Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Daughter
Author: Julie Kagawa
Narrator: Khristine Hvam
Published: August 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.
Series: The Iron Fey #2
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Length: 13 hours and 16 minutes
Source: Purchased
Rating: 2 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for The Iron King*

“What if I take you apart and turn you into a toaster oven, how would you like that tin can?”
― Julie Kagawa, The Iron Daughter

Synopsis
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
After finishing The Iron Daughter, I felt an array of emotions: frustration, annoyance and, mainly, relief. I was so relieved that it was finally over. This audiobook seemed to take forever to listen to because I had periods where I stopped listening just because I could not take it anymore. I know there are a lot of fans of this series, but after giving it another try, I have to say it's just not for me. In fact, I think The Iron Daughter was not as enjoyable a read as The Iron King.

Waiting on Wednesday (23) - Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme where bloggers showcase books that have yet to be released and that they are anxiously awaiting.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Hits Shelves on June 4, 2013

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis
Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
It's not fair! Siege and Storm should be out NOW. Not next month. Not in June. NOW! I know I sound like a spoiled brat stomping her foot, but that is what this book has turned me into. The wait is killing me.

I need more of the Darkling and Alina and Mal. Bahhhh! Okay, I'm done.

What are you waiting for this week?

Review: Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Title: Some Girls Are
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: January 5, 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 246
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“You only get to walk variations of the same lines everyone has already drawn for you.”
Courtney Summers, Some Girls Are

Synopsis
Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard—falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.

Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Some girls are conniving, evil little bitches, and Courtney Summers captured that all too well in her Some Girls Are. This book was very difficult to read because it deals with a heavy subject matter: high school bullying. Some Girls Are is basically Mean Girls times 10. The girls, and we can't forget the guys as well, in Hallowell High are brutal and they have no scruples with making others' lives a living hell. And when I say living hell, I mean it. Anna and her crew push Regina down the stairs, freeze her out, and do even worse, unimaginably horrible things to her. You really have to be in the right frame of mind before reading Some Girls Are, and, unfortunately, I just wasn't. This book was a dark, poignant tale of teenage suffering at the hands of bullies, and I struggled reading it because of the unsettling topic.

Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Unravel Me 
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Published: February 5, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: Shatter Me #2
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Pages: 461
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for Shatter Me*

“I am nothing more than the consequence of catastrophe.”
― Tahereh Mafi, Unravel Me

Synopsis
tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I am feeling all these emotions. Just so many emotions all packed together. Shock, frustration, happiness, excitement, anxiety, exhilaration. Because honestly while I saw it coming, I kept trying to tell myself that Mafi would not put us through another love triangle. But this one is the most confusing triangle of all because I actually like sick, psychopathic Warner. Warner who tortured Adam. Warner who has killed people and enjoyed it. And don't think for a second that I'm kidding myself. I know Warner is not going to drastically change, and if he did, I would be seriously pissed off at Mafi for even thinking we'd buy that cheap move. So why did I like him so much? This leaves me feeling very conflicted, and I'm having trouble deciding why exactly I loved Unravel Me as much as I did when it had a) a love triangle and b) it pairs a girl with a maniac.

Waiting On Wednesday (22) - Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesday is where bloggers post books they are anxiously waiting for. And without further ado...

Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow

Hits Shelves on October 29, 2013

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis
In the world of Sorrow’s Knot, the dead do not rest easy. Every patch of shadow might be home to something hungry and nearly invisible, something deadly. The dead can only be repelled or destroyed with magically knotted cords and yarns. The women who tie these knots are called binders.

Otter is the daughter of Willow, a binder of great power. She’s a proud and privileged girl who takes it for granted that she will be a binder some day herself. But when Willow’s power begins to turn inward and tear her apart, Otter finds herself trapped with a responsibility she’s not ready for, and a power she no longer wants. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
Everybody sees those arms creeping toward the girl, right? Just checking. This book seems vaguely reminiscent of Sabriel, and I'm also thinking of the three Fates, Moirai, who spun, measured and then cut the threads of life. But anywho, this book sounds delightfully creepy and just wonderful. I'm really looking forward to it.

What's everyone else waiting for?

Top Ten Series I'd Like To Start But Haven't Yet (18)

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

Top Ten Series I'd Like To Start But Haven't Yet

1. Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin - I'm getting there. I love the HBO series A Game of Thrones, and that inspired me to read the books. So I have the books; I just need to actually read them. It's only a matter of time before I fully commit to reading the entire series through (or at least the books that are out at this time).

2. The Curse Workers by Holly Black - Is it horrible that I have yet to read any Holly Black? I haven't even read Tithe. It's inexcusable. I actually am more interested in her Curse Workers series than her A Modern Faerie Tale series. It just sounds like my type of series. I just need to find the time and get through some other books first...

3. The Maze Runner by James Dashner - I swear I'm going to get around to the first book sometime real soon. This series fascinates me for some reason, and I have high hopes that it won't be just another typical dystopian series. Please don't let these hopes be crushed!

4. Whistling Tor by Juliet Marillier - Heart's Blood, the first book of this series, is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Need I say more? I've read her Daughter of the Forest, and I cannot wait to get my hands on this one.

5. The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss - Because there needs to be more fantasy in my life, especially high fantasy. Am I intimidated by the size of this book? Heck no! Bring it on, Rothfuss! Impress me with a new epic series that I can fall in love with!

6. The Immortals by Tamora Pierce - It's Tamora Pierce. Nuff said.

7. Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien - I really want to try out this series. It's another dystopian series that I really hope is worth my time.

8. Shades of London by Maureen Johnson - It's about a modern Jack the Ripper so I'm pretty psyched! Is that weird?  

9. Phèdre's Trilogy by Jacqueline Carey - I'm almost reduced to tears when I think of all the books I have that I have yet to read and still need to read. Along with my bookshelves, I have like a million books on my Ipad too. The pressure! Kushiel's Dart is one of them, and I have to get to it. At first glance, it doesn't look like much, but I've heard so many good things about it. I need more time!

10. The Light Isles by Juliet Marillier - Am I becoming obsessed? Possibly. I just want to explore more of the amazingness that is Marillier's writing. 

What is everyone else's Top Ten this week?

Review: The Shining by Stephen King

Title: The Shining 
Author: Stephen King
Published: January 28, 1977
Publisher: Pocket Books
Series: The Shining #1
Genre: Adult Horror, Paranormal
Pages: 683
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“This inhuman place makes human monsters.”
― Stephen King, The Shining

Synopsis
Danny was only five years old but in the words of old Mr Halloran he was a 'shiner', aglow with psychic voltage. When his father became caretaker of the Overlook Hotel his visions grew frighteningly out of control.

As winter closed in and blizzards cut them off, the hotel seemed to develop a life of its own. It was meant to be empty, but who was the lady in Room 217, and who were the masked guests going up and down in the elevator? And why did the hedges shaped like animals seem so alive?

Somewhere, somehow there was an evil force in the hotel - and that too had begun to shine...(Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Hands down, The Shining has to be one of the most terrifying novels I have ever read. I even had to sleep with my mom one night. A grown woman of 22 reduced to a little girl running to mommy because every single noise in the house, whether it was a cat jumping down from the counter or just the wind, made her jump. And I LOVED every single page! The Shining was amazing and it raised my expectations for every other horror book I will read in the future.

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. Every week, bloggers post the books they've bought, received, borrowed, traveled to the other side of the Earth and back for...

Bought (Kindle):
-The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
-In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Both of these books were Kindle Daily Deals this week! Only $1.99! What a deal! I've only read Alvarez's poetry before, and I'm excited to read one of her books. Plus, she actually came to my college while I was still in school! I'm still regretting not getting her to sign something.

What did everyone else get this week?

Take Control of Your TBR-Pile Read-A-Thon

This is late notice, but I just decided to participate in the Take Control of Your TBR-Pile Read-A-Thon. This is my first read-a-thon ever, and I'm nervous. I'll admit that I'm terrified I won't even make a dent in my TBR pile, and that I will basically fail my first read-a-thon. But I'm just going to try to have fun with this and not stress about it.

My TBR pile has reached a monstrous size, and I'm honestly afraid it's going to gobble me up. So this read-a-thon came at an opportune time. It's gotten to the point where I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of unread books I have.

The Take Control of Your TBR-Pile Read-A-Thon is being hosted by Kimba @ Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. The read-a-thon started March 1st and will end March 31st at midnight. All books must be published before March 2013. So you can finally take the time to read your own books and no ARCS.

I'm planning to read:
1. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (reading now)
2. White Cat by Holly Black
3. Red Glove by Holly Black
4. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
5. Sanctum by Sarah Fine
6. Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
7. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
8. Hate List by Jennifer Brown
9. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
10. The Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott

Will I get through all of these? It's possible. But things come up. Still, I have my hopes. But then again I do work, and have less free time than I wish. When I didn't work, this list would have been so much easier to get through.

Does anybody have personal favorites in this list? Or any suggestions of what to read when?

Review: Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz

Title: Teeth
Author: Hannah Moskowitz
Published: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Magical Realism
Pages: 272
Source: Purchased
Rating: 2 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“I could totally be a . . .
whatever.”
“Sailor?”
“On a boat?”
“Yep.”
“Yeah.” He’ll sigh all wistfully. “I could be a sailor. But I’m too busy being a fish.”
― Hannah Moskowitz, Teeth

Synopsis
A gritty, romantic modern fairy tale from the author of Break and Gone, Gone, Gone.

Be careful what you believe in.

Rudy’s life is flipped upside-down when his family moves to a remote island in a last attempt to save his sick younger brother. With nothing to do but worry, Rudy sinks deeper and deeper into loneliness and lies awake at night listening to the screams of the ocean beneath his family’s rickety house.

Then he meets Diana, who makes him wonder what he even knows about love, and Teeth, who makes him question what he knows about anything. Rudy can’t remember the last time he felt so connected to someone, but being friends with Teeth is more than a little bit complicated. He soon learns that Teeth has terrible secrets. Violent secrets. Secrets that will force Rudy to choose between his own happiness and his brother’s life. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
What in the fudge did I just read? I have no idea. I distinctly remember reading this book, but I'm at a loss for words or feelings or just anything that requires thinking. Teeth is the epitome of wtfery. I've heard it called gut-wrenching, beautiful, and haunting, and so many people have raved about it, but I just don't get all the fuss. Teeth has a sharp bite, but I'm not entirely sure why I'm hurting and to what purpose.