was so funny. I often found myself snickering and reading totally inapropriate passages out loud to my twelve-year-old neighbors. Fun. <br />
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This series is so dark, despite how funny it is (a contradiction, yeah, but just read it and you'll understand), and I love dark books and dark plots and GHOSTS. I love the ghost task force, and I love Callum and Boo, too. Everyone is so interesting to read about. I enjoyed learning things about people's pasts (by people I mean Stephen). I just... I'm melty. I'm goopy. My brain is a mess of mush. My thoughts are just askhfuthsjkdfmsfhoiejalksd. I just... read it. Read this series. I think I'm going to write another post for tomorrow with spoilers, because I need to talk about the ending. Talk about a cliffhanger. UGH.</div>
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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/">Breaking the Spine</a>, where we book bloggers talk about upcoming releases we are excited for. This week I'm looking forward to:</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12578370-perfect-lies" target="_blank">Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2)</a></i><br />Kiersten White</b></div>
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Publisher: HarperTeen</div>
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Formats: Hardcover, eBook</div>
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Age Group: YA</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65iVLZAFHA2w3l2BPm6uvL2b3_ViWx_sKFWkeWvS964D7AaHzr67-l0rMzsIQFTIzhsPE97NVPKbLB9_5gMINogHB1F_uIYlFMyQTgIJcYmfoEWlmoZPDZZk1-g39Xp5q3D2rDB9fsTM/s1600/perfectlies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65iVLZAFHA2w3l2BPm6uvL2b3_ViWx_sKFWkeWvS964D7AaHzr67-l0rMzsIQFTIzhsPE97NVPKbLB9_5gMINogHB1F_uIYlFMyQTgIJcYmfoEWlmoZPDZZk1-g39Xp5q3D2rDB9fsTM/s1600/perfectlies.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a>Expected Publication: February 18, 2014</div>
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<i>Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.<br />The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.<br />But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.</i></blockquote>
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<a name='more'></a>After the massive cliff-hanger of <i>Mind Games</i>, I'm dying to know what's in store for Fia and Annie. I love Fia and I really like James despite his major jerkwadness. I just can't wait to read more about them!! Fia's life as an assassin/hit man was really interesting, and I hope Annie's okay after what happened.<br />
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Woo. And the cover is just as pretty as the first! It's interesting that it has the same title everywhere now, unlike the <i>Mind Games</i>/<i>Sister Assassins</i> thing. Personally, I would be more inclined to read about called <i>Sister assassins</i>, but whatevs. :)<br />
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What are you waiting for?<br />
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