My First TBR Post

Here is my first To-Read Post! These are books I already have and intend to read or I wish to purchase in the future because they look like good reads.

1. Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman- Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

2. Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows - New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

3. The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns, #1) by Rae Carson-
Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will. Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

4. Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver- Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

5. Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Lani Taylor - Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

6. Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi - Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

7. Shattered Souls (Souls #1) by Mary Lindsey - Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

8. Defiance (Defiance #1) by C.J. Redwine - This book is expected to be released on August 28th. I can't wait!

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

These are some of the books I really want to read in the future. They are all part of series so this will require commitment. I am not afraid of commitment! Bring it on! Well, at least if these books are worth the time. Comment if you've read any of these or want to!

Happy reading, 

Courtney

P.S. All of the book summaries were taken from Goodreads! 

The Graceling Series by Kristen Cashore

I finally got around to reading the Graceling series this summer. I don't know why it never occurred to me before. I had seen the Graceling cover in bookstores. I was intrigued, but it just never happened. But now I got to read the whole series in order without having to wait for any books. I love when that happens.

I would recommend this series to anyone who loves young adult fantasy or just fantasy in general. Each book also has romance. I loved them!

1. Graceling - The premise of this book is that in the seven kingdoms, there are Gracelings. Gracelings can be distinguished by their different colored eyes. Their two different colored eyes settle later in life, and the age when a Graceling is revealed varies from person to person. They can have a Grace in cooking, winemaking, and pretty much anything. Their Grace can be completely useless, like swimming, or it can be of great use to the kingdom, like our protagonist's Grace. Katsa is the niece of the Middleuns king, and she has one blue eye and one green. She has been Graced with a fighting skill that allows her to fight off anyone with just her hands and feet. She is deadly and her uncle has used that to his advantage by making her his personal thug. She punishes anybody that crosses him or makes him look bad. But Katsa doesn't want to be her uncle's "lady killer" anymore. And when a Liened prince, Prince Po, comes into the picture and she starts uncovering some perplexing secrets, things change drastically, and she starts to learn more about her Grace and herself. 


2. Fire - In Fire, the reader is taken to another land apart from the seven kingdoms, across the Great Grays to the east: The Dells. In The Dells, there are no Gracelings with different colored eyes but there are monsters of extraordinary colors. Rich Dellians collect their bright colored furs and the King's Army shoots down raptor monsters to save themselves from being eaten. Fire is a monster, but she is a human monster of great beauty with the ability to control others' minds. While she finds no pleasure in hurting others or taking advantage of them with her mind control, she is afraid that she will turn into her father Cansrel, who was a horrible human monster and killed and wreaked havoc for enjoyment. The Dells suffered under the rule of a horrible king and his advisor, Cansrel, and now two lords gather their armies to fight the new King Nash who barely holds his throne after his father's destructive reign has ended. Now Fire is sorely needed for her mind control abilities as spies are everywhere and mysterious strangers are appearing on her estate. As she begins to discover whether or not she is truly a monster like her father, she meets Prince Brigan, who is someone that she cannot control with her mind.

 

3. Bitterblue - Bitterblue is the third book in the Graceling series, and it tells the story of the caring, inexperienced queen Bitterblue. Bitterblue has come a long way since her appearance in the first book, Graceling. After her father's death, she became queen of Monsea at the young age of ten. In Bitterblue, she is now 18 and struggling to rule a kingdom she knows nothing about. While King Leck's terrible reign is over, it is difficult to forget all the suffering he caused and hard to decide whether people were guilty of crimes they committed during his reign or really under the King's poisonous influence. Bitterblue doesn't know who to trust, and she feels like her advisers are lying to her about the state of the kingdom. She is kept busy in the castle with charters and queenly business, but she is desperate to learn more about her kingdom. She sneaks out of the castle one night and into the east city, and she finds a story room under a bridge and a pair of skilled thieves. She learns more about her kingdom from these thieves than she ever knew, and she also opens her heart for the first time. 

Read this series when you have the time. Try to read them in order because the story unfolds wonderfully when you read them one after the other. There is just so much to enjoy in these books. The storyline, the characters, and the world Cashore builds. Love them!

Happy reading, 

Courtney 

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Published: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Series: Divergent #2
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Pages: 525
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for Divergent*

“It reminds me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free.”
― Veronica Roth, Insurgent

Synopsis
One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Insurgent picked up right where Divergent left off. Which I found interesting because trilogies don't often do that. Each book usually ends to an extent and a new conflict picks up or new developments arise. This felt kind of like the next episode in a soap opera series. Previously, on Divergent...well, you get the idea.

Review: Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Published: October 17, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
Series: Anna #1
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Pages: 316
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Yes. Smashing. You’ll be just like those four chaps in the movie. You know the one, with the oversized marshmallow.”
― Kendare Blake, Anna Dressed in Blood 

Synopsis
Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Anna Dressed in Blood was an amusing and heartfelt read. Overall, it was a fun read. Blake added a lot of humor, from the names of the characters to the banter exchanged between them. I mean who in their right mind names their child Theseus Cassio? Yes, I understand if you love Greek mythology and Shakespeare. Me too! But do you hate your child? I think the repeated insults about his name and the reminders of its silliness was well-done and humorous. As for Cas's friends, I really liked Thomas. He was the perfect sidekick with his undying loyalty and his nerd factor. Come on, he read minds, but he also got weak in the knees whenever he saw his crush Carmel. He was adorable and the perfect friend for Cas with all his weirdness. Thomas actually reminded me of Xander from my favorite show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He had the great jokes, but he had no fashion sense AT ALL.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: November 15, 2011
338 pages, Shatter Me #1
Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.
In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.” 
― Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me

Synopsis
Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Wow! Shatter Me was a steamy read! I have to say that for a girl that isn't supposed to be touching anyone, she is touched and touches others a lot in this book. But I'm not complaining. It wasn't overdone or anything, and I really enjoyed the romantic aspect of this book, which is a strong part of it. Actually, it is pretty much all romance.

I feel the crossing out of words in the beginning really worked to convey Juliette's scattered mind. She must be messed up after such a traumatic life and imprisonment. The crossed out words didn't distract me, and I like how all of the hurtful thoughts, the ones that cause her pain to think about, are the ones crossed out. And also the crossed out words decrease as the book continues and she is finally allowed to live a life. I feel her thought process was well-written and very poetic. I loved the imagery Mafi used, and how Juliette's dream of the bird flying away represented her desire for freedom.

I loved the premise because I feel like living sustainably is a big concern of the present. We all worry that our future could turn out grim, even if it doesn't turn out exactly like this. It was an interesting perspective and convincing. It wasn't too over the top.

I really liked Adam and Juliette. I actually had a lot of respect for the heroine. She was a strong character and while she was beautiful, she wasn't vain. In fact, she didn't even realize she was beautiful. Adam and her were really good together, and I like how they brought out the best in each other. Adam was very sweet and such a good guy, and Juliette has morals, but she does what she needs to do in certain situations. She can be a fighter and fierce when necessary.

There wasn't a lot of action in this book. Most of the beginning was spent in the army headquarters. While it wasn't boring, not much happened outside of the kindling romance and Warner's spiraling insanity. I think I would have liked more description of the compounds and maybe a larger view of the world. A lot of the book was closed off in locked rooms and hideaways. Maybe I'll get a larger perspective of the world in the next book.

I kind of felt sorry for Warner. Okay, yeah he's got a screw loose. I was intrigued by Juliette's attraction to him. But there's no competition between Adam and Warner. Adam all the way. Warner's just a little too much of a wannabe Hitler.

I will definitely read the next book because I loved this one. I could not put it down and enjoyed every page. I can't wait!

Happy reading,

Courtney

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly Book Review

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Release Date: January 1, 2006
470 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

“For in every adult there dwells the child that was, and in every child there lies the adult that will be.” 
― John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things

Synopsis
High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imagination and soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populated by heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things.

Taking readers on a vivid journey through the loss of innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Times bestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling tale that reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
The Book of Lost Things was absolutely fantastic! A new favorite! It was definitely a Courtney book. It had the fantasy, the fairytale aspect, the dark twist, and the creepy factor. It was a great spin on a old fairytale, and it included a lot of fairytales within, but they became sicker and twisted. Little Red Riding Hood was never told that way. Little Red Riding Hood was no innocent, little girl.

The Book of Lost Things was written beautifully. Connolly spent a good amount of time building the plot in the beginning and developing the characters and their relations, but I wasn't bored or anxious for the next part of the story to begin. I felt like the escalating tension between Rose and David and then David's entrance into the fairytale world worked wonderfully. I also loved the house and David's room. The house definitely had that magical feel, especially the sunken garden and the woods surrounding it. Even in London and the surrounding countryside, there seemed to be a magical aspect to the story.

The story was very moving and touching. There was a deeper message to it, exploring death and children coming to understand death and the afterlife. The story also had sinister overtones, coming to terms with the dark fates many children meet. It had a meaningful purpose and I loved watching David mature and develop after his mothers' death.

There was also a humorous aspect to some of the characters. There was dark humor, but also some of the fairytales, like Snow White, became almost comical. I found myself very entertained by their retelling and the little twist they were given.

There is that creepy factor I mentioned. I will admit there were a couple of parts I read at night that made me shiver. I think the Crooked Man was a great character because he inspires fear and portrays the dark imaginations of children, and he is far from cliched.

All in all, this book was amazing. It was a great and fast read! It actually kind of reminded me of Coraline and Pan's Labyrinth. Parts of them, such as the young child feeling ignored and exploring and finding a darker world, really mirrored this storyline. I was impressed by this book.

What is the lesson we learn from these tales? Don't let your child out of your sight or ignore them or they'll enter a dark, fantasy world where children are preyed upon. Through a secret door or through a garden wall.

Happy reading,

Courtney

Divergent by Veronica Roth Book Review

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: May 3, 2011
487 pages, Divergent #1
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

"Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.” ― Veronica Roth, Divergent

Synopsis
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Divergent was a wonderful read! From start to finish I could not put it down. I literally devoured this book, only taking breaks to eat. Divergent is constantly compared to The Hunger Games, but while there may be a couple of similarities, this series starts off original and refreshing. And if I had to compare, I would say Divergent is better than The Hunger Games in some ways.

First of all, there is no love triangle! That's cause for celebration! Divergent's romance was well-done, and Tris is only interested in Four with no rivals for her attentions. I hate when the story revolves around the protagonist trying to pick between two love interests. And then people make teams around which guy she should pick until everything becomes absolutely ridiculous (cough Twilight). In Divergent, we stick to one potential boyfriend, and I love him so much. Yes, he's sweet to Tris, which is awesome. But I really liked that he had a head on his shoulders and was able to assess a situation logically. Plus, he isn't too lovesick and sappy to make the reader feel slight indigestion if you're inclined to that.

I loved Tris as well. I have been reading about some great heroines lately, but she really outshines the rest because 1) she can kick ass despite her small size, 2) she's self-sufficient and doesn't depend on Four for survival, and (3) she outwits others. I really enjoyed watching her grow as the story developed, and I loved that she had flaws and imperfections. It should bother me that she was the cliched sixteen year old flat-chested, never been kissed heroine but it didn't for some reason. I guess because her appearance seemed to take a backseat for the most part. Roth concentrated more on her personality traits. What a surprise in a society organized into factions by virtues!

I loved the action-packed scenes and the tension building between initiates. Divergent is definitely a fast-paced read. The tattoos were also a nice addition as their symbolism brought a lot to the story. I now feel a certain attachment to the characters, especially Caleb, Tris, and Four. I also loved  Christina and Will and how, despite some bumps in the road, they stood by Tris. Lately, I've missed having friendship emphasized in books instead of romance. In YA, girlfriends tend to turn against each other or the friends aren't as important as the boyfriend. I hope that their friendship only strengthens in the face of conflict, but I have an uneasy feeling it will go downhill.

In short, Divergent is a new favorite. I can't wait to read the sequel Insurgent!

Happy reading,

Courtney

Welcome Fellow Booklovers!

Hello! Welcome to my book blog! At the moment, I have the glorious number of 0 followers! This is exciting!

See! Cat with big eyes is excited!

This blog will be chock-full of book reviews and recommendations! As much bookish things as a bookworm like myself can offer.  I am a graduated English major and an avid reader. If I don't have my nose in a book, I'm eating, sleeping, or writing. Sometimes, I talk to people though. It's not that sad and pathetic.

I read a lot of fantasy, classic literature, YA, and some horror, mystery, and new fiction. Lately, I have been on a YA binge. I love me some YA fantasy and romance. Not to mention the sudden craze for dystopia series. So let's begin!

Happy reading,

Courtney