Synopsis:Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.
However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.
Published: September 1st 2020
Pages: 352
Rating: Solid
REVIEW: Traditions shouldn't be static. This need of Yadriel is strong. Gaining his magic is a hearts desire but his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender .Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself. Aaai, Yadriel summons a dead boy's ghost by accident. And he knows him, it's Julien Diaz. The rumored bad boy of the school. How the heck will they solve this?
This story is colorful it it's characters, scenery and culture. It has a charming cinnamon roll of a lead, Yadriel; a witty best friend more than a cousin Maritza, infused w love to the Latinx culture and a slow burn of a romance. This book about dead gods, ghosts, passing on and dealing with grief breathes life on every page. It does acknowledge the realities of queer pain and queer trauma but it is clearly written from a place of love and joy. You feel that Aiden Thomas had joy writing this, writing about a gay trans guy fitting in the world and falling in love.
The romance is magical. You feel the slow growing tension, see both Yadriel and Julian opening up and becoming familiar with each other. Nothing is forced. Talking about magic, how it is written feels fresh. I had to re read passages again, even the scary high tension ones. Animation is the only medium that can adapt Thomas scenery and how it feels reading his words. A truly warmth glow. Cartoon Saloon is the right choice w latinx creatives heading it of course.
I'm hope that trans people, trans boys and guys will see that they are loved. That they deserve love. This is a joyous book and I can't wait to see people enjoying that same warmth the characters, especially Yadriel and Julian have for each other.
But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?
Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? With extraordinary world-building and breathtaking prose, Raybearer is the story of loyalty, fate, and the lengths we’re willing to go for the ones we love.
Published: August 18 2020
Page count: 368
Rating: Amazing
Review
Stories can be held captive, blemished with falsehoods it doesn't matter how long but the true story will break free.
Human touch are what everyone craves for. Tarisai has only ever known stories, knowledge and memories growing up. She grew up with people around her but she was lonely. Her mom the Lady showed no affection and was cold towards her and her mentors never touched her only ever lectured and instructed. Family is the only thing Tarisai ever wanted. She's instructed to get it and destroy it. She was born out of magic. Out of the Lady's wish. Tarisai needs to grow close to the crown prince , belong to his beloved , make him love her and kill him. Tarisai won't be a pawn in her story no matter what.
This world and magic system is enchanting but the true magic are the characters and that makes Raybearer all the more worthwhile. The book is very character driven but each character, even to the minor ones sets the plot in motion. Tarisai is the lead, we fall in love with her council mates the way she does with the eleven and we notice the prejudice and injustice lurking underneath bit by bit as she does. Tarisai is strong leading lady ,the emotional abuse makes her scared to be loved in every way possible. She's terrified it will be lost and will be taken away. It was a pleasure seeing her grow, be confident in herself and shine like a brilliant sun. Her loved ones, the council, the other eleven but in 3 particular stand by and show her that she's worthy of love. The council consist of people of different cultures and ethnicities but I'll spotlight Kirah, Sanjeet and Dayo. All 3 so different and immensely important to her. I'll let you'll discover for yourself. Speaking about love, Raybearer speaks about the absence of love and the different kind of love. The familiar bond between friends and romantic love has equal weight in importance. All types of love should be important.
The slow burn romance that Ifueko crafted and slowly build is a beautiful one. Still on the topic of love I'm so happy Ifueko included an ace character, Dayo - the crown prince. Dayo crushes on boys and girls. Being ace and homoromantic , I was so happy when I read it and hope others will too.
The opposite of love is destruction. Ifueko writes rage inducing about the horrors of colonialism and assimilation. How people in power will and have tried to destroy cultures and societies through law and military force. I can't wait to see people's reaction.
Worldbulding and magic
This is such an unique world and feels so fresh. The way 12 regions or realms are different but feel like one collective culture. Seeing character with different skin tones: Black, brown and white. I had to be extra creative when imaginating it and it's so easy with the help of Ifueko's beautiful writing. It helped me and challenged me to try to dismantle my learned Eurocentric mental picture. I envisioned Sanjeet with brown skin but ones or twice I saw a white person and that's an issue I have to combat. Seeing how Sanjeet is favorite character of mine.
The magic system is beautiful to see. We have pixies and black fairies.Hallows are gifts one is born with. Any possible power imaginable. Tarisai interacts with memories of objects , nature and people whenever she touches. The council , her friends have different power each. I can't wait to see how her gift and the others flourish. To see how the world and magic system will be further explored.
Raybearer is a rhythmic cultural practice on the page. It felt like listening to orally told story when reading. Suriname has loads, every culture different but still Surinamese. Raybearer stands on it's own and will enrich the already published African YA fantasy and the ones to come next year and years to come. I know without a doubt the audiobook will be magical and an experience.
This is the last day of the event. 2013 releases. Sorry i was absent for 2 days. I was not in the mood for Best ________ of 2012 and today's Best Book Boyfriends of 2012 for personal reasons. So the last day remaining . I can't wait to see ya'll lists
NEXT in A series
Spoilers
Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceshipGodspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience. But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight. Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing. FUELED BY LIES.RULED BY CHAOS.ALMOST HOME.
Spoilers**
Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away. Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself. Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own. In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love
Spoilers**
Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind. When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?
Spoilers**
“People will die.” Locked doors are opening, and uncanny creatures are tumbling through mysterious portals from Mag Mell, the world-between-worlds, into the streets of Chicago. The Dark Man has marked Aiden with a new song that’s scared him badly, and a frightening new group of sídhe is lurking nearby.
Teagan knows this is war, and she must protect her family. She leaves her flesh and bones behind to join Finn in hunting the evil beings across the city. Meanwhile, their relationship is heating up—almost faster than they can control. But he is still bound to fight goblins his entire life . . . and by blood she is one of them now.
Then the gateway to Mag Mell cracks open again, and the Wylltsons find themselves caught in a trap. As her loved ones begin to die, Teagan realizes that she must destroy the Dark Man and his minions once and for all in order to save those who remain . . .
. . . before it is too late.
There is a magical realm that exists alongside the human realm, but it wasn’t always so. The firsts are beings who were created to nurture the land. The world was split into two realms, and the firsts were allowed to redeem themselves. Sadly, the majority continued with their self-indulgent behavior to the point where one of their own, a king, became so obsessed with power, he was secretly banished by the court in hopes his absence would calm the masses. But a spark of madness was ignited and not even the lost king's absence could curtail what he set in motion
New Series
Who would you choose? Lucian "Lucky" Spark has been recruited for training by the totalitarian government known as the Establishment. According to Establishment rules, if a recruit fails any level of the violent training competitions, a family member is brutally killed . . . and the recruit has to choose which one. As the five recruits form uneasy alliances in the hellish wasteland that is the training ground, an undeniable attraction develops between Lucky and the rebellious Digory Tycho. But the rules of the training ensure that only one will survive--the strongest recruits receive accolades, wealth, and power while the weakest receive death. With Cole--Lucky's four-year-old brother--being held as "incentive," Lucky must marshal all his skills and use his wits to keep himself alive, no matter what the cost
A powerful new fantasy from Hugo award–winning author Elizabeth Bear, Range of Ghosts creates a world both deep and broad, where a sorcerer-prince seeks world domination to the glory of his God. Temur, grandson of the Great Khan, is walking from a battlefield where he was left for dead. All around lie the fallen armies of his cousin and his brother who made war to rule the Khaganate. Temur is now the legitimate heir by blood to his grandfather’s throne, but he is not the strongest. Going into exile is the only way to survive his ruthless cousin. Once-Princess Samarkar is climbing the thousand steps of the Citadel of the Wizards of Tsarepheth. She was heir to the Rasan Empire until her father got a son on a new wife. Then she was sent to be the wife of a Prince in Song, but that marriage ended in battle and blood. Now she has renounced her worldly power to seek the magical power of the wizards. These two will come together to stand against the hidden cult that has so carefully brought all the empires of the Celadon Highway to strife and civil war through guile and deceit and sorcerous power
Stand Alones
Set in an imagined past, this dark fantasy-adventure is for fans of Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass. Features Jemma, a fiery-headed heroine held captive in Agromond Castle, yet destined to save mist-shrouded Anglavia. Fiery-headed Jemma Agromond is not who she thinks she is, and when the secrets and lies behind her life at mist-shrouded Agromond Castle begin to unravel, she finds herself in a chilling race for her life. Ghosts and misfits, a stone and crystals, a mysterious book, an ancient prophecy—all these reveal the truth about Jemma's past and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than she could have imagined in her wildest fantasies. With her telepathic golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and her trusted friend, Digby, Jemma navigates increasingly dark forces, as helpers both seen and unseen, gather. But in the end, it is her own powers that she must bring to light, for only she has the key to defeating the evil ones and fulfilling the prophecy that will bring back the sun and restore peace in Anglavia.
Sixteen-year-old Canny Mochrie's vacation takes a turn when she stumbles upon a mysterious and enchanting valley, occupied almost entirely by children who can perform a special type of magic that tells things how to be stronger and better than they already are. As Canny studies the magic more carefully, she realizes that she not only understands it--she can perform the magic, too, so well that it feels like it has always been a part of her. With the help of an alluring seventeen-year-old boy who is held hostage by a spell that is now more powerful than the people who first placed it, Canny figures out the secrets of this valley and of her own past
A groundbreaking YA from the award-winning author of As Simple as Snow Adam Strand isn't depressed. He's just bored. Disaffected. So he kills himself—39 times. No matter the method, Adam can't seem to stay dead; he wakes after each suicide alive and physically unharmed, more determined to succeed and undeterred by others' concerns. But when his self-contained, self-absorbed path is diverted, Adam is struck by the reality that life is an ever-expanding web of impact and forged connections, and that nothing—not even death—can sever those bonds. In stark, arresting prose, Gregory Galloway finds hope and understanding in the blackest humor
Tim Macbeth is a 17-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is, “Enter here to be and find a friend.” Tim does not expect to find a friend; all he really wants to do is escape his senior year unnoticed. Despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “it” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim’s surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, and she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone finds out. Tim and Vanessa enter into a clandestine relationship, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher. The story unfolds from two alternating viewpoints: Tim, the tragic, love-struck figure, and Duncan, a current senior, who uncovers the truth behind Tim and Vanessa’s story and will consequently produce the greatest Tragedy Paper in Irving’s history
Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere. Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes. Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed. Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world. Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.
Synopsis:Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now. When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own
My thoughts
Expectations I encountered Splintered early 2012 during a frequent Goodreads browsing. The synopsis was the only thing that got my attention. Keep in mind that the cover was not presented to us yet. The mention of a skater girl got me hooked. A family curse and the mention of madder darker version of wonderland made me fingers clicking happy.I forgot about it (stupid me). Thank goodness I saw the cover on Goodreads months later
Cover: That’s almost how I pictured Alyssa. A cross between the cover and Emily Osment. There is so much detail. Every time I looked at I noticed new details. Easily in the top covers of 2013.
Book: Close to a hundred years or more years ago a young girl named Alice dreamed about a wacky place and was published by a family friend. Ever since then her female descendants have gone insane and died as a result. Alyssa Gardner is her great-great-granddaughter. She too can hear the normally inaudible voices of plants and bugs and is next inline. A chain reacting occurrence happens. ‘’Wonderland exists and Al can save her mom, herself and break the curse but is it really a curse or something else. Nothing is what it seems and maybe Alyssa as well. I WELCOME you TO THE REAL WONDERLAND folks.
Miss Howard’s writing style in splintered is equally part sensual ,dark and mysterious. So dark its sexy,.HAHA. You want to resist but you want more and more. To fly across the pages but take it slow ( I hardly did) and let the enjoyment engross you. I will get madder trough out this review. It was an orgasmic event but of words, places and scenery constructed with those words and many feelings. A wonderful 400 page book.
I read the original Alice and through the looking glass when I was younger. It was a Dutch translations but that does not take away that I loved seeing their dark and altered macabre versions. A lot made sense in a nonsensical way in the end. But every true Netherling knows it takes balance between a raging storm and calm clear water to be ‘’sane’.
The plot was interesting. Mad even. I have to admit some parts might be confusing to some people. Maybe.
.'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.
I loved how parts of the Jabberwoc(k) poem is used in the beginning and a portal available through clues, keys and a mirror [anypony knows The Looking Glass, so what if I’m a brony. Broohoof. /)*(\ ]. Smashing. You get twist and turns after turns. Some were predictable and some weren’t. You have the chance to meet hideously beautiful and beautifully hideous characters, creatures and Queens. And Morpheus but more of him later ( if you want to know).
So you wanna be a master. Do you have to skills to be #1. Oops. Sorry I was listening POKe Themes [ ^^] I meant to say do you want to know more about Morpheous. For starters he has blue hair that covers half his face. Has dark or dark grey angelic wings. I admit he was a jerk at multiple times and admits he’s one. He is netherling as kind and charming as Cheshire is cute and adorable.** possible spoiler [But he still needs loving and hopefully someone will love him someday and he will truth fully love that person too.]end spoiler**Despite him being a jerk sometimes , he is a being you want to have on your team.
Jebediah or Jeb is her best friend. I like him a lot . Roro gives Jeb a dude hug [ oowee I have to steady myself to stop these naughty thoughts]. He’s a sk8terboi. Do you remember this song Jeb is very artistic and paints like tim burton directs movies.
Page 127 Al’s narration
‘I think of his watercolor paintings; darkly beautiful worlds and gothic fairies weeping black tears above human corpses, these depictions of misery and loss are so poignant and surreal they break the heart’’.
If that is not artistic I don’t know what is. Jeb is a labret wearing skater dude who listens to punk/alternative rock and paints hauntingly beautiful [ his art pieces are breathtaking in my imagination]. Jeb opens up and finds up and find comfort in the end.
Now the spotlight or rather scribbles of ink are on Alyssa Gardner. She too has artistic abilities. Although she is one of the coolest female main characters she undergoes character growth and development and proud of who she is in the end.
The romance is steamy but still age appropriate [ wish it wasn’t, lil naughty me] I liked the spark between the characters. Every kind of spark there was
My trip is on this journey is over. I wish I could stay longer. Maddening wasn’t it [ eye twitch twitching ]. I hope you fall in love with all the characters that need to be loved and find peace and tranquility between the line of madness. Well guys here are your victims … ahem visitors [ they don’t get a lot of tourist you know]. Enjoy the wonderful mad [ W]underland. [ eye twitch twitching]
Remarks:I only have a minor complaint. There was very little screen time with not a lot of screen time [sad face
songs that fits perfectly with this book and do generate a atmosphere
Alyssa's secret song to Jeb
Jeb's secret song to Al <3
Alyssa and Jeb stepping into the heart of Wonderland and seeing all the strange sights
Alyssa to Morpheus; torn between her mistrust of him and her attraction to the darkness and power he brings out in her
Morpheus's theme song
Alyssa at book’s end; embracing who she is and facing her future
Synopsis:16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe. When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them
My thoughts
Cover :shimmer ,shimmer, blue shimmer . A icy-cold blue waterfall with in front a floating girl. High on the 2012 coverloves
Book:Paranormal YA has seen a big boom.Throughout the short time span books have popped up like mushrooms.Ideas that were new got recycled and used again and again with a basic formula.Resulting in stale cookie cutter bad boy infested ( the good ones not included) young adult books.This one is different. I see you are rolling your eyes.""Yeah right, different."".This is my response ""Yes it is"". Reason: astral projection.Let it sink it.You know the ability to extract your being out of your physical body.This book has it.A particular girl can do it.Anna.
The way Auracle is written is lovely and flows of the tongue.After some chapters Anna's voice structured for me.This book is not PNR but rather PNR+. This includes friendship,loyalty,family struggles,taking care of your actions and fixing stuff and doing whats right even without a body.
All that make it real and relatable. It is paranormal infused with somewhat crime, baked not burned with romance (you know the romantic goodstuff) and sprinkled with contemporary fiction elements. I also liked the Asian/cultural influence.Japanese to be correct. Philosophy, mediating and Rei but more about him later( Ya'll would love to know about him)
One minor complaint: Why was is not longer.I finally befriended them, got close and caring for the peeps in this book.BAM.THE END.I know if it was longer it could have resulted in dragging parts.I'm still happy in the end that this story was written and 80 to 85 % satisfied.
Anna is the girl I've mentioned before.She's witty and a girly.Wears not a lot make up or none.Energetic. Takes action after her body is stolen after the accident ( see synopsis) Being out of her body and trying to rescue , let say more than 2 people. The best is that sees that shes a cause in this and takes action (what a lot of PNR YA girls don't )
Harper is the ''mean'' girl.She popular, gets whats she wants and she did and caused the bigger .You are suppose to dislike but feel sorry for her. BRIGHT . silent moment ( huh?)
Rei.He's the boy next door.He's half Japanese (Whoot whoot, he is the 2nd love interest of color that i know of in 2012 paranormal releases). Some would say he is too perfect and some already said that.But he has flaws. He carries his loved one problems and sorrows on his soldier and is pretty hard on himself. I love how Anna shows him he does not need to.Hope you'll meet him soon. Ladies come closer. Closer. CLOSER. You will swoon.Hotness
The romance was lovely. Not insta lovey.But a gradual one.Anna 's situation brought them closer strengthens their relationship and eventually bloomed into love.
The plot was not difficult but trough Miss Rosati's writing made it tense, lovely and explosive trip.Plus the ability is explained very well. Very fictionally scientific. Sad to see this group of go but i ca't wait to read more by her.This lovely gem is out tomorrow.
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases
Synopsis:Maddy explores her Angel heritage—and struggles to get her wings—as the Angels and the humans head for a showdown. Life turned upside down for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into the scene of flashbulbs, paparazzi, and fervent adulation that comes with being in the celebrity Angel world. And now Maddy must face the most difficult choice of her life. She’s been offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means dangerous and high-stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed. But more than that, it would mean leaving her mortal life behind—forever— and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans is heading for war...
Synopsis:Tim Macbeth is a 17-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is, "Enter here to be and find a friend." Tim does not expect to find a friend; all he really wants to do is escape his senior year unnoticed. Despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential "it" girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving's most popular boy. To Tim's surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, and she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone finds out. Tim and Vanessa enter into a clandestine relationship, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving's version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school's least forgiving teacher.The story unfolds from two alternating viewpoints: Tim, the tragic, love-struck figure, and Duncan, a current senior, who uncovers the truth behind Tim and Vanessa's story and will consequently produce the greatest Tragedy Paper in Irving's history.
Can't wait for the sequel of Immortal City and exited for the contemp. I have never read about someone who is a albino.
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases.
Personal Effectsby E.M. Kokie
Published by: Candlewick Press
Date to be published:: September 11th 2012
Synopsis: Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life.
Something Like Normal by Trish Doller Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens Date to be published: June 19th 2012
Synopsis: When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero
I admire the teens and Young adults for protecting their nation. It must be tough . To see things nightmares are made off. I have not read these yet but i have a feeling in my gut. These will touching words written on paper.[ Something Like Normal will be pubblished 19th of june. so exited for my copy]
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases.
Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1)
By Jay Kristoff
Published by:St. Martin's Press
Date to be published:September 18th 2012
Synopsis: A DYING LAND The Shima Imperium is verging on the brink of environmental collapse; decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshippers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, land choked with toxic pollution, wildlife ravaged by mass extinctions. AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTThe hunters of the imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary beast, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death. A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRLYukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a hidden gift that would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her. But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.
Look at that glorious cover.So bloody red.Me to uk cover: hi uk edition , USA beat your @SS
And YAAY a minority as MC
Synopsis{spoilerish}I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again. Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.
i started this series since the beginning and a avid folower. A awesome geeky red headed girl, a swooning Spartan[so i've heard ^-^] amazing frends and a speaking bloody bloodthirsty dagger. In a boarding school with impending doom and ooh so dark and fun at the same time . it\s a must read , this series. Yes Yes Yes
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases.
[ i was on blogging and reviewing slump/ now i'm have my mojo back/ glad i'm back]
Demons [Seers #2]
by Heather Frost
Published by: Cedar Fort Books
Date to be published: September 11th, 2012
Synopsis: Kate’s life is far from normal. She can see auras, her boyfriend is immortal, and her powers make her a target. But now that the Demon Lord is hunting her, things are about to go from dangerous to truly deadly. Packed with action, mind-blowing plot twists, and characters you can’t get enough of, this is a fast-paced, heart-pounding read from cover to cover.
I loved book one and it was the first book tour i was on.
I also love that the covers match
Meant to Be
by Lauren Morrill
Published by Delacorte
Date to be published: November 13th 2012
Synopsis: Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.
It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").
But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.
Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be
So exited for this one /exited for both/ i need both
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases.
Synopsis: For sixteen years, Alyssa Gardner has lived with the stigma of being descended from Alice Liddell -- the real life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's famed novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. But cruel jokes about dormice and tea parties can’t compare to the fact that Alyssa hears the whispers of bugs and flowers ... the same quirk which sent her mother to a mental institution years before. When her mother takes a turn for the worse and the whispers grow too strong for Alyssa to bear, she seeks the origins of their family curse. A set of heirlooms and a moth tied to an unusual website lead Alyssa and her gorgeous best friend / secret crush, Jeb, down the rabbit hole into the real Wonderland, a place more twisted and eerie than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, creepy counterparts of the original fairytale crew reveal the purpose for Alyssa’s journey, and unless she fixes the things her great-great-great grandmother Alice put wrong, Wonderland will have her head
I know its a year away.But look at that cover.Plus it's a fairy tale retelling kinda.I also loved the Alice in wonderland movie of '10 .
Struck (Struck #1) by Jennifer Bosworth Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR
Date published: May 8th 2012
Synopsis:Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come. Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.
awesome cover and lighting addicted chick. rad. I have been lusting for this one since august of last year
Article 5 (Article 5 #1)
by Kristen Simmons
Published by Tor Teen
Date Publication : January 31st 2012
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned. The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back. Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different. Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.
My thoughts
Cover:One of my Love at First sightcovers.Crumbled socity and it's perfectly pictured. A teenage girl and a boy on a hill and what looks like a wartorn Chicago is in sight down below.
Book:The cover drew[but you all know that right now ^-^]since i saw it last year early august.I was pinning to read was so happy to see there were arc giveaways but 99% of those only USA allowed so i took matters into my own hands and emailed a review request to Tor publishing and fingers crossed of course. So happy they aproved[ a e-arc is still an arc]It was worth the trouble[ asking and wishing]
Wartorn America. Everything changed.Crumbled cities, broken down houses and broken lives. The bill of rights are condemned and the moral statues are declared.Say adieu to freewill.
With the SOPA/PIPA and now ACtA ; controlling the new for 'our own good'.Article 5 seems very real and could happen in the near future.No nature disasters but a war caused the fall, the doctrine. Realistically scary is the world building.The writing was so so aaah.I imagined every scene clearly.
Ember a 17 year old [i so love that name] in violation of article 5 is taken[imprisoned] and brought to a rehabilitation center. Scared as heck but grew immensely within her being scared she became fiery and would do everything in her being to escape , survive.
Chase a broken down soldier.The one who imprisoned her under direct orders.I would jump into this tale to just to say 'Everything is stark and dark right now but things will be OK , don't know when but it's gonna be OK, there's a silver lining out there'.
There love is what i call true love no matter how rocky and bumpy it was believe you me , it was.And not a wishy-washy YA insta-love.Discovering secrets that can hurt both. Her trying to trust and love him all over again.
I highly recommend Article 5.A dystopia what could be real in not so far future. A good thing today is Article 5's book birthday[ trows internet confetti]Hope you all check it out
thanks to Tor teen for approving my request
songs that fits perfectly with this book and do generate a atmosphere.
Date publication January 31st 2012 by HarlequinTeen
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:They call me 'New Girl'... Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her. Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault. Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be. And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.
My thoughts
Cover: Defenitely a cover-love of mine. Love underwater covers. I think it depicts a scene from the book. A disaster, a mystery will come to light.
Book: Honestly I only requested in on netgalley because of the cover[^_^]. Read my first Harlequin teen title not long ago so when not give this a shot. Totally worth my 8 hours reading this, in one setting.
A new girl is accepted to a Ivy league boarding school, Manderly.Arrives there and immediately all most of her peers dislike." She's trying to replace'' Rebecca, who went missing the summer before.What happened to her? Will she come back? a mystery! Denial, Vengeance,Lust,Hatred
This is an retelling of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca.I've heard of it but have not read it. So i can't say which one is better, the retelling or the original.
This story takes place at the start of a new school year, senior year, high school.
The storytelling was fantastic.Told in two perspectives,Rebecca, missing,and the main character that remains nameless till the end.Yes she is mentioned as 'New Girl'.The past and 3th person pov of Rebecca's chapters and the present and 1st person pov of New Girl is beautifully interwoven
The focus of this retelling are the moments and experiences throughout the school year at Manderly from the past[Rebecca] and a year later, the present; New Girl's experiences.
Rebecca was manipulative, conifing and the puppeteer of her surroundings and 'friends'.You 'll love despising her. I almost felt pity towards her at the end.Almost
Other outstanding characters
Max
Jonathan
the art professor
The academy
New girl the complete opposite.Caring and kind.Only thing i disliked that she she let people push her around. But she gets a backbone atthe very end.
There was scandal.[Scandalous]cheating,hatred,betrayed, humiliation.but true friendship around New Girl.Manipulated amor. The real thing with New Girl. Dude, Dude the ending lines, the revealed mystery was THA BOMB If you're into mysteries,standalones give it a try. A paranormal rut remedy
Thanks to netgalley and to Harlequin teen approving request
a song that fits perfectly with this book and does generate a atmosphere.
