Review: Splintered by A.G Howard

Splintered
by A.G. Howard
Published by Amulet Books
Date to be published: January 1st 2013
Source: gifted
Rating: 4.8

AMAZON // BOOKDEPO

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

Cobble Cavern book tour: interview w/ Erik Olsen

This blog tour is presented by Cedar Fort Publishing.
You can see the tour schedule and more information by clicking HERE

First to introduce the author

About the author:Jon Erik Olsen lives in Sandy, Utah, where he enjoys the mountains and is surrounded by a great family and friends that have continued to support him throughout his writing quest. After having one of the world's craziest dreams, he has written a series of five books detailing it called Flin’s Destiny, which is full of continuous action and adventure deep in the earth and keeps you wanting more.
You can find out more on the Flin's Destiny Facebook page and the Book Poster page. 

Now for the interview 

What inspired you to write Cobble Cavern? 

I had a dream, and this entire series came more or less from it. 

Who is the artist[s], fanboying here! Lol? 

Mark Mckenna is the Cover Illustrator, and Connor Martin and Taylor Reich do the illustration inside the book.

What was youre favr scene[s] to write in Cobble Cavern? 

The Snazzards chapter. 

What got you in to reading and at what age , what sort of books did you like reading as a child? 

There was a series called the Great Brain, I started to enjoy reading them when I was about nine.

Do you have a set routine when you are writing? 

I preplan a little, but I like the story to create itself. 

Are you a plotter or just write what the characters feel like to saying? 

I  do create a plot, however, the characters to me are real people. 

Have you any other books in the making at the moment?

 I have written four books and am halfway through writing book five.

What are you currently reading, have finished or on your wish list?

 I am currently in between books due to wanting to finish up with this series of Flin’s Destiny so I can start another series.

Why should we read Cobble Cavern? 

It is educational as well as thrilling, and the books have an underlying message, that you will create and become your own destiny whatever it is that you focus all of your attention on.  

This or that segment

Vanilla or chocolate? Definitely Chocolate

summer or winter: Sorry, Fall and Spring

Xmas or halloween: Both

Vampires, faeries or zombies :Fairies

The book  

What starts out to be a fun field trip to Ireland for Flin and his school debate team turns into a life changing adventure when their bus ends up in an earthquake. Flin and his teammates get swallowed deep into the earth and become trapped under the ocean inside a clear dome where they discover an unknown civilization. Now they must fight their way back to the surface if they ever want to see home again. Join Flin and his classmates on a journey of a lifetime in this thrilling adventure story. 

Review: Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

Liesl and Po
by Lauren Oliver

Published by  HarperCollins

Date Publication: October 4th 2011

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis: Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.
Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

My thoughts

Cover:It's a decent one.Like the gold cover.Bummer that was the only likable thing for me.

Book:It never was on my wishlist.I got a hint from Booksake[check them out, there awesome book reviewers] that it was a free read at Harpercollins.com. Not a complete disappointment for me. I still wanted to know what Liesl and Po would encounter on their travels.I never bash an author.This review includes my honest opinions.

This middle grade has gotten a lot of hype and was not that interested.It was a free read.Nothing to loose.Liesl and po is sad and dreary read.That was not a problem for me


But the bland writing and worldbuilding and characters were the reason for the two star rating. I felt no connection to the characters except bundle a cat-dog like shadow creature and it does not even talk or a lot of ''screen time''

from the official website. i do have to say great art for a middle grade


Liesl and Po was not for me and I'm now less likely to read deleruim and pandemonium.Don't let me deter you to read liesl and po.You may love it


The trailer


One of my favorite trailers /sad it was not for me

Link to whole song

Legend of the Inero Dragon Book Tour: Review

MY 2nd day on the tour is here[belated //shame on you roro]. The complete schedule is posted here and is hosted by Patricia @http://www.patriciasparticularity.com

 Link to the review of bookis is here   Legend of the Oceina Dragon

Legend of the Inero Dragon
by J.F. Jenkins
Published Astraea Press 

Date Publication:  January 16th 2012 

Rating: almost 4/5 [3.8]

Synopsis: Twin brothers Jason and Matthias Inero are the favorite sons of the great dragon lord of fire. More often than not they get whatever they want. Matt wants to do great things for his people while Jason wants to go off and explore the world. Both can have what they desire, but not until they take a bride and enter into adulthood. 
Enter Kat and Gwen, two girls from very different backgrounds. Kat is happy to leave her home when the royal guard comes to bring her to loving arms of her childhood sweetheart, Matt. Gwen on the other hand is livid to be taken from her farm only to be thrust into Jason's life, and he's not to thrilled with the idea either. They have one year to find happiness with each other, or else they will be placed at the mercy of the ruthless dragon lord Lynx. Favorite or not, dragon law must be obeyed. 
As their nation begins to prepare for war against a neighboring tribe, the brothers find themselves as key components in the battle plans. A dark prophet has had a vision of Inero victory, but at what cost? Both must decide where their loyalties lie and what they're willing to sacrifice – including each other – to achieve their goals 

My thoughts

Cover: I think it's Gwen and Jason.Love the fire pictured on the cover.The fire of Inero

Book:The sequel was way better than the first.It's a companion novel you could say but still book two in a series.From the point of view of the enemy!?. The Inero

Two borthers, twin brothers.
Gwen is taken from her loving family
Kat is happy to been taken away from here's
There lives intermingle.Some are strangers to each others.Some not. Are the Inero really the enemy or something darker ,crueler and evil??

The world building was not as confusing as book 1. Maybe because i already experienced it.

We're in the Inero Nation, Inero territory. Things are done differently here. Not as democratic as Oceina.

its narrated by for people. Gwen, Kat, Jason and Matt. But its a brother book. Jason and Matt's story. There lives from knowing each other till now.


Book two is a reversal of book 1. Everything from their POV. You are probably thinking would we not read the same dang thing over again?? NO. Definitively not .New inside stuff are known, are discovered. Have come to light. Stuff.

The ending was awesome. All i'm saying there is something dark and evil and somethuing light and good. Is the something that's light and good really good??

Sorry if i'm so cryptic and mysterious. Bwha ha ha. I can't seem to write this review without spoilers but glad i succeeded. I can't wait for book three in this series. The last one i think. Hoping it releases this spring

I was given a review copy by the author


  a song that fits perfectly with this book and does generate a atmosphere

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Review: Legend of the Oceina Dragon by J.F Jenkins

The Dragons Saga: Legend of the Oceina Dragon
by J.F. Jenkins
Published    Astraea Press
Date Publication:  February 22nd 2011

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis:  Darien Oceina is the youngest son of the Great Dragon Lord of the Water. For years he¹s loved and cherished Tai Dawson from afar. Tai is a simple, ordinary girl who doesn¹t even know Darien exists. On his eighteenth birthday, he chooses her as his wife. But there’s one problem: She thinks his choice means she¹s going to be offered as a sacrifice to the Dragon Lord, but instead, she’s forced to move to his home, far away, to give up her life and be his bride. 
When she first sees Darien after the ceremony, she doesn’t expect to feel anything but hatred toward him. The two are struggling with the complications of a new marriage when their nation is attacked by a rival dragon species. Together they learn to love one another while they struggle to stay one step ahead in a game where the prize is their survival. 

My thoughts

Cover: I'm loving it. Yes it is not published by a big publisher and maye the cover is cover abusted out there, but this is exactly how I pictured Tai and Darien. On of my new beloved fictional couples

Book: I signed up for the tour of book two after i found i could read book 1. I took a leap of faith.I could have hated these books.Happy to have read it.

Once upon a time the Great Lord created dragons to protect mankind. 4 types of dragons. 4 different elements

We see Tai, a young lady, around 18 years of age living on a small island in Oceina territory.Wondering why dragons are following her since the age of 13 ish or at least she thinks they are following her in daily routine of life.Her mom tells her that she's been chosen as a sacrifice to the grear oceina dragon. Sacrifices are not uncommon. But is this really a sacrifice?

The writing was easy to follow and not too simplistic like a certain book i read this year.The world building was good but got confused a bit. It is a modern world.They have cell phones but the writing gave me old world, Medieval feel.

It has a dual narration . Tai and Darien POV. But this darien's story.

Darien around the same age as Tai in years. Not human years. He's a dragon, the youngest son of the Oceina lord and touched.What do you think that is?? Water is his element. The element of Oceina. Very kind but the oddball in the family. Members of the family despise him for what he's done. It was not his fault. His birth

Tai was not a kick butting girl. Just a normal girl in and a wall flower in her eyes and can't seem to understand why Darien sees in her.I quite liked her bit bitchy towards Darien but she falls for Darien in the end.

The romance was great. It was real.I was happy they supported each other in the end. It was more adult than YA . New adult.

Felt the loss , the pain of losing a loved one. Politically involved.Enemy caused. A neighboring tribe, a different species. The Inero, FIRE. But are they the real enemy

I quite liked it. Love shifters, love dragons, LOVE dragon shifters.I immediately began reading book two

I was given a review copy by the author


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The Childe by C.A Kunz, a teen paranormal mystery

The Childe (The Childe Series, #1) by C. A Kunz
Published by C.A Kunz

Date published: February 18th 2011
Rating : 5/5

Synopsis


Cat Colvin 
Average Teenager? 
Or Something Else Entirely? 

Cat Colvin is pretty much your typical run-of-the-mill teenager. Sure, she’s taller than most girls, has a mane of fiery red hair that’s impossible to tame, is left-handed, and her eyes are two different colors, but that’s where the differences end . . . unless you include the minor detail of her slow transformation into a Childe. 

High school can definitely be challenging, and for Cat it’s no different. This is especially true when she’s faced with the daunting task of trying to hide her budding Childe traits as they begin to reveal themselves at the most inopportune times. To make matters worse, her family is oddly dead set against Ryan, the boy she grows to like. But everyone has their secrets: is Ryan really what he seems to be, and what is Cat’s family not telling her? 

The Childe is the first book in this coming-of-age fantasy series which follows Cat's life through the twists and turns toward finding out whom and what she really is. Come and take the plunge with Cat into a world filled with mystery, biting humor, and the paranormal.




my thoughts

cover : i love the cover. think its pretty unique. i like how the full moon is in the background and Cat's silhouette in front of it [i have a thing for redheads/gingers fictional and non fictional]the cover depicts a scene of the book i think.also like the font and the placement of the title.

book: i was happy when i got a email in which it was announced that i won it at a booktour.after 2 months of shipping it arrived. This book is written by a son/mother writing duo.


we get thrown in the prologue. its in a medieval setting and has very Gothic feel to it.

the story really begins at the start of a new school year. strange occurrences and incidents are taking place in astoria. secrets are being kept by loved ones{ cat's]

the story felt very mysterious. there's a unknown danger. we don't know what a CHILDE is. this book had snared me from page 1 till the end.


the romance between cat and ryan beckford [our romantic intrest and a paranormal being i think he's a vampire don't really know what he is. was the romance was enjoyable. a love between to not really humans. this is completely fre from insta-love and love triangles. the romance is not the main focus more the mystery, solving and finding out. i would not say that the ''sparks n butterflies'' were on the backburner more likely the medium burner[made that up] the romance begins to appear in the middle towards the end. i found the perfect song for them at least in my opinion.

Is there a sue ann in this novel? NO there is not .Cat is snarky, caring for her friends and family and a good friend.

loved julie, matt and amanda ; they felt real. friends for life.

cat and taylor behaved liked siblings should be. getting on each others nerves a bit. lol

there are real parents and parental figures present. a couple of ya books miss those.

What the heck is a Childe? you get to know nearly at the end of it.

Really want to know what a Childe is?? ok its a ..... HA fooled you won't tell. read and check out for yourself.


if you're looking for mystery, finding things out, paranormal,romance that's not irritating. Try The Childe. hope you'll like it as well.

Songs Adam and Carol Kunz listened to while writing The Childe.

Paramore- That's What You Get and When It Rains. 
Muse- Supermassive Black Hole, Knights of Cydonia, and Uprising. 
Florence and the Machine- Dog Days Are Over, Howl, and Cosmic Love. [you can't go wrong with florence]
Adele- Chasing Pavement and Right as Rain. 
Cee-Lo Green- Bright Lights Bigger City 
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Heads Will Roll, Soft Shock, and Zero. 
Metric- Black Sheep 


Songs that fit perfectly with this book and they do generate a atmosphere

describes a family relation with a big secret the 2 last chapters I think During the Masquerade Ball in Ch. 9 cat's and ryan's relationship While Cat is running away from something in the woods near the end of Chapter 10. (I HATE THIS SONG!!! why? because it has an ending :P]

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The Marked Son By Shea Berkley

The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My thoughts:

Cover: I absolutely like this cover.WATS NOT THE LIKE A BOUTH IT? A couple of YA Fiction covers are hideous , or the cover is the best thing about that book, meaning it sucked. Not this one the cover added to the book, you could see Dylan ,that the way I imagined him. The cover draws you in because it is a picture of a guy with piercing violet blue eyes staring into your soul. When I first saw the cover I was happy that it was on netgalley and I requested it. I got approved. So here I go

Book:

Ok it took a longer time reading it than expected. Normally it takes two –four days to read a book. Been busy with school stuff.

the very beginning really interested me in reading the whole book. When he is dumped by his deadbeat mom, at his grandparents after an absence of 17 years, the story really begins. This is after the prologue . At the ranch or farm things start to happen !! He sees his “ ghost ’’,Kera who appeared in dreams his whole life. Some less vivid than others. And he discovers she is from a other dimension, Taeg. A place still in the middle ages, looks like earth but different



I got to say the creapy creatures are cool, really cool. I encountered more than three species in the book . The poisonous Milispit(slimy half lizard creatures with broken looking wings) and the vindictive Pux( small fairy beings that have razor like parts of their body)

I liked Dylan from the very start, he is brave, he caring, just all round nice guy with a troubled past, the person he knew the longest in his life dumped him, his mom. Later on you find out why she is like she is. But I had no caring feelings for her, more mad and pissed

Kera , I did not like her that very much in the beginning. Boy I was wrong love her now, she has spunk, she comes up for what she believes in, helpful. They meet in the 2/3 of the story . Her chapters are in 3th person narrative , and Dylan’s chapters were in 1st person. I had to adjust at first that the reason I did not like Kera at first. I was happy their romance was not insta-love. Actually they met before and became friends in their dreams, a bit creepy but cool. And it was not vomiting like I did when I read the romance development, ps hate twilight I puked mentally

The secondary characters really added to the story, grandma and pa, Jason and Theo who became friends of Dylan . The dialog between them was very funny



I never thought I could get emotionally attached. I yelled, that can’t happened to them.

My favorite quote on the last page 286, received a netgalley arc

I sigh and my dream fades,replaced by the light of love shining from kera's eyes.

my dream girl is real

I don't have to be alone anymore





That 3 sentences made me longing for book 2. And a coupple questions were answered at the end and a coupple questions came into excistence in the end.

The Last Apprentice:Revenge of the Witch (AUDIOBOOK)

The Last Apprentice:Revenge of the Witch (AUDIOBOOK) [CD] by Joseph Delaney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


i enjoyed this audiobook. i downloaded from http://audiobooksync.com/ it was free in there summer giveway. wat lured me to this book was: first of all it was Free.it is written by joseph delaney and narrated by christopher evan welch. the story is a bout a boy names thomas J. Wurk i think, don't know if i heard it correct.
from goodreads;''Young Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son, starts work as an apprentice for the village spook, whose job is to protect ordinary folk from "ghouls, boggarts, and all manner of wicked beasties."
this tale takes place in england
his dad owns a farm and looked for jobs for his 7 sons. when tom came to a age to hav a job all of his favors were used up lookin for jobs for the other 5 sons. the oldest got the farm. so he asked the spook apprentice-ship for tom. That's were the tale begins. he meets alice , a young witch and granddaughter of mother mulkin(was a audiobook so i don't know if i spelled it right lol).And the dangers occur from that moment on

1 of the most like able parts is where Tom knew this is wat i'm supposed to be, a spook
the narration was really good, my first audiobooks so i can't compare it I hung on Christopher's evry word, and for my pov the lines spoken in brittish english sounded real. I really hopin next book is just as good. its a series the first book