Candace's Book Blog: March 2013

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Children's Book Reviews: Gandhi, A March to the Sea & When We Go Walking

When at ALA I picked up a few children's books, thinking I could read them to my kids and review them before bringing them to the school for the librarian to look over to see if he might like to order them. I found a couple good ones put out by Amazon Children's Publishing so I decided I'd review both of them today.

Gandhi: A March to the Sea by Alice B. McGinty and Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez

Hardcover

Scheduled to release April 2nd, 2013 by Amazon Children's Publishing

Ages 8 and up, Grades 3 and up

Source: Publisher (complimentary copy, meaning no review request)

Mohandas Gandhi’s 24-day March to the Sea, from March 12 to April 5, 1930, was a pivotal moment in India’s quest to become an independent country no longer ruled by Great Britain. With over 70 marchers, Gandhi walked from his hometown near Ahmedabad to the seacoast near Dandi. The march was a non-violent means to protest the taxes that Great Britain had imposed on salt-not the salt that the Indians could get from the sea, but the salt that Great Britain forced them to buy. Gandhi believed that peaceful protests were an effective way to challenge British law, and his peaceful but ultimately successful movement became known as Satyagraha.

While this one may not have been as entertaining for the children, I really felt it was a very important story with a message that we can all use a reminder for. It doesn't matter who we are, what walk of life we come from, whether we are extremely shy or very poor, we can ALL make a difference if we work together and remember to accept everyone equal.

This is about the March to the Sea that Gandhi led many of his fellow country men/women on in a nonviolent march to protest the taxes. In the story we are told that Gandhi was a once quiet child and a lawyer too shy too talk and here he is standing before his people telling them they are all equal and together they can overturn the tax law. And with everyone working together and accepting they may (will be) jailed they stuck together and they made a difference.

This is a longer book for a picture book, but I was so involved in the story I didn't notice. I also caught myself stopping after every page to talk to my kids about what we had just read. It's a powerful story and I was blinking back tears more than once.

The illustrations are very well done. They are darker in nature but match the story perfectly. While it may not be bright and as eye catching initially, it is exactly as it should be and as you read you know it is how it should be. This might not be a book that would catch a child's eye, but it's a great story for teachers (librarians, parents etc) to read aloud and discuss.

It's a well wrote story that I definitely recommend every library to have on their shelves.

When We Go Walking by Cari Best and Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

Hardcover

Scheduled to release April 23rd, 2013 by Amazon Children's Publishing

Ages 6 and up, Grades 1st and up

Source: Publisher (complimentary copy, no review request)

Wendy and her exuberant family of walkers discover new things on Rambling Road every day in all kinds of weather. No one keeps the things they find except for Wendy: numbers and letters, ribbon and string, a bucket, a ball, a wheel from a wagon. But what will she do with all this stuff? One snowy day when no one can go walking, Wendy, using her treasure trove of found objects, creates her own special version of Rambling Road for her family to share and celebrate. Full of surprises on every page, this is a book that will inspire young readers to walk, discover, and create on their own!

This is a light and fun story about Wendy and her family who loves to go on walks. Wendy brings a collection bag and collects items she finds along the way and her family points out things they see like airplanes, turtles and even the blue sky. They sing and dance and have a good time.

I really liked that this family goes out together, all of them, to enjoy nature and see the sights. In a time when it seems like everyone's life revolves around TV and video games and everyone always has a device in their hands to stare at, it was a nice reminder that we need to get out and enjoy our world!

At one point Wendy wonders where all the treasure came from. Did they blow in the wind? Did a bird drop them? I liked this acknowledgement of wonder. At the end of the book Wendy builds things out of all the treasure she has collected and then she's ready to go out for another walk to collect more!

The illustrations are very lovely. They aren't always full page, but they are cleverly done and showcase the nature side of the story. I definitely recommend this one for little girls (in particular) and for a family read as it may inspire a nice family walk. This is one that must be in every school library as many children would thoroughly enjoy it.

Disclosure: I received both of these books complimentary from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Saturday Situation~ Link Up Your Reviews & Give@way's!

Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself. It's a linky for you to link your book related Giveaways and Reviews (and whatever neglected posts you may have). You'll find the same linky's at Pure Imagination, so don't enter them twice! Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week. You can find the newest Saturday Situation posts by the tab at the top of my blog labeled Saturday Situation.

Wasteland Blog Tour: Author Interview & Give@way!

Wasteland by Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan

Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan’s post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants —- hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there’s more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.

Buy Links:

I haven't yet read the book but I did my best trying to come up with a few questions for them! Let's welcome Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan!

So we can get to know you a little better can you tell us 5 interesting facts about yourself?

LAURENCE:

1) I have a twin brother.

2) My father was a radio disc jockey.

3) I have a sharp point at the front base of my neck that I’ve been told is a gill from when I used to be a fish, so apparently I haven’t completely evolved (I’m not kidding, that’s what they said)

4) I threw all my guests out of my own bar mitzvah party

5) During a fight when we were kids, my older brother landed on my knee so hard he dislocated it and we saw the bone sticking out. Then, terrified, as I screamed in pain, he knocked it back into place (I’m not kidding, this happened)

SUSAN:
1) I was once swept out to sea when I was about ten years old. I was wearing an inflatable life vest and found the sensation of pulling pulled out by the waves so pleasant, it didn’t occur to me that it was a bad idea. I was maybe half a mile out and I saw all these people running around onshore, pointing at me and screaming. They had to send a boat out to get me.
2) I love cats. Actually, I like most animals, including the ugly, creepy, and squishy ones… but I really, really love cats. They’re beautiful, have a remarkable sense of themselves, and are often really funny, too.
3) I hate bananas.
4) When I was six, I cut my wrist by accident and had to go to the hospital to have it stitched up. It was like a war zone in the emergency room: there were at least four or five other kids in there, and they were all screaming their heads off. I didn’t make a sound and afterward, the nurse said to me, “you’re braver than a boy.”
5) Other than that fleeting moment of bravery/stoicism, I cry really easily. In fact, I bet I could make myself cry right now if I wanted to.

Now, for those of us who haven't read the book yet, can you tell us 5 things about it that aren't in the description?

1) At one point, Caleb hides out in a school, and he and Esther have no idea what the building is for.

2) Since virtually no one reads, there’s rampant ignorance. No one knows how to boil water to purify it. And the only way people know how to eat is by breaking into homes and stores, “Gleaning” old packaged food that’s just barely edible like dried beans, honey, salt, etc.

3) Other than the cats owned by one of the characters, there are no more domesticated

animals. Feral dogs, descendants of house pets, roam the streets in packs.

4) Teenagers can get married and have kids, but it’s a lot different than it is in the

present day.

5) There’s a love scene in a cemetery.

If you could travel to any time and any place where would you choose to go, and why?

SUSAN: You mean “travel” as in a vacation and I’d definitely be coming back, right? Because no matter how cool the past is, I keep thinking about useful modern stuff… like, I don’t know, antibiotics! But that being said, I think I’d be most interested in traveling to either Paris in the 1920s or New York City in the late 1940s. Both were sophisticated, impassioned, and intellectual places where men and women were doing cool things in art, literature, fashion, music, and theatre… probably in reaction to the horrors of the two world wars. But they must have been amazing cities to visit!

LAURENCE: I think those two periods would be great, too. I also think the turn of the (last) century in America would have been interesting, with writers like Jack London, Edith Wharton, Henry James, Ambrose Bierce, and O.Henry around. As long as you could come back and get penicillin and your email, things like that.

What is your #1 most recommended book?

SUSAN: That is SO not fair a question… there are too many! I’m staring at my bookshelves in total panic, thinking “that one. No, that one. No, that one.” I guess I would have to say…umm, ohh, errr… I can’t! Okay, okay… how about Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, better known as Alice in Wonderland? It’s really delightful, unique and trippy in a highly influential way, and both funny and unsettling. At the same time, it manages to treat the central character with detail, respect, and affection. It’s a terrific example of writing for children, in that the book serves the young reader, not vice-versa.

LAURENCE: I agree, there are too many. As far as books about young people go, Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the greatest. And J. G. Ballard’s Empire of the Sun.

One thing I always like to ask authors is if there's something they have a passion for that they want to share with the world. Like some donate time or money to certain organizations, some are passionate about improving the health care system, the list goes on. What is something you feel strongly about?

LAURENCE: I mostly worry, stew, and dwell, which obviously isn’t enough. But the arts are important to me. When I have it, I donate money to groups that allow people to plan their families—or not have them at all. And to people who provide shelters for animals.

SUSAN: I mostly donate money to environmental, animal protection, and international aid groups. I mean obviously, I’m not Bill Gates, and I know what I contribute isn’t necessarily going to make a big difference in the world; but still, these are causes that break my heart and depress me and make me furious. And as someone who also writes a lot for television, I also volunteer for the Writers’ Guild of America East. That’s a trade union made up of TV, film, news, and digital writers. I not only like writers, I like helping them stick up for their rights.

Last question, what can we expect to see from you in the future?

SUSAN: The next two books in our series will be coming out over the next two years: Wanderers and Guardians. Without giving too much away, I can tell you that the second book follows Esther and her friends after an earthquake drives them out of Prin and they head north for a better life. In the third book, they’re settled in their new home, but an unexpected series of events threatens their existence. We’re really excited about both of them; there’s a huge amount that happens to Esther, Caleb, Skar, and the others. They meet many people, some kind and helpful and the others decidedly not. And the central characters change, as well, in major ways.

I also hope to continue writing by myself and with Laurence; we’re always talking about possible ideas for new projects. And I’ll most likely be writing children’s TV, which I’ve been doing for years, now… the most recent is an episode I did for a new PBS show called “Peg + Cat.”

LAURENCE: I have a book of short stories for adults coming out in 2014 and a play in development in New York. And, of course, there are the next two “Wasteland” books with Susan and, hopefully, more graphic novels.

Okay, wasn't that great?! Clearly these two are very funny people. I'm definitely going to have to give this book a read! I too hate banana's. I can't even stand the smell of them. YUCK.

Author's Links:
Laurence Klavan Website: http://www.laurenceklavan.com/works.htm
Susan Kim - http://www.harperteen.com/authors/38626/Susan_Kim/index.aspx?authorID=38626

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Other tour stops:

Monday, March 25^th – SciFi Chick – guest post

Tuesday, March 26^th – The Irish Banana – author interview

Wednesday, March 27^th – IB BookBlogging - character profile/excerpt

Thursday, March 28^th – The Nocturnal Library – guest post

Friday March 29^th – Candace’s BookBlog – author interview

Monday, April 1^st – The Book Swarm – this or that list

Tuesday, April 2^nd – Supernatural Snark – character profile/excerpt

Wednesday, April 3^rd – Alison Can Read – author interview

Thursday, April 4^{th –}Bewitched Bookworms – guest post

Friday, April 5^th – Alice Marvels – guest post

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Review: In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Hardcover, 400 pages

Expected Publication: April 2nd, 2013 by Amulet books (ABRAMS)

Source: Publisher

In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds is an incredible novel that fully transported me to San Diego 1918 during the Spanish influenza pandemic. I truly felt the time period and setting, along with the horrors that awaited every corner. The fear that people had of the flu was nearly palpable. I truly felt that horror and fear with them. But Mary Shelley is brave and doesn't let fear rule her. She has been through a lot but she knows that it's not worth hiding out at home living in fear every moment of her life.

I haven't read many books set in this time period. I'm not very familiar with the first world war and didn't know much about the Spanish influenza. While reading I wasn't sure what was real, because it all felt so real to me. Like it was true history and I was watching it unfold. After reading the back and now knowing that the author kept things pretty close to historical facts I feel like I got a bit of a history lesson by being transported back in time and experiencing it first hand. Yeah, this isn't the war, not right there in San Diego, but war is all around them with men being shipped off left and right, and shipped back damaged. Many dead, many more severely injured and others mentally damaged. We get a look at this when Mary Shelley volunteers at a hospital. And while this is just a small bit of the book it was powerful for me to see this and experience it. It truly was horrifying and so sad.

The ghost aspect of the book was absolutely phenomenal. I'm a bit of a chicken, but I do love ghosts in books. Luckily this book wasn't too scary for me, but I did find myself on the edge of my seat a few times. I also grew frustrated because I needed some answers! I was having trouble figuring things out. But that's a positive really. I just desperately wanted to know if any of my guesses were right. And honestly, they weren't really. There was a big twist and while I expected a twist it wasn't that exactly.

This is a darker read, but I never felt terribly depressed while reading it. And while I feel like I could have cried I didn't. I think some of the sad things were pretty expected, I knew that it would have sad moments. But the horrific things that happen absolutely made me beyond furious and that anger was so strong that I actually did get tears in my eyes, because how can any human being treat another human that way?! It's incomprehensible to me.

I absolutely loved the characters in the book and they were very well drawn and easy to imagine. Mary Shelley was a character I most definitely admire for her strength and honesty. Her unfailing ability to see things so much more clearly than so many others who are blinded by grief.

This is a book I recommend to mature young adults who enjoy some history in their horror novels (light on the horror). The rich descriptions that are never flowery, but so bold, transported me completely in time and place and living through Mary Shelley was a true honor. Having lived this short time in 1918 I am ever so grateful for the time period I now live in.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Review: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) by Robin LaFevers

Hardcover, 400 pages

Expected Publication: April 2nd, 2013 by Houghton Mifflin

Source: ALAMW

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.

But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.

Spoiler Free for both books in the series.

This book. Wow. Yeah. Where to start? First of all, when I closed this book I had tears running down my face and I hugged that book close because I felt so much love for it I felt I would explode. Now this was an emotional journey, but it was absolutely mind blowingly GOOD.

Now if you haven't read Grave Mercy you really need to get on that. While this book has different characters that are focused on, the previous characters are still there and the political issues (a large bit of the book) is a continuing story line. So while you could read this without reading the other and wouldn't be TOO confused, you won't fully understand everything without reading Grave Mercy.

Also, I know there's some confusion about the genre and it's historical fantasy. It's very much about historical things that actually happened with real life people even, but there's a light fantasy element thrown in as well. The fantasy element is very light though (there's no fairies or vampires, or any paranormal creatures). If you hate historical fiction then it's possible this isn't the series for you (though I love it so much I can't help but recommend it).

I didn't read the book description before reading this book and while I already knew it was about Sybella, I didn't know a few things that are actually mentioned in the description and I really liked finding out as I read instead of knowing ahead of time. It quite surprised me actually.

Sybella's past is so dark and she's been through so, so much. Through the book things that have happened to her are revealed but a large chunk is only hinted at and is revealed later. Watching the slow burn romance play out was absolutely stunning. I knew something would happen between them, it's just waiting for it to happen. The thing I really loved was that Beast is described as ugly. He's a huge man and is full of scars. But he has this lightness about him, this happiness and love that is all around him and he's perfect for Sybella, they just have to learn to find each other through their pain and all obstacles that stand in their way. The romance had me bawling by the end. I won't lie, this book made me cry so hard. But so much of those tears were because of the beauty of things. Yes, there's some horror we see and it gets our blood boiling and we want to reach in and strangle some people and it may even bring a tear or two because of what some people have gone through, but it's the beautiful healing that really made me cry, so it was good tears.

I know that I could go on and on, but I really think I have covered the things that are most important. This book made me feel. It had all the emotions I love in a book and the romance was about as good as a romance can get. I often don't really feel the romance, that's not the case here. I adored it!

All I have to say now is to read this series PRONTO!

Disclosure: I received this book at ALAMW for free. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tour Page: The Trickster's Totem by H.B. Bolton

Hello folks! H.B. Bolton is back with her newest middle grade book, The Trickster's Totem (Relics of Mysticus-Book Two).

This tour runs from May 20th to May 31st. Be sure to stop by all the blogs listed below to get all your extra entries in for the giveaway as well as show your love for this wonderful series!

Tour Schedule:

5/20
Lovely Reads ~ Guest Post
Cover2Cover ~ Reviews & Top Ten

5/21
Leisure Reads ~ Guest Post and Excerpt
Curling Up With a Good Book ~ Interview
Free ebooks Daily ~ Interview

5/22
Becky's Barmy Book Blog ~ Guest Post

5/23
Chasm of Books ~ Guest Post
I Am a Reader, Not a Writer ~ Interview

5/24
Beauty and the Bookshelf ~ Interview
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile ~ Review

5/25
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile~ Guest Post

5/27

Maji Bookshelf ~ Review

Dear, Restless Reader ~ Review & Interview

5/28

Deal Sharing Aunt ~ Reviews

5/29

Always YA at Heart ~ Interview

Because Reading is Better Than Real Life ~ Excerpt
Literary Rambles ~ Guest Post

5/30

Offbeat Vagabond ~ Top Ten

Eulana ~ Reviews

JC's Book Haven ~ Reviews

5/31
Buried in Books ~ Review

Read to My Hearts Content & Kids Corner for Super Reading ~ Reviews
Howling Turtle ~ Guest Post

The Trickster's Totem Description:

Life has returned to normal for fourteen-year-old Evan and his older sister, Claire. That is until Dunkle, a clever but stinky little imp, pays an unexpected visit to their school. He has come to take the siblings back to Sagaas, the mythical realm of the gods. Once again, a Relic from the ancient Mysticus Orb has fallen into the wrong hands. Only Evan and Claire, with their unique mystical abilities, can help find it.

Through the power of the Trickster’s Totem, a coyote trickster has escaped. His laughter echoes throughout the realm, as he spreads mischief and mayhem. He burns an entire crop of popcorn, carves his grinning image into sacred artifacts, and things really get interesting when he shape-shifts into Evan’s friends.

Claire and Evan must capture the Trickster, retrieve the Totem, and be careful not to become sidetracked by robotic Steampunk animals, “sweet” pixie-like Pains, and a problematic mermaid … all while dodging Mothman-like aces. Most surprising, Evan discovers the true reason dragons exist in the Native American Spirit World.

First book in the Relics of Mysticus series, The Serpent's Ring.

Evan and Claire Jones are typical teenagers, forced to go with their parents to yet another boring museum ... that is, until something extraordinary happens to make their day a little more than interesting. After following a strange little creature into a closed exhibit, Evan and his older sister, Claire, discover the Serpent’s Ring, one of the magical relics formed from the shattered Mysticus Orb. Purely by accident, they have awakened its powers and opened a portal to Sagaas, land of ancient gods.

Before the siblings can comprehend what has happened, the Serpent’s Ring is wrenched from Evan’s hand by an enormous fish and flown back to Aegir, the Norse god of the sea. Evan and Claire, accompanied by a band of unlikely heroes, must retrieve the Serpent’s Ring before Aegir uses its immense powers to flood all the lands on Earth.

About this author:

A magical part of H.B. Bolton’s childhood was being swept into worlds of enchanting characters, fantastical creatures and extraordinary powers—simply by picking up a book. As a mother and a teacher, she was compelled to create imaginary worlds of her own in order to share them, not just with her children, but with all children. H.B. Bolton lives in Florida with her supportive husband and two highly spirited children. Shh, can you keep a secret? Not only does she write books for the young-at-heart, adventurous sort who yearn to dive into a good young-adult fantasy story, she also writes spellbinding, heart pounding women's fiction. These particular books are written under the name Barbara Brooke, but that's another story, altogether.

Books by H.B. Bolton:
The Serpent's Ring (Relics of Mysticus, Book One)
Breaking Down (a short story)
Hungry (a short story)
Coming May 1, 2013
The Trickster's Totem (Relics of Mysticus, Book Two)

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Adult Review: Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

Paperback, 346 pages

Published: June 26th, 2012 by Avon

Source: Purchased

She's a mortal with dark powers...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

I can't believe it took me so long to pick this up! It definitely wasn't because I didn't want to, but just because of all the books I had to read and unfortunately can only get to so many. I love Jeaniene Frost though and she's one author whose books I usually read immediately after they release. I guess this way I don't have a long wait for the next one though...

This is the first book in a new series featuring Vlad, whom many of us know from her previous books. While you can definitely jump in here, this is the first in a series, I do suggest you go back and read the Night Huntress books as well as the Night Huntress World books. Everything connects and we see familiar characters in them all. If you start here you'll be spoiled (only slightly, but still a little) for the other books. Halfway to the Grave is the book you'll want to start with if you decide to start at the very beginning.

One thing I love about Jeaniene Frost's books is that while they are paranormal romance the world building is as incredible as an urban fantasy and the entire thing isn't focused on getting someone into bed. Those steamy scenes are definitely there, but aren't quite as prevalent as some PNR I have read. I prefer urban fantasy books generally, but this is one PNR author I do adore and her world she's created is absolutely brilliant!

I was happy to finally get Vlad in his very own book and when I found out Leila was the narrator (long before I read the book) I was a bit disappointed cause I want INSIDE Vlad's head. I want to really know what he's thinking. But I found myself not disappointed just because I really ended up loving Leila. One thing I love is that she's already somewhat familiar with the paranormal in the world. Her closest friend is a vampire and while they don't 'hang out' with other vampires, he has managed to fill her in fairly well about the paranormal. Therefore we don't get any freak outs from her about the big bad scary vampires, which I really appreciated. I also loved that she has her own freaky paranormal stuff going on and it was a very unique 'talent' and it made for an excellent story. And, true to form for Jeaniene Frost, she is a very kick butt chick who can most definitely do some damage on her own.

While it's not the most unpredictable story in the world, it was thoroughly entertaining and I found myself devouring the book quite quickly. I enjoyed getting to know Vlad better and see his life a little more closely. I'm definitely looking forward to more of him and Leila and can't wait to read Twice Tempted (out now!).

Monday, March 25, 2013

Review & Give@way: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Hardcover, 568 pages

Published: March 19th, 2013

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

EXCLUSIVE COLLECTOR'S EDITION

So this is one of those books that you can't really say anything about. It's too easy to accidentally spill spoilers and it's SO important for everyone to go in with not having a clue how it goes. So basically all I'm going to be telling you is if I liked it and the emotions I felt.

First of all, finishing a series is always so hard. It's terrifying to watch the final moments of a series. Just hoping that everything works out. I'll tell you now that I was extremely satisfied with how the series ended. I have grown to love all of these characters and while it was an emotional roller coaster ride, it was a fantastic one! This book made me laugh and cry and feel the most extreme emotions I have felt yet for this series. It was by far the best in the trilogy and I'm so sad it's over. The characters really blew me away and I was astounded by the wonderful character growth of them all. While there were many tense moments there were lighter ones where the banter between them all put a smile on my face.

I'm sad it's over but I'm glad that I set the book down with a huge smile on my face cause it was so, so good!

About The Infernal Devices Series
Set in the Victorian London underworld, in the prequel series to The Mortal Instruments, Shadowhunters are barely winning against the forces of evil.

About the Author
Cassandra Clare is the author of the New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Mortal Instruments series and Infernal Devices trilogy. Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages.

The official sites
Visit The Infernal Devices Official Site
Like The Infernal Devices on Facebook
Visit Cassandra Clare’s Official Site

Thanks to Simon & Schuster (and Big Honcho Media who helped arrange this) I have two copies of Clockwork Princess to giveaway!

Open to US addresses only.

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Ends 4/8

Fill out the rafflecopter to enter!

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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Middle Grade Reviews: Destiny, Rewritten & Frogged

Funny enough I'm piling up the middle grade review books (we've been reading like mad around here!) so I figured I'd better double up here since one is out and one is out very soon!

Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

Hardcover, 176 pages

Published: Feb. 19th, 2013 by Katherine Tegan Books (Harper)

Source: ALAMW

Des·tin·y: |destinē/
(noun) The hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate.

Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has been told for her entire life that her destiny is to become a poet, just like her famous namesake, Emily Dickinson. But Emily doesn’t even really like poetry, and she has a secret career ambition that she suspects her English-professor mother will frown on. Then a seeming tragedy strikes: just after discovering that it contains an important family secret, she accidentally loses the special copy of Emily Dickinson’s poetry that was given to her at birth. As Emily and her friends search for the lost book in used bookstores and thrift shops all across town, Emily’s understanding of destiny begins to unravel and then rewrite itself in a marvelous new way.

In her third novel, Kathryn Fitzmaurice again weaves a richly textured and delightful story about unexpected connections, about the ways that friends can help us see ourselves for who we truly are, and about the most perfect kinds of happy endings: those that happen just on time.

This book. This book put a huge smile on my face. I rarely feel such a fondness for characters, like I really, really loved the characters in this book. So, so, SO much! For me these are like David Levithan and John Green's characters at age 11. I don't know if that's precisely correct, but it's pretty darn close. I do know Emily stood out to me just as much as any of their characters.

Emily was names after Emily Dickinson and has been told her whole life that it's her destiny to be a poet. Her mom is a poet and had this whole 'moment' when holding an Emily Dickinson book when trying to come up with a name. So she's just sure that it's Emily's destiny to be a poet. But Emily doesn't really 'get' poetry. She doesn't really have an urge to write it at all. When her book goes missing (there's much more to the story) that has her whole life written in it (it's a poetry book by Emily Dickinson that her mother has recorded every special moment in) Emily feels like destiny has just changed. So while searching for her book she decides to switch things up a bit and not be so predictable and organized. She's obviously a bit of a perfectionist. She doesn't like clutter or anything 'out of place'. This refers to her life as well. So suddenly she allows herself to step on the cracks on sidewalks, not line her shoes up by color, let a spoon sit in the sink instead of washing it immediately, etc. All these small little things can so easily change her destiny. And in this book we do see how these small little things DO make a difference and can change our life. This is more obvious at the end, but it was so fun getting there.

Emily has a lot fun quirks I love. She may be 11, but sometimes she feels like a 30 year old lady. No, not in a bad way! She's very mature I guess. But yet, she's not. Somehow the author managed to make Emily an authentic sounding 11 year old, but a very worldly one. One that's very smart and precocious, I guess. Emily loves reading the endings of romance novels and writes them all on index cards. She also writes regularly to Danielle Steel (whose books she has all read) and tells her almost everything going on in her life. In this book she starts taking a romance writers class (college students put it together, she's obviously too young, but they accept her) and starts going to poetry readings.

All the other characters were extremely well fleshed out and easy to imagine and connect with. Her cousin Mortie will have you ROLLING. Seriously, funniest character EVER! And her mom will put a smile on your face. Her best friend Wavey and her have the best conversations you'll ever read and will have you LOL. Very, very fun!

I read this one aloud to my kids at night and it was so hard to stop reading! I think I would have liked to just sit back and enjoy it all at once and maybe would have liked it even more (if that's possible). I just know I loved this book with all my heart and it's one I will certainly reread. It's adorable and so fun! It's kind of a 'middle' middle grade book. The kids were left on their own a lot and had some adventures I wouldn't want my 8 year old to consider just yet. There's also a touch of romance in it and some kissing talk (no actual kissing or anything though). So I think I'll probably give this one back to her when she's 10 or 11 as that's about the perfect age for this book.

Buy this book and read it, you'll adore these characters!

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge at ALAMW. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde

Hardcover, 208 pages

Expected publication: April 2nd 2013 by Harcourt Children's Books

Ages: 9 and up

Source: ALAMW

One should be able to say of a princess “She was as good as she was beautiful,” according to The Art of Being a Princess (third revised edition), which the almost-thirteen-year-old Princess Imogene is supposed to be reading. Not feeling particularly good, or all that beautiful, she heads for a nearby pond, where, unfortunately, a talking frog tricks her into kissing him. No prince appears, as one might expect. Instead, the princess turns into a frog herself! Thus launches a funny, wonderfully spun fractured fairy tale in which Imogene wonders if she will be forever frogified.

When I first started reading this one I was a bit unsure how I would feel about it. It's a made up fantasy land but it's very simple (not explained real well, but yet that's not really an issue in this one) where a princess meets a frog who tells her he is a prince who was turned into a frog. So she kisses him but the spell just switches to her and now she's a frog!

While the start just seemed a bit silly it quickly grew on me and I found myself loving Imogene SO much! She has to deal with some pretty stupid (or simple) people and she's quite hilarious in how she deals with these people. Her inner voice and her snark were really a joy to read. I found myself reading more and more each night instead of setting the book down like I normally do. I was desperate to see if she ever got un-frogified and how that might happen.

And just so you know- talking frogs are not common in the this story. Hopping up to someone and announcing you are Princess Imogene is not necessarily going to work because honestly, frogs can't talk! We all know that right? So this makes her situation just a tad more complicated.

If I were going to point out any qualms I would maybe say the ending was a tad anticlimactic. It wasn't really much of an issue for me though.

This one says it's for ages 9 and up and I think that's pretty accurate on what I would have guessed. It had a younger feel much of the time but yet there was talk of cute boys and such (mainly concerning another character who was boy crazy) there's also some humor that adults might get more than children, but yet isn't inappropriate for them.

I definitely recommend this one for girls who like a light, silly and fun fantasy book!

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge at ALAMW. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Saturday Situation~ Link Up Your Reviews & Give@way's!

Poison by Bridget Zinn Event Recap

Last Saturday evening I attended the release party event for Poison by Bridget Zinn. Sadly Bridget passed away from cancer in 2011 so she was unable to be there. But I'm sure she was smiling the biggest smile ever as she looked down on it and saw the tremendous support everyone showed. Many Portland area authors showed up to sign copies of the book and three of them read portions of the book. They really did a great job in finding the best parts too! Before the authors read, Bridget's husband Barrett went up and greeted us and thanked us for coming and sent out thanks to everyone who has done so much for the book. He told us how happy Bridget would have been and shared a little about her and her love for celebrating.

Sara Ryan (Empress of the the World) read the first scene where Kyra breaks in to find the potion in her old home.

Then April Henry (Girl Stolen & The Night She Disappeared) read the river scene where Kyra first meets Fred.

And then the last one to read was Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone) and she read the scene with the witch.

All the readings were wonderful and had us in giggles over the funny bits (which were a lot!) and it they were so good at reading aloud that it was easy to be immersed in this wonderful story.


Lisa Schroeder, April Henry and Inara Scott.

After the reading we all got photos of all the authors and illustrators who signed the book. Barrett, Bridgets husband, is also in the picture. He's to the left between Lisa Schroeder and Laini Taylor (the guy in the very front is Laini's husband, who is an amazing artist/illustrator). It was hard to get a good picture since so many were trying to take pictures, but this is the best one I got.

Then we all got to eat some goodies and sit around and chat. It was super crowded so it was kind of a challenge to talk but my friend Mel was there and she introduced me to a couple authors I hadn't yet met. Emily Whitman and Amber Kizer were two I was excited to meet. Quite a few of these authors I'm already quite familiar with. I know Lisa Schroeder very well and Laini Taylor and I are on familiar terms and I have met April Henry several times as well.

Anyway, this is what the signed part of the book looked like. Oh, and they sold out of books almost instantly! I was very lucky to grab my copy! I know this is a book I will cherish always and it deserves a place of honor on my shelves.