Reading Challenge Update

It's been ages since I did a reading challenge update. Not a ton has happened, but I finished the "What as Animal Challenge" a few weeks ago with Hex Hall (cute black kitty on the cover).

What an Animal Challenge:
1. Gate to Kandrith - Nicole Luiken
2. Take the Reins - Jessica Burkhart
3. Thorn - Intisar  Khanani
4. Loss - Jackie Morse Kessler
5. The Guardian of Bastet - Jacqueline M. Battisti
6. Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins

However, I took a look at the calendar and realized I still have a long way left to go on a few challenges. In fact, I've decided to give up on the Completely Contemp challenge, since I haven't even read any contemporary books yet this year. Instead, I'm going to make a serious attempt to complete the A-Z challenge (I have all my remaining books lined up). If there's still time remaining, I'm also going to take a shot at completing the TBR Challenge.

TBR Pile
1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
2. The Keeper of the Isis Light - Monica Hughes
3. The Guardian of Isis - Monica Hughes
4. The Crystal Shard - R. A. Salvatore
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

A-Z Book Challenge:
A- Angel Eyes - Shannon Dittemore
B- Bridger - Megan Curd
C- The Crystal Shard - R. A. Salvatore
D- The Day of First Sun - Sheryl Steines
E- Exiled - M. R. Merrick
F- The First Days - Rhiannon Frater
G- Gate to Kandrith - Nicole Luiken
H- Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
I- Insurgent - Veronica Roth
J-
K- The Keeper of the Isis Light - Monica Hughes
L- The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse - Nina Post
M- My Life as a White Trash Zombie - Diana Rowland
N-
O-
P- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Q-
R-
S- Socialpunk - Monica Leonelle
T- Thirst - Claire Farrell
U-
V-
W- When Destiny Knocks - Heather M. White
X- Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins
Y- Yesterday - C. K. Kelly Martin
Z- 

How are your challenges going this year? Are you feeling the time crunch yet?

Review: Yesterday

Info:

Title: Yesterday
Author: C. K. Kelly Martin
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 25, 2012

Blurb:

THEN: The formation of the UNA, the high threat of eco-terrorism, the mammoth rates of unemployment and subsequent escape into a world of virtual reality are things any student can read about in their 21st century textbooks and part of the normal background noise to Freya Kallas’s life. Until that world starts to crumble.

NOW: It’s 1985. Freya Kallas has just moved across the world and into a new life. On the outside, she fits in at her new high school, but Freya feels nothing but removed. Her mother blames it on the grief over her father’s death, but how does that explain the headaches and why do her memories feel so foggy?

When Freya lays eyes on Garren Lowe, she can’t get him out of her head. She’s sure that she knows him, despite his insistence that they’ve never met. As Freya follows her instincts and pushes towards hidden truths, the two of them unveil a strange and dangerous world where their days may be numbered.

Unsure who to trust, Freya and Garren go on the run from powerful forces determined to tear them apart and keep them from discovering the truth about their shared pasts (and futures), her visions, and the time and place they really came from.

My Thoughts:

Yesterday had some good things going for it, but I just couldn't fall in love with it. My favourite part of the book was the concept. To be blunt, the future sucks. A lot. Climate change has altered the world's landscape and politic policy has alienated almost everyone except rich North Americans. Nobody actually does anything anymore, it's all just simulated reality.

But Freya doesn't remember. She just knows something doesn't feel right when she wakes up in 1985. Her sister doesn't feel like her sister, her memories don't feel real and she's inexplicably drawn to a boy she doesn't even know.

But that's where my love for this book stopped. The characters weren't bad. I didn't have a strong connection with Freya and Garren, but I didn't dislike them either. The first of my two issues with this book was the pacing. It felt slow. Sure some exciting things happened, but it dragged in between them. I feel like the book would have been a lot better if it had been 100 pages shorter. All of the same things could have happened, but it would have kept me more engaged in the story.

The second issue I had was the ending. Sure it was action-packed and exciting, but it also got very sappy. Don't get me know, I enjoy a good love story, but it felt like a very abrupt shift from an action movie to a very sappy chick flick occurred at the end. The ending also had some major deus ex machina going on. I won't say more than that to avoid spoilers, but if you read it, you'll see what I mean.

On the Cover:

I really like this cover. It's very eye-catching and cool looking, BUT the majority of this book takes place in 1985. This cover does not feel like 1985 (not that I was alive yet). Also, the face on the cover doesn't look entirely human.

Rating: 3 Hearts

Source: I received an eARC from the publisher through Netgalley

Find the Book: Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Find the Author: Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook

Don't Just Take My Word For It: The Book Monsters | Happy Owl Books | Annette's Book Spot

100 Followers Celebration Giveaway

This morning I reached a super exciting blog milestone: 100 GFC followers! I think this is definitely worth celebrating, so I decided to thank all of you by having giveaway! And a huge thank you to Taz from Talulah's Attic for being #100!

And now on to the exciting part: giveaway! I'm giving away a grand prize of the winner's choice of any book under $12 (Can) from The Book Depository! I'll give a few suggestions, but the winner can pick whatever they want. I'm also going to include a second swag prize for another winner. Woohoo!

UPDATE: Yay guys, we're up to 125 followers already! If we make it to 150 by the end of the giveaway, I'll add a second swag pack. You're the best!

UPDATE: Yay! We made it to 150 followers! That means 2 swag packs will be going out! Now, if we make it to 250 by November 16, I'm adding a second book as well!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Megan Likes (New) Books (3) / Reading Through My Bookshelf (2)

Megan Likes (New) Books

Megan Likes (New) Books is a personalize weekly meme inspired by In My Mailbox, Stacking the Shelves and Book Haul where I show off the new books and bookish items I've received lately.

This week I received an awesome prize pack from author Raine Thomas for a giveaway that I won last month. Huge thank you to Raine for the awesome prize! Also, I received a $20 gift card from my birthday. Hooray!

Books:

Defy - Raine Thomas
Shift - Raine Thomas

Swag:

Raine Thomas swag (bookmarks, magnets and necklace)

Gift Cards

$20 Chapters/Indigo gift card from my parents for my birthday 

*  *  *

Reading Through My Bookshelf

Last Weeks Status: 58
Incoming Books: 2
Books Completed: 1 (Demonglass - Rachel Hawkins)
Current Status: 59
 
Another week of moving backwards. Unfortunately, I'm in the midst of midterms, so there hasn't been a lot of time for reading. Midterm craziness ends Oct. 24, so only a few more weeks, then a mini-read-a-thon!

Review: Demonglass

Info:

Title: Demonglass (Hex Hall #2)
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Publication Date: March 22, 2011

Blurb:

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

My Thoughts:

Sophie Mercer is back and getting herself into even more trouble in the UK. Along with Jenna and Cal, Sophie has traveled to England to spend the summer with her demon dad. Unfortunately, trouble seems to follow Sophie wherever she goes and her summer vacation is no exception.

I enjoyed Demonglass; it had a very similar feel to Hex Hall.  Sophie was the same likeable character. Jenna annoyed me a bit in this one, but we got to find out a bit more about Cal, which was nice. And we finally get to meet Sophie's dad! But don't worry, there's still some Archer Cross action!

I found the plot of Demonglass to be more twisty than Hex Hall (which I foretold to a certain extent), so that was nice. I definitely didn't foresee the ending of this one. I'm excited to read Spellbound to see how things play out, as Hawkins left us with a lot of unanswered questions at the end of Demonglass.

Despite the plot twists at the end, I felt like Demonglass wasn't quite as fast-paced as Hex Hall. But I also didn't feel like there were as many dumb jokes, so I guess it's a trade-off. Overall, I'd recommend Demonglass if you enjoyed Hex Hall and I will definitely be following Sophie Mercer's future adventures!

On the Cover:

I like the covers in this series. However, I feel like the girl in the wedding dress gives the wrong idea about the book. And I still have no idea why there's a cat on the cover.

Rating: 4 Hearts

Source: Purchased.

Find the Book: Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Find the Author: Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

Don't Just Take My Word For It: Novel Heartbeat

What's Next? (3)

 

What's Next is an awesome meme from Icey Books where I get to hear from you, the readers, about what I should read next. Before I started my blog, I read a lot of epic fantasy. As part of Reading Through My Bookshelf, I have lots I need to read. Help me decide where to start (after Game of Thrones, of course).

1. The Wanderer's Tale by David Bilsborough

It has been five hundred years since the Peladanes stormed the distant stronghold of Vaagenfjord. There, the dreaded rawgr Drauglir and his supernatural minions had held sway over the mortal world, in a long, terrifying reign.

And now, the peace is broken. Rumors abound, ill omens have been seen, and a priest of the One God has had a vision. The rawgr--hideous, powerful creatures of which there were but few -- have reappeared and, from their far northern outpost, threaten to wreak vengeance on the descendants of the Peladanes who sacked their fortress centuries before.

Thus begins an epic adventure--a fabulous quest--the likes of which has never been told. David Bilsborough, a brilliant young author, has created a passionately imagined vision of Lyndormyn, a world teeming with peoples, history, cultures; a world rich with fabulous landscapes and hidden terrors; a world with compelling characters--human and other--some deadly, others merely remarkable.

In sum, his creation explores a world of wonders that will surprise and captivate readers with its masterfully woven tapestry of lives entrapped by the play of Time and Chance, Good and Evil, on a grand scale. It's a sweeping epic to fire the imagination of readers everywhere.

2. Spellfire by Ed Greenwood

The Fire That Burns
It can lay low a dragon or heal a wounded warrior.
It is the most sought-after magical power in all Faerun.
And it is in the reluctant hands of Shandril of Highmoon, a young, orphaned kitchen-lass.
Now she's on the run from half of the evil sorcerers in the land, not to mention their relentless minions. But with the help of a handsome young wizard, some rough-and-tumble Knights of Myth Drannor, and a certain old mage of Shadowdale, she just might manage to stay alive.
At least until tomorrow.
An all-new expanded version of Ed Greenwood's classic tale, including a new forward by the author.
One of Ed Greenwood's most popular novels, Spellfire is being rereleased in an all-new trade paperback edition. This version has been completely reedited and contains added text and material that bring new excitement to the story. This edition also features new cover art and is classified as the first title in the brand-new Forgotten Realms series Shandril's Saga.

3. Azure Bonds by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb

Her name is Alias, and she is in big trouble.

She is a sell-sword, a warrior-for-hire, and an adventuress. She awoke with a series of twisting, magical blue sigils inscribed on her arms and no memory of where she got them.

Determined to learn the nature of the mysterious tattoo, Alias joins forces with an unlikely group of companions: the halfling bard, Ruskettle, the southern mage, Akabar, and the oddly silent lizard-man, Dragonbait. With their help, she discovers that the symbols hold the key to her very existence.

But those responsible for the sigils aren't keen on Alias's continued good health. And if the five evil masters find her first, she may discover all too soon their hideous secret. 

Cover Reveal: Centaur Legacy by Nancy Straight

BLURB:

Camille and Drake are on the run, bound for the mythical pasture of Thessaly.  They search for the family heirloom that will keep them safe from Zandra while trying to unlock the secrets of her mother’s past.  As their journey progresses from the rolling hills of Ireland to the snow covered forests of South Dakota, they find Zandra is no longer the only danger pursuing them. 

Camille's Centaur lineage puts their future at risk; they don't know who to trust or where to hide.  Camille’s family is quick to come to her aid but even they are ill prepared for their ancestor’s Centaur Legacy.

Help comes from an unexpected benefactor in an unwelcomed way.  Drake has to choose between being the man he wants to be and the Centaur warrior Camille needs him to be.

Author Bio:
Nancy was born in Sioux City Iowa, left the cold of the Midwest in 1991 and only returns to see family in the summer time. She spent ten years traveling the world as a US Marine and settled in rural SC with her husband and two children. 


She enjoys reading all types of Paranormal and Young Adult literature.

Find Nancy on the Web: 

Goodreads | Blog | Twitter

 

So what do you think lovelies? This might sound creepy, but I love the model's lip makeup. So pretty! Release day is November 15, 2012, so be sure to check it out!