Waiting on Wednesday (64) - This is Not a Test

This Is Not a Test

Courtney Summers

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

To be released: June 2012

Summary (from Goodreads):

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. 

As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside. 

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

This sounds like a really awesome zombie/apocalypse novel. I am also in love with this cover! There is something simple, but gorgeous about it. I’ll definitely be checking this book out next year!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Hurricane Irene

I just wanted to let you all know that I was effected by Hurricane Irene and it is going to have a slight impact on my blogging this week. I am currently without power and Internet and do not know how long that will last. I had stuff that I was going to post this week but did not get the chance to put online so posts will be few. I have one schedule post this week so that might be all there is depending on how quickly I get power and Internet back. Sorry! Hope everyone else who was effected by Irene is okay!

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Shut Out

Kody Keplinger

Publisher: Poppy

Release Date: September 5, 2011           

Series or Standalone:  Standalone

ISBN: 9780316175562

Format: ARC

Pages: 288

Source: BEA

Websites:

Kody Keplinger – Website

Kody Keplinger – Blog

Kody Keplinger – Twitter

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Shut Out was a cute, enjoyable read. I picked it up late last night and finished it in hours. It’s a book that’s great for teenager girls and made me just feel very happy.

This is Kody Keplinger’s second book, and I have to say, I enjoyed it a lot more than her first one. Kody Keplinger has a real talent for capturing the spirit and voice of teens. Her characters feel like real teenagers and face real problems that many people confront in high school. One thing I really liked about Shut Out and that I liked about the DUFF was that Kody Keplinger does not shy away from the topic of sex. Sex is not a taboo in her books. Instead, especially in this book which is about a sex strike, she in some ways offers a forum for the girls in the book to discuss the topic of sex which seems to be an out of bound subject for girls to discuss. I really loved how she handled the topic of sex and the conversations the girls had about it and each of the girls different feelings, fears and concerns with sex and the gender roles assigned to it.

I really loved the characters in this book. Lissa was a great character. I really liked that she had flaws, including OCD tendencies such as counting. She wasn’t perfect, but she was very strong. Lissa wanted to do the right thing, she wanted to end a stupid feud and came up with a very clever way to do it. I loved that she was someone who actually went out and did something and stuck to it until the end, no matter what was thrown in her way. Chloe, Lissa’s best friend, was also another great character. While Chloe is known as a slut or whore at school, she was a good friend to Lissa, always there supporting her no matter what. And then there is Cash. Cash the soccer player. Cash was like the perfect boy. He was devoted to his family and friends, and was a sweet guy. I loved his character and the interactions between Lissa and Cash. I do have to say I HATED Lissa’s boyfriend Randy, which is the point, but still, he is a huge tool and I could tell that from the beginning.

The romance in this book was so perfect. I loved the relationship between Cash and Lissa. It felt natural and I loved seeing how it would play out, especially since Lissa has her boyfriend Randy. I felt that Kody Keplinger handled the romance perfectly. There were obstacles, banter, heartache and some great kissing scenes. I loved seeing Lissa’s relationship arcs and her heartache, pain and joy.

Shut Out was a clever and very enjoyable read. This book just really clicked with me. I felt it dealt with a serious such as sex, in a not super serious way and it had a great story that kept me wanting to read more. And then there was some great romance and romantic tension which I am always a fan of.  I cannot wait to see what Kody Keplinger writes next because she has a huge talent for writing great novels about teens and I’m sure her next book will be even better.

Waiting on Wednesday (63) - Dreaming Awake

Dreaming Awake

Gwen Hayes

Publisher: NAL Trade

To be released: January 3, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love… 

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions. 

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own. 

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Falling Under and I cannot wait to read it’s sequel. I cannot wait to see what happens to Theia and Haden in this book. And I love how the cover fits with the first book so well. I CANNOT WAIT!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Fury by Elizabeth Miles + Giveaway

Fury

Elizabeth Miles

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: August 30, 2011

Series or Standalone: Fury #1

ISBN: 1442422246

Format: ARC

Pages: 352

Source: BEA

Websites:

Elizabeth Miles – Website

Elizabeth Miles – Twitter

Fury – Book Site

Rating: 3 Stars

I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. The premise sounded awesome, I mean a modern retelling of the Furies myth, count me in! Unfortunately, this book was not what I expected.

Fury for me was a kind of meh of for me, I did not love it but I did not hate it. There were certain parts of this book I liked and others that I did not like.

For me, I really liked that this book focused on a different aspect of mythology. I did not know a lot about the Furies besides the basics before reading this book. I really like how Miles used the Furies in this book. And I really liked that the Furies were targeting the teens for their actions. For one of the main characters in this book, Chase, we are not really sure what he did to warrant the Furies to target him and I really liked slowly learning the thing that the Furies deemed bad.

The two main characters for me were a hit and a miss. I really liked Chase as a character. He had depth and felt I could understand him more than Em. Chase is one of the poor students at Ascension High but the star quarterback. He is obsessed acting the right way and appearing the right way so as to be accept and for me that struck a cord because that’s what most people try to do in high school. Em on the other hand, I did not like. Just something about her did not click with me. She seemed at times incredibly naïve and sometimes just downright stupid. I wanted to slap her in the face once or twice when she was convinced that her best friends boyfriend truly loved her. I feel if I liked Em more I would have enjoyed this book a lot more because a majority of the book is told from her point of view and focuses on her.

I really liked the first three-fourths of the book. Elizabeth Miles did a great job building up the characters and the plot to the turning point when the Furies begin to strike back. There was this part right at the end of the part two in the book that literally shocked me. Everything was slowly building up to that and I loved it. However, for the last quarter of the book, I started to just want the book to finish already. I think this came partly from my dislike of Em, but I really did just want the book to hurry up and finish around the last 20 pages. However, I really did like the ending and am interested to see what will happen next in the series. Em made a decision that is likely going to have some unforeseen consequences later.

Fury really made think about the tagline of this book, “Sometimes sorry isn’t enough.” The Furies enact retribution for the teens in Ascension for the actions they committed that they deem wrong. It made me really think about justice and what deserves punishment. Towards the end of the book, I was not sure if I viewed the Furies as good or evil. They do something things that can be viewed as evil and cruel, but so do the people they are punishing. It provides an interesting dilemma.

I really hope in the sequel that we see more of the Furies and get to know a bit more about them, because their characters truly fascinate me. I just hope in the sequel Em is a bit less annoying to me, or I do not if I will be able to finish it. Overall, Fury had it’s ups and downs but was still an okay read. I am definitely intrigued enough by the mythology of it to pick up the sequel and find out what happens next.

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You guys can check out the Fury playlist below. I really like the songs on this playlist!

And now we have some Quickfire Questions answered by Em and Chase from Fury. 

If the world were to end tomorrow, I would…

Em: Call Zach and tell him how I feel—and Gabby wouldn't care.

Chase: Rob a bank—just to see what it feels like to have money.

Would you rather be able to hear any conversation or take back anything you say? 

Em: Take things back.

Chase: I'd like to hear what chicks say about me behind my back… so, the first option.

Would you rather go to jail for the rest of your life or get hit by a truck and die on impact?

Em: Die on impact—I wouldn't want to be alone with my thoughts for the rest of my life.

Chase: Die on impact—I'm too restless to sit around in a cell.

And now it's GIVEAWAY TIME. Rules are below. Enter to win a SIGNED copy of Fury thanks to the lovely people and Simon and Schuster.

Giveaway Rules:
-Fill out the form below completely
-Open to US residents only
-Must be 13 years or old to enter. If under 13, parental consent is required.
-One entry per person. Multiple entries will be deleted
-Ends September 1, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (62) - Spell Bound

Spell Bound

Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

To be released: March 13, 2012

Summary (from Goodreads):

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted. 

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. 

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

I cannot wait for this book. I loved Hex Hall and Demonglass and I cannot wait to see how this series ends, especially with how Demonglass ended. I cannot wait to see the final twists and turns that Rachel Hawkins has in store for us.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Dark Souls by Paula Morris + Giveaway

Dark Souls

Paula Morris

Publisher: Point

Release Date: August 1, 2011

Series or Standalone: Standalone

ISBN: 9780545251327

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 292

Source: Big Honcho Media

Websites:

Paula Morris – Website

Paula Morris – Blog

Paula Morris – Twitter 

Rating: 3 Stars

I have to admit, Dark Souls is one of those really hard books to review because I did not love it and I did not hate it. My thoughts are somewhere in the middle and that is always the hardest to describe.

Dark Souls was an interesting read. And I know, interesting is the best word, but really, I cannot think of another word. I really liked how Paula Morris set up the story and introduced us to the world of ghosts. While this book involves seeing ghosts, it did feel like a paranormal novel. The ghosts were just part of Miranda’s life, something she sees after witnessing the death of her best friend in a car accident. I really liked how Paula Morris explained the reason for why Miranda can see ghosts, and why any other person who sees ghosts actually sees them. There was no paranormal explanation, more of an emotional one which I really liked.

Something about this book made me keep reading it. I was indifferent to the plot of the book, but I did want to keep reading to find out what will happen and what was up with the mysterious Nick and the ghosts in York. I was not on the edge of my seat or anything while I was reading, I was merely reading just to move the plot along.

One thing that I really did like about this book was the writing. Paula Morris gives really amazing descriptions. Her descriptions of York were beautiful and really helped to establish the setting of the novel. While I was reading, I was tempted by her descriptions to actually look up the places were the novel takes place and was amazed at how accurate her descriptions were.

Another thing I really liked was the relationship between Miranda and her brother Rob. Rob was in the driver in the car accident which killed Miranda’s friend and he is carrying around some emotional baggage like Miranda. I really liked that you could tell Miranda and Rob really cared for each other and I loved their conversations with each other because they really felt like actual brother and sister and you can tell they cared for each other.

While I liked the relationship between Miranda and Rob, the relationship between Miranda and Nick just did not work for me. Something about it just did not work for me. I’m not sure what it really is, if it was the character of Nick himself or just there interactions, but something fell flat. Nick was an intriguing character on his own, but Miranda and him together just did not work.

I felt that Dark Souls was missing that special something that makes me really like a book. I don’t know what that special something really is, it’s different for each book, but this one just was missing it. It did not click for me. Don’t get me wrong the book was good, nothing I really did not like but it just did not blow me away. And sometimes that happens with books.

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Thanks to Big Honcho Media I have TWO copies of Dark Souls to giveaway. Here's a bit more about the book:

Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint shops, hoping she won’t run into the many ghosts who supposedly roam the cobblestone streets. Then she meets Nick, an intense, dark-eyed boy who knows all of York’s hidden places and histories. Miranda wonders if Nick is falling for her, but she is distracted by another boy -- one even more handsome and mysterious than Nick. He lives in the house across from Miranda and seems desperate to send her some sort of message. Could this boy be one of York’s haunted souls?

Soon, Miranda realizes that something dangerous -- and deadly -- is being planned. And she may have to face the darkest part of herself in order to unravel the mystery -- and find redemption.

Photo Credit: Robert Trathan

About the Author:
Paula Morris is the author of Ruined, and has published several novels for adults in her native New Zealand. She has lived in a number of cities around the world, including York, England. She now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, and teaches creative writing at the University of Stirling. Visit her online at www.paula-morris.com.

Paula Morris will also be featured on the This Is Teen Facebook page for Dark Souls so make sure to check it out!

Giveaway Rules:
 -Fill out the form below completely
-Open to US residents only
-Must be 13 years or old to enter. If under 13, parental consent is required.
-One entry per person. Multiple entries will be deleted
-Ends September 1, 2011