Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Published: February 6, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Pages: 343
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“It's like being in love, discovering your best friend.”
―Elizabeth Wein, Code Name Verity

Synopsis
Two young women become unlikely best friends during WWII, until one is captured by the Gestapo. Only in wartime could a stalwart lass from Manchester rub shoulders with a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other a special operations executive. Yet whenever their paths cross, they complement each other perfectly and before long become devoted to each other.

But then a vital mission goes wrong, and one of the friends has to bail out of a faulty plane over France. She is captured by the Gestapo and becomes a prisoner of war. The story begins in “Verity’s” own words, as she writes her account for her captors. Truth or lies? Honour or betrayal? Everything they’ve ever believed in is put to the test…(Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Code Name Verity is a challenging book to review. By the end of the book, so much has happened, that you are left reeling in the aftermath, finding it difficult to even articulate your feelings. This book was what I expected, and, at the same time, the complete opposite. Wein tells the story of a friendship between the most unlikely pair, a Brit and a Scot from entirely different classes. Despite their differences, they become the closest of friends. Their enduring friendship is what makes Code Name Verity stand out in the young adult genre. Instead of heavily focusing on a romance, as most young adult books do, Wein centers the plot around a strong, solid friendship. There are a few hints at romance, but they fade into the background and are not significant plot points unlike Verity's and Kittyhawk's indomitable bond.

Waiting On Wednesday (17) - Truly Madly Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every week, bloggers spotlight upcoming releases that they cannot wait to get their hands on.

Truly Madly Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Hits Shelves on July 1, 2013

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis
They Said It Was An Accident...

Sawyer Dodd is a star athlete, a straight-A student, and the envy of every other girl who wants to date Kevin Anderson. When Kevin dies in a tragic car crash, Sawyer is stunned. Then she opens her locker to find a note:

You're welcome.

Someone saw what he did to her. Someone knows that Sawyer and Kevin weren't the perfect couple they seemed to be. And that someone—a killer—is now shadowing Sawyer's every move...(Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Wow. That last line gives me chills every time I read it. This sounds like a suspenseful, thrilling read. Can I have it now? Pretty please.

What's your WoW this week?

Review: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Title: Days of Blood & Starlight
Author: Laini Taylor
Published: November 6, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 517
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
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*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for Daughter of Smoke & Bone*

“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil held a wishbone between them. And its snap split the world in two.”
― Laini Taylor, Days of Blood & Starlight

Synopsis
Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Days of Blood & Starlight may have been darker than its predecessor, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, but it was still just as epic. I savored every single page. Once again, we join Karou in her adventures, but this time, she is battered and bruised on the inside and out. For a character that was so alive in Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou was just a shadow of her old self in Days of Blood & Starlight. This did not decrease my love for her. As protagonists go, Karou is still on the top of my list, and the reader cannot expect that she would remain unscathed after she learns of her lover's betrayal. Despite her suffering, Karou is still an amazingly strong individual, unfaltering in her devotion to loved ones. Her unquestionable loyalty to those she cares about leaves her heartbroken when she discovers Akiva's actions. But ever after Akiva has indirectly killed her family, she still feels torn because of the deep love she feels for him and his quest for redemption.

Waiting on Wednesday (16) - Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. On Wednesdays, bloggers showcase the books they are eagerly awaiting.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Hits Shelves on August 13, 2013

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis
In addition to the P-38, there are four gifts, one for each of my friends. I want to say good-bye to them properly. I want to give them each something to remember me by. To let them know I really cared about them and I'm sorry I couldn't be more than I was—that I couldn't stick around—and that what's going to happen today isn't their fault.

Today is Leonard Peacock's birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather's P-38 pistol.

But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school's class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.

In this riveting book, acclaimed author Matthew Quick unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made—and the light in us all that never goes out. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
Lately, I've been reading more and more YA contemporary. Or at least, I've been trying to. This book sounds like a gripping, intense read, and I'm anxious to hear the backstory. What drove Peacock to this? What demons has he been struggling with? And why is he no longer friends with his best friend? In light of recent shootings, this book is more relevant than ever. I'm eager to learn more about Leonard's psychological health and his past.

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of (15)

Tuesday is here which means it's time for Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday, bloggers post a top ten list based on a bookish theme. This week's is:

Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of (Or At All)

This one took some thinking. I'm still not sure if these are my final ten. But let's just go with it.

1. Some Arabian country - Arabian nightsssss! Like Arabian daysssss! Okay, I know what you're thinking. But don't think it! I'm not asking for a genie in a bottle or a flying carpet or a Whole New World. All I want is a epic book set in the desert. Maybe some thieves with sabers. Camels. But some cool camels. There could be a kasbah and tombs and Arabian horses! And lets not do modern day. Okey doke?

2, 3, 4. England/Ireland/Scotland - Yes, I grouped these together because they're all cozy neighbors, right? Lots of differences but I'd go for some fantasy, fairytale retelling, or ghost story set in any of the above countries. Set near a loch? Maybe some Nessy action (kidding). But just picture it. The fog over the moors. Maybe some highlanders in kilts with longswords (kidding again...partially). An abandoned, dilapidated castle. Lets throw in an ancient manor with a mile long cemetery in the backyard. 

5. Asia - This means just about anywhere in Asia. Or it could take place in an Asian inspired setting. With katanas and kimonos. I don't know how anyone is going to top Eon and Eona, but if at first you don't succeed...well, then you pick another Asian country. It's a BIG continent. 

6. Wild West setting - I'm thinking some dystopian, Wild West, futuristic setting. Something like The Dark Tower series, Blood Red Road and Chaos Walking all together. I love the combination of saloons and futuristic weapons.

7. Romania - I have very good reasons for why I picked Romania: 1) Vlad Dracul 2) Creepy castles

8.  A mirror world - Imagine everything in reverse? Freaky huh? When I was younger, I used to wonder what it would be like to just step into the mirror and become my mirror self. I know. I was weird even then. But it's definitely Alice in Wonderland material. 

9. A city in the sky - I still need to read The Floating Islands and Castle in the Air, but there can always be more books with cities, kingdoms, islands, etc. in the sky. Maybe I've been playing too much The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

10. A labyrinth - I love the movies Pan's Labyrinth and Labyrinth, and I want to see a book take place in a labyrinth. Sort of like the one test in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (the book's hedge maze and not the movie's since the book's maze had actual challenges). 

I'm sure if I had put my mind to it, I could have come up with crazier settings, but alas, this is my final list. What's everyone's Top Ten this week?

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Published: October 18, 2007
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 304
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 5 stars
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“You can't stop the future
You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret
...is to press play.”
― Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

Synopsis
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Stop. Just hit the Pause button on your life, and go buy this book NOW. Thirteen Reasons Why is a heartbreaking, phenomenal read, and I recommend it for EVERYONE. Come on. Would I ever steer you wrong?

When it comes to Thirteen Reasons Why, I can't even think of a single complaint. I have no criticism to offer. I was simply blown away by this book. I was even concerned that the book might be surgically attached to my hands because I could not put it down. I finished it in record timing, and just sat there, open-mouthed with shock.

In My Mailbox (10)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. Every week, bloggers post what books they've received. Over the last two weeks, I've drained my Barnes and Noble and Amazon gift cards. Gift cards don't last long with me. 

Bought: 

-Hate List by Jennifer Brown

-White Cat by Holly Black

-Red Glove by Holly Black 

-Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (reading now!)

-Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Borrowed:

-Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson (might be my Valentine's Day read!)

-Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

And I also bought a couple of books that were on sale for my Kindle app on my Ipad. 

Bought (Kindle):

-The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston

-The Woodcutter by Kate Danley

Then, I fell in love with this little guy. I could not resist buying this Vinyl Writer William Shakespeare from Barnes and Noble. There's also a Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe. Love these!

What did everyone get in their mailbox this week?

Review: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Title: Rebecca 
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Published: 1938
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Classic Literature
Pages: 410
Source: Gift
Rating: 5 stars
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“We can never go back again, that much is certain. The past is still close to us. The things we have tried to forget and put behind us would stir again, and that sense of fear, of furtive unrest, struggling at length to blind unreasoning panic - now mercifully stilled, thank God - might in some manner unforeseen become a living companion as it had before.”
― Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca

Synopsis
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..."

With these words, the reader is ushered into an isolated gray stone mansion on the windswept Cornish coast, as the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew. For in every corner of every room were phantoms of a time dead but not forgotten, a past devotedly preserved by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers: a suite immaculate and untouched, clothing laid out and ready to be worn, but not by any of the great house's current occupants. With an eerie presentiment of evil tightening her heart, the second Mrs. de Winter walked in the shadow of her mysterious predecessor, determined to uncover the darkest secrets and shattering truths about Maxim's first wife the late and hauntingly beautiful Rebecca. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Rebecca is a book that will last throughout the ages; it's that good. In fact, when I was reading this, everyone I mentioned it to kept saying that they had read it and loved it (including my boss). So what took me so long to finally read it? I have no idea. There's just no excuse.

Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys

Title: Between Shades of Gray 
Author: Ruta Septys
Published: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Philomel Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 344
Source: Library
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray

Synopsis
Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
First, let me preface this book review by clearing up any confusion with this book and the Fifty Shades series. Between Shades of Gray has nothing to do with Christian Grey and eroticism, but every time I mentioned what I was reading to someone, they immediately assumed it was part of that series. Completely different book. Completely different spelling of "gray." Thank goodness.

I knew Between Shades of Gray would be an emotional read given the topic. There were many points during the book that I had to fight back a torrent of tears. While it was often upsetting, it was still beautifully written, making it a pleasure to read even if the events written about were far from pleasant. I would never want to be in Lina's place, but the author, against my wishes, brought Lithuania and the work camp in Siberia to life with her words. I really connected with the deported Lithuanians. I felt their despair and homesickness as they longed for Lithuania's faraway comforts. I was completely ignorant of the ongoing events in Lithuania during WWII because they had been forgotten amongst other horrors. I experienced a brutal awakening when I realized what Lithuania, and the other Baltic states, had suffered through.

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To (14)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday, there's a top ten list following a bookish prompt. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is:

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

I had considered joining the 2013 debut author challenge, but I'm not one for reading challenges. I don't like to be held to reading certain books. I'm more of a free spirit, and once I have to read a certain number of books, I lose all enjoyment in reading. It's like having to read a book for class. When I feel like I must do something, it's just not as fun.

There are so many 2013 debuts I've already heard about so it was hard choosing just 10, but I finally selected the right number. The following ten are the ones that seem to be my type of books; something Courtney would most likely read but we'll see if I actually do read them this year or not. I'm trying to read more adult fiction, and all of these fall under the young adult category.

1. Coda by Emma Trevayne - I literally just heard about this book, and the premise is what reeled me in. "By encoding music with addictive and mind-altering elements, the Corp holds control over all citizens, particularly conduits like Anthem, whose life energy feeds the main power in the Grid." That's sick right there. What a wild idea! Music is already addictive enough, but using music as a means of controlling the population? Genius! I need to read this book.

2. An Infidel in Paradise by S.J. Laidlaw - I don't just read a great historical fiction book; I devour it. And then I can go up to my history teacher boyfriend, and say HA! I read something about history. :D An Infidel in Paradise is set in Pakistan in a diplomatic compound, and that sounds fascinating. Plus, the cover is appealing.

3. The End Games by T. Michael Martin - Zombies! Horror! Post Apocalyptic! Oh my! I don't read a lot of zombie books, but this one has caught my eye for some reason. First of all, that cover is amazing. What a vivid shade of red! It looks like just my type of book. And I love how the monsters are called Bellows. It's a very creative premise with this mysterious Game Master, sort of sounds like the Hunger Games except for the flesh-eating creatures.

4. Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz - In Breaking Glass, Jeremy Glass begins receiving messages from his girlfriend. The only problem with that is she's dead, and he has to solve the mystery behind her death before he's next. I'm always up for a great thriller and mystery novel, and this one sounds intense.

5. Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson - I've mentioned this retelling of the Bluebeard fairy tale way too many times, but that just shows how excited I am for its release. I really hope I won't be disappointed, especially with that enchanting cover.

6. Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton - What all of the books on this list have in common are intriguing premises. This synopsis, in particular, is original. Elizabeth Caldwell doesn't feel emotions because she sees them. And Elizabeth and her emotion Fear are trying to unravel a mystery that has something to do with strange paintings in the family barn. Not to mention, there's a "stalking menace" after Elizabeth. With a mixture of fantasy and suspense, I think I will love this book.

7. The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd - This book had me at "gruesome experiments" and a "dark and breathless Gothic thriller." It is inspired by H.G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, and I usually can't resist a retelling of classic literature. I mean, as long as the retelling looks halfway decent. I'll have to read the original before reading this book.

8. Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein - Oooooh, a mystery thriller with a revenge plot. After Dinah's cousin Claire cuts her wrists, Dinah reads her diary and finds out why. Now she's out to get the boy who hurt Claire. Sounds like a hell of a ride.

9. The Murmurings by Carly Anne West - Last but not least, we have The Murmurings. I actually had this as a WoW in the past, and it has been on my Amazon wish list for too long. With people hearing voices and suicide, this book sounds positively frightening. Should be an entertaining read!

10. Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn - I love that this book is listed as horror, paranormal, and mystery. All of the above genres attracted me. Apparently, Annaliese is trapped in someone else's body with no memory of how she got there. She has to remember her past before she can move on. I can't wait to read this!

I can't wait to see what 2013 debuts everyone is looking forward to!