Waiting on Wednesday (32) - The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday gives book bloggers a chance to spotlight upcoming releases they are eagerly anticipating.

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

Hits Shelves on August 27, 2013

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Synopsis
Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion to those who have hated her most. Riveting, surprising, and achingly romantic, Rae Carson has spun a bold and powerful conclusion to her extraordinary trilogy. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
I absolutely loved Crown of Embers, and I'm excited to read more by Carson. So much happened in the sequel, and I'm dying to know what the conclusion will bring! This series has become one of my favorites, and I'm hoping the final installment will be fantastic!

Review: The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Title: The House of the Scorpion
Author: Nancy Farmer
Published: September 1, 2002
Publisher: Atheneum Book
Series: Matteo Alacran #1
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Pages: 380
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 stars
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“People’s souls are like gardens. You can’t turn your back on someone because his garden’s full of weeds. You have to give him water and lots of sunshine.”
― Nancy Farmer, The House of the Scorpion

Synopsis
At his coming-of-age party, Matteo Alacrán asks El Patrón's bodyguard, "How old am I? ... I know I don't have a birthday like humans, but I was born."

"You were harvested," Tam Lin reminds him. "You were grown in that poor cow for nine months and then you were cut out of her."

To most people around him, Matt is not a boy, but a beast. But for El Patrón, lord of a country called Opium--a strip of poppy field lying between the U.S. and what was once called Mexico--Matt is a guarantee of eternal life. El Patrón loves Matt as he loves himself, for Matt is himself. They share identical DNA.

As Matt struggles to understand his existence, he is threatened by a sinister, grasping cast of characters, including El Patrón's power-hungry family. He is surrounded by a dangerous army of bodyguards and by the mindless slaves of Opium, brain-deadened 'eejits' who toil in the poppy fields.

Escape from the Alacrán Estate is no guarantee of freedom because Matt is marked by his difference in ways he doesn't even suspect. Around every turn in this vivid, futuristic adventure is a new, heart-stopping surprise. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Can you believe that I had never even heard of The House of the Scorpion until a few months ago? My good friend Amanda and I were showing each other our bookshelves on Skype when she came across her copy of The House of the Scorpion. She said it was one of her favorites and recommended it to me. With the three rewards on the front cover, it wasn't difficult to convince me. After finishing this book, I understand why so many people are singing its praises.

Review: The Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey Book

Title: The Isle of Blood
Author: Rick Yancey
Published: September 13, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Series: The Monstrumologist #3
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Horror
Pages: 538
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

*This book review is spoiler free*

“There are those who labor in the darkness, that the rest of us might live in the light.”
― Rick Yancey, The Isle of Blood

Synopsis
When Dr. Warthrop goes hunting the "Holy Grail of Monstrumology" with his eager new assistant, Arkwright, he leaves Will Henry in New York. Finally, Will can enjoy something that always seemed out of reach: a normal life with a real family. But part of Will can't let go of Dr. Warthrop, and when Arkwright returns claiming that the doctor is dead, Will is devastated--and not convinced.

Determined to discover the truth, Will travels to London, knowing that if he succeeds, he will be plunging into depths of horror worse than anything he has experienced so far. His journey will take him to Socotra, the Isle of Blood, where human beings are used to make nests and blood rains from the sky--and will put Will Henry's loyalty to the ultimate test. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
The Isle of Blood is the heart-pounding third installment in The Monstrumologist series. Once again, Rick Yancey does not disappoint when it comes to horror and suspense, and he manages to write gory books without crossing the line into cheesy. The Monstrumologist series has reminded me of how horror should be done and it has become one of my favorite series.

Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

Title: Golden
Author: Jessi Kirby
Published: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 278
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“It seems to me that the experiences that stay with you, the things you'll always remember, aren't the ones you can force, or go looking for. I've always thought of those things as the ones that somehow find you.”
― Jessi Kirby, Golden

Synopsis
Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Golden is one of those books that remains with you long after it ends. After finishing it, I had to let the book settle before I could even think of writing a coherent review. Reading Golden made me feel vulnerable and alive in a way I haven't for far too long. From start to finish, this book is overflowing with hope, wonder, and pure, raw emotion. When I saw all the hype surrounding it, I was both nervous that it was undeserving of the high praise and excited to see if it would be a new favorite. And I'm so happy to say that Golden is worthy of every positive review it has received, as it exceeded even my highest expectations.

Waiting on Wednesday (31) - Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted over at Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday is where book bloggers spotlight upcoming releases that they are looking forward to.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Hits Shelves on October 22, 2013

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Synopsis
One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
I can't handle waiting any longer! I need this right now! No excuses! I need to know what happens to Tris and Tobias and everyone. The ending to Insurgent was so unfair and left me hanging!

And that cover is gorgeous! I love how fiery it is and how well the flames contrast with the water! I'm really hoping this is a stunning conclusion to a favorite series! You can tell this by the amount of exclamation points I've used in this post!

What is everyone else anxiously waiting for this week?

Top Ten Favorite Book Covers Of Books I've Read (24)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every Tuesday, book bloggers post a top ten list based on a bookish theme. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is...

Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of Books I've Read

I know, I know. You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. You might miss out on an amazing story if you do. But it takes a lot of convincing for me to buy a book with a cover I don't like. In fact, I've bought many books because of their stunning covers. Well, that's not the only deciding factor. The book has to have a unique premise as well. Unfortunately, the book isn't always as good as the cover suggests. But at least I have a lovely book cover to look at! Here's some of my favorite covers...

1. The Harry Potter series - The old covers have a nostalgic feel for me because the Harry Potter books were and continue to be such a wonderful reading experience for me. The characters remained with me long after I'd finished the books, and I love how the new covers keep the magic of this series alive.

2. Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier - I'm not usually a fan of book covers with just a girl on them, but for some reason, I fell in love with this cover. I think it's the color scheme and how the girl's bathed in golden light. It has an almost ethereal beauty. And the writing was as beautiful as the cover!

3. Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough - I love creepy anything, and this cover is definitely goosebump worthy. It has all the prerequisites of a spooky cover: scary looking trees, dark colors, and, if you look at the cover in a larger size, you'll notice there's something hiding behind the tree on the left. I love this cover because I'm weird like that, and it's a great match for such a terrifying read!

4. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce - I am crazy about this cover, and it's a perfect fit for a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. I love how the one girl's hair blends into the wolf's fur, giving it a more sinister feel. And that red is so bright and eye-catching!

5. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke - I'm actually cheating because I have yet to read this book, and I need to get on that. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for too long, and this cover is one of the reasons I bought it. It's so pretty! I love the elegant font style, the winding road, and the surrounding countryside fading to black in a creepy way. Must read this soon!

6. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - This cover has to be one of my favorite YA covers ever! It's so exotic and wild! I love it!

7. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness - I gush about this series way too much, but I have to say I love the covers - especially the cover for The Knife of Never Letting Go. For some reason, I'm really into covers where the title takes up the most space. And I'm loving the font style and the words scrawled in the background, which goes perfectly with the Noise that is a constant presence throughout the series!

8. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan - This cover is gorgeous! It definitely has a Gothic feel and a whimsical charm. Sadly, Unspoken is one of those books where I loved the cover, but was disappointed by the story. Oh well. It happens.

9. The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand - Apparently, I have a thing for gates on book covers. Once again, this book has that Gothic, creepy feel I love. The font style is also a winner in my book (pun ;) ). And the story itself did not disappoint.

10. Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version by Philip Pullman - I've been slowly working my way through this book, savoring Pullman's retellings of many of the Grimm Fairy Tales. My book has the cover on the right, but I'm also a huge fan on the one on the left. Both perfectly capture the sinister and frightening feel of these dark fairytales.

What about you guys? What are your favorite covers? Let me know in the comments below!

Bout of Books 7.0 Wrap Up!

Bout of Books 7.0 has ended, and once again, I failed at what could have been an epic read-a-thon. The past week was just not my week, and it shows. I didn't even meet my modest goals for Bout of Books.

Books I Read:

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (1/2 of it)

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Looking for Alaska by John Green 

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Golden by Jessi Kirby

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Bout of Books was, for me, a solitary experience. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but that's mainly my fault for not checking the site and regular updates. Unfortunately, I completed no challenges and I participated in not a single twitter chat.

I'm beginning to think that read-a-thons are not for me. I think they're a really cool, fun idea, but I hate rushing through books. I like to savor books, and sometimes, when a book is amazing, I even go back and reread earlier parts just because I don't want a book to end.

Overall, I don't regret trying out something new, and I may even give Bout of Books another go the next time. But I'm beginning to think I'm just not cut out for read-a-thons.

What about you guys? Do you have fun participating in read-a-thons? Are you a speed demon when it comes to reading or do you prefer a slower pace?

Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The 5th Wave
Author: Rick Yancey
Published: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Series: The Fifth Wave #1
Genre: Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic
Pages: 480
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Some things you can never leave behind. They don't belong to the past. They belong to you.”
― Rick Yancey, The 5th Wave 

Synopsis
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
First off, I apologize for being MIA this week. Every once in awhile, I check out. It has been a tough and excruciatingly long week, and I am ready for it to be over. I needed a break from blogging and, well, just life. So I'm sorry I completely failed at doing anything Bout of Books related and for not posting on my blog. I was just in a weird funk. Now the review...

Showcase Sunday (1)

I thought I'd try out Showcase Sunday this week for the first time ever. Showcase Sunday is hosted over at Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Showcase Sunday is a weekly feature where book bloggers feature the books and book swag they've received, bought, borrowed, etc over the past week.

May has been an AMAZING month for new releases! I pre-ordered 4 books this month, something that has never happened before. And two of them came this week!

Bought:
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters - I am really anxious to read this since I am a huge fan of the paranormal and just anything creepy!

The End Games by T. Michael Martin - I have been waiting for this book for far too long, and I'm really hoping it doesn't disappoint.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - After reading Yancey's The Monstrumologist and The Curse of the Wendigo, I don't think it's possible for Yancey to write a horrible book or even an alright book. I cannot wait to read this one!

Borrowed:
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler - Rather Be Reading recommended this book and I'm looking forward to reading my first Sarah Ockler book!

What did everyone else get this week?

Bout of Books 7.0 Goals

First off, happy Mother's Day to all moms! I'm not a mother but I'll be going out to breakfast with my mom and mom-mom to celebrate. 

So, Bout of Books 7.0 is almost here and I'm REALLY excited to participate for the first time ever! If you'd like to join in the fun, it's not too late to sign up for Bout of Books.

I'm setting myself some realistic goals. Some nights of the week, I come home from work exhausted and don't get as much reading done as I'd like. So I picked a few light, short reads that should be easy to knock off my TBR list. 

My Goals:

-Read at least 4 unread books 

-Visit no less than 15 blogs 

-Do 2 or more mini challenges 

-Participate in at least 1 twitter chat 

-Make some new blogger friends! 

Books to Read:

-A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
-Bound by Donna Jo Napoli
-Looking for Alaska by John Green
-The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

If you want all the details, here's my original Bout of Books post. Let the reading begin...and may the odds be ever in your favor! Or something like that.