The Collector by Victoria Scott

Now Playing: Make It Home - Thenewno2

Review possible thanks to Netgalley

Goodreads says: 

He makes good girls...bad. 

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

The Collector has been something that's been sweeping YA blogs and twitter feeds for quite sometime now. The hype before the first ARC reviews came out had people skeptical because everyone knows that in the realm of YA, things that get a lot of buzz are bound to be masking a layer of suck. So, when I finally got a copy, I let it sit for two hours because I was worried about how it'd turn out for me. Like any person worried, I used those two hours to watch the episode with the hunkalicious bad boy Jake Berkeley

Priorities. I totally have them.

However, The Collector was a great surprise. Many blogs beforehand were gushing about how Scott's Collector was something to be enjoyed greatly; it was something and totally unashamedly what a novel with teenage protagonists are; hilarious, dramatic, hormonal, rude and sometimes unexpectedly inspire hope. 

The Collector's kind of like an 80s teen movie would be if you added paranormal elements and a slightly (hah!) egotistical male protagonist.

The Collector starts off with an intriguing note at the beginning that Dante tells the reader he allowed Victoria to tell his story, and right off the bat, you get the strongest voice I've read in 2013 that is totally distinguishable from its author. Dante is hilarious and rude (at times) with a sailor's mouth. And he's an unapologetic douche-bro that you can't help but be entertained by. By that, he's like the teenage boy that is popular but acts like a douche and says words like 'swag' unironically because he can.

When Dante meets Charlie, he's so assured of his abilities to seduce his way in and out of the assignment to collect her assignment. And in the beginning, he's mean. His internal thought are that "she's nice but she should try a little harder to be desirable" and I know that I wanted to slap that out of him because don't talk about Charlie like that, she's my precious nerdy princess girl. 

Later on, Dante grows to be less judgmental of Charlie and develops a fondness for her during the ten days he has to collect her soul. However, he still has ulterior movements that involve manipulating Charlie's emotions for him into getting her to (unknowingly) damn her own soul because Dante realizes that despite being a Collector/half-alive he still has a conscience. 

Now Charlie is a sweet girl to Dante's cockiness. She's sweet but underneath it all, she's got the goldest of hearts. Life's been rough to her as her parents died and she's adopted by an "Aunt" who isn't really related to her. Charlie tries to make the most of what's been given to her. This is later emphasized in the novel that Charlie's perseverance of goodness might be what leads Heaven to win against Hell.

What works for the Collector is that it embraces it's cheesiness and then surprises you with the character change within Dante's character as his conscience pops out and smacks him repeatedly. Which is awesome. 

I adored Charlie's 2-person circle of friends; Annabeth and Blue who were so damn swell, and definitely people that you'd love to chill with. Annabeth was hilarious, snarky and a big sister-esque figure to Charlie, as well as having some of the most hysterically funny lines when talking with Dante. Blue was your typical boy in love with best friend (Charlie), a sweet person, fiercely protective of his friends. However, I am still sad with what Blue's fate was at the end of Collector; those of you who've read it, what were your thoughts?


However, there were *some* cons; Some people might not be a fan of the swearing that goes on in here, that I personally didn't mind until I believe one of Dante's friends (or I think Dante himself) using the word "pussy" and I just went like this:

There was also some stereotypical high school cliches, with the queen bee of the school either called a slut and is totally out to torment Charlie, which I overlooked because I didn't really expect much on that front.  There were mostly parts throughout the middle that were mainly filler and that dragged on for a little. But besides that, it was solid.
.

Do I recommend this book: Yeah. Though you might get some stares because of the cover. 

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Now Playing: Good Girls Go Bad (feat. Leighton Meester) - Cobra Starship


EDIT: LOL I AM WRONG THE BOOK IS OUT NOW ON AMAZON! EVERYONE GET IT NOW. 

Hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

You're probably all wondering "Jazmin why the hell is this book cover supersized on my screen?" to which I reply to you all, "Because I can!" So this weeks WoW is about Victoria Scott's The Collector which is set to come out NEXT WEEK. Now, if you've been on my twitter like around December to now, you know I'm periodically flailing over this fine hunk of a book that I want NOW but alas I've had to wait. But soon,  soon... it'll be mine.

Oh wait you were here for the info on The Collector. My baaaad, I got a teeny-bit carried away. 

Goodreads says:

He makes good girls...bad. 

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried. 

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Now Playing: Rescue Me - Kerrie Roberts

Hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Today's picks aren't coming out next week, but in two days! If they're not on your to be read list or preorder pile, do it now!

From the ever-awesome imagination of Nova Ren Suma's comes 17 & Gone and The Art of Wishing comes from YA debut Lindsay Ribar: 

Goodreads says: 

Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And… is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.

With complexity and richness, Nova Ren Suma serves up a beautiful, visual, fresh interpretation of what it means to be lost.

                                                                     Goodreads says: 

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life. Margo McKenna has a plan for just about everything, from landing the lead in her high school play to getting into a good college. So when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the chance to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Why should she put her life into someone else's hands?

But Oliver is more than just a genie -- he's also a sophomore at Margo's high school, and he's on the run from a murderer. As he and Margo grow closer, she discovers that it will take more than three wishes to save him.

A whole lot more.

And those are my top two for now! What are you waiting on this week or are you reading/recovering from Clockwork Princess?

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Now Playing: Hands in the Air - Ne-Yo (feat. Timbaland)
 

Feb. 5 releases!

Scarlet

 

Goodreads says: 

 Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Perfect Scoundrels

Goodreads say:

 Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting--or stealing--whatever they want. No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale's family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won't let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother's will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. So instead of being the heir--this time, Hale might be the mark. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriend's company if it means losing the boy.

Etiquette & Espionage

 

Goodreads say:

 It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.

First in a four book YA series set 25 years before the Parasol Protectorate but in the same universe.

It's fairytales! And cons!! And steampunk!!! February 5th is happy day!!!

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Now Playing: Angry Angel - Imogen Heap

Hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

 Shadows in the Silence by Courtney Allison Moulton

Pub date: Jan. 29

 

Goodreads says: 

Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .
Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:

She must fight for Will.
The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

She must fight for humanity.
As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world’s darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.

And Ellie must save herself.
Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.

In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion.

OH MY GOODNESS, I CAN'T EVEN!!! 29th, COME HERE SOONER!!! 

Greek Myths, Reimagined

Now Playing: Crave You (Adventure Club Remix) - Flight Facilities

Goodreads says: 

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld

So, Greek myths. They're like the trend that will never go out of style, but only if you can find a way to set your Greek myth story apart from others. Some of the Greek Myths are ones every is inspired with or at least loves a lot, happens to be Hades and Persephone (the only other one that I know of is Aimee Carter's Goddess Test series) Anyways, the one that seems to have knocked me off my Hades-Persephone loving game happened to be Abandon by Meg Cabot. It was a good premise, but the characters who were supposed to hold it up (Pierce and John) were weak and flat. As well, the background of the setting, Isla de Huesos (Island of Bones) in Florida and mythology was far better than the main characters. 

Pierce has died before, but she's escaped the Underworld, the resting place of the dead. She also ends up as a blank slate, with no memories that she's already died. However, throughout the novel and after she figures out that she's died + the Underworld wants her back (the idea she doesn't take kindly to) she sets herself up in ways that are dangerous and potentially life-ending. But John Hayden, our Hades, is always there to save her. Another problem happens to be John himself.

John. Baby. Dear. Whatever term of endearment you want here, I really wanted to like you. But he didn't cut  it for me, mainly because when he showed up to save her (the convenience!), they were both regressed to stupid teenagers. But then they turned into stupid, lust-driven teenagers near the end. Now Pierce I can sorta excuse, but John's been Hades for a while now. Use your wise skills to keep you both underneath the radar of people who want to kill you, and to stop Pierce before stupidity takes over.

Another problem with John was that he was made to be this mysterious guy who was a really cool but tragic past and refuses to smile because life sucks, but he ended up being rather boring and the exact cut-out of every poorly characterized broody dude. 

Then, there's the kids in Pierce new school who were all stereotypes of The bitchy popular kids! or The Losers who's only goal is to get rid of aforementioned popular kids. Plus some more. I just felt that the kids were only put in for the benefit of making Pierce look like a saint compared to them, intelligence wise (but only by a few points)

I must admit the mythology of the Abandon was pretty cool and definitely intriguing but that was the only beacon of hope within this book.

Do I recommend this book?  Nah. You're better off with a copy of it from the library. Or really, don't bother with this one, it's all empty promises.

Antiques Book Show: Showcase BLACKWOOD by Gwenda Bond

Now Playing: Strangeness and Charm - Florence + the Machine


Hello readers! If some of you have been as persistenly active as I am right now in Twitter, you'll know that several authors (either sophomores or newbies) have been releasing their great books out this month/last week/next week, etc.

Today, (since I'm only nine days late to the party), I'll be reviewing Blackwood by Gwenda Bond (an e-ARC version though)



Thanks to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.



Goodreads says:

On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.

Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other.

Blackwood is a dark, witty coming of age story that combines America’s oldest mystery with a thoroughly contemporary romance.

In fact, when I heard the blurb a few months back, I was stamping my feet in anticipation. The tale of Roanoke Island and the way they carved 'Croatoan' has always fascinated me (not to mention, that one Supernatural episode that dealt with the tale, I was about to take it and put in my soapbox, running around like a headless chicken declaring demons were real. Hey, I was ten!)

Blackwood, is paranormal with a mystery scenario and contemporary romance. At first, I was excited thanks to the blurb so I went and got myself approved for the galley. The writing in the beginning, kept me enthralled. The story was being set up, effortlessly and some creepy moments where people were kidnapped, and then began forgetting lapses of time, I was ready for some demon vs. human action! Alas, the main villain isn't a demon, but he's a sort of necromancer. I use sort of because necromancer is more kind to him since a) the man didn't figure out any type of spell, he was stealing the work of a woman dead long ago and b) he felt more puppeteer and as if there was someone controlling him. After a bit, the story went in a cycle of figure the mystery out, get captured, a different part of the mystery comes into play, get captured again until the climax which was pretty cool. Though, the ending for me, I was 'meh'.

There were some cool parts to the story though! The Alchemist storyline (you know, they tried to make lead into gold way back when, but it was atually magic?) was interesting, if a little unexplored and a bunch of morons too while we're at it.

The FBI on a tiny island. OMFG, that was hilarious. And also, the FBI sucked at their job at points, it was super ridiculous (in a parody way, I bet you Ms. Bond deliberately made them incompetent because that's funny).

Phillip and Miranda were definitely... quirky. I've honestly never read characters like them before. I mean, for Phillip, you'd think that he's a 'bad boy' etc, but he isn't. I mean, not really. He values his family, even if they are a bit of a hindrance to his mystery solving and Miranda. WOW. You know how there's always sassy girls with (sort of) bad mouths. Miranda is a broken girl, hiding behind sass and doesn't use swears (but does say frak). She was a refreshing change of female characters in YA and pretty awesome.

Personally, I recommend this as a light read, something that you can breeze through in like two hours.

P.S Miranda's dog? Absolutely rocked. Read it for him if you wanna see dog hijinks that's hysterical.  

Werewolves and Skinwalkers, Oh My!

Now Playing: Howlin' For You - The Black Keys

Following last night's Creature Feature on werewolves and skin-walkers (briefly mentioned), it's time for Kelley Armstrong's The Calling the second in The Darkness Rising series!

I also haven't read the first one yet. Whoops!

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR ANYONE NOT HAVING READ THE GATHERING

Goodreads says:

  Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is -a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.
Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.
In THE CALLING, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of THE GATHERING clamoring for more.

 

So, The Calling is the second in the Darkness Rising series by Kelley Armstrong. I've only ever read one of her books (plus the short story in Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions) so I can't aptly judge Armstrong's writing style. But anyways, I went into this thinking it was the beginning of the series and read the first pages a bit confused. Shortly after, Armstrong did give the necessary background info to rehash old readers, but they were especially useful to myself. 

 

What was told: 

• Maya and the group of six kids she gets stranded with have begun getting chased by the St. Cloud's and the Edison group (hey! I remember them from her other series The Summoning!)
•  BECAUSE of a girl who had died in The Gathering
• And then some dude named Rafe helped her understand who she is (a skinwalker)
• BUT NOW, he's gone missing (and some say that to kill off Rafe would've been madness... or at least, not something that would happen because he's the main love interest duh)
• Edison group wants them dead. (They need to get their priorities together, trying to make kids into weapons...)
• They crash land the helicopter there on somewhere in Canada and....
• apparently everyone in their old town believes them to be dead  

The Gathering started swiftly as the helicopter crash lands and the kids swim to safety. Of course, they're stranded in Canada and have no supplies on hand. You'd think they would die of the freezing cold water there? You're wrong!  What follows is a good portion of the beginning as the kids try, and succeeding, in staying alive. The middle doesn't do much (not that I can remember) except action being thrown in as the kids fight members of Edison in deserted cabins. 

 

I swear, you guys, how does no one find the Edison group super sketch?!

 

The ending was anticlimactic in comparison to the middle where they were fighting and it didn't do so well for me. But that could be because if you're gonna put action, I like to start it off in the beginning and build it up to the end.

 

The characters;  Maya is a stubborn, a bit idiotic, but loveable main character. I thought she felt idiotic due to her wanting to find and/or avenge Rafe (he fell off the helicopter in the beginning...) and it's fine, but at one point, you wanted to slap her. But otherwise, she did the best she could in trying to keep the others safe and get the hell out of the place they fell in and she stood her ground.  

 

The supporting people (mainly Daniel and Nicole because I couldn't stand the rest for a bit) are much more fleshed out than the other six. I think that when Armstrong wanted a group of extraordinary people, she should've stuck with 3-4 main people and not around 5-6 because then you're trying to find ways where they compliment the group without shoving them into there. As well, they had good powers, different than what you normally see in paranormal YA. I'll need to find the first one and read it in order to have a better grasping of the characters. 

The ending installment due in 2013 is set to have two main characters from The Summoning series, so who knows how it'll end. Maybe we can finally destroy Edison because I've never met a group of sketchier adults in YA ever. Ever. That's gotta mean something.

I've Found my Book Kryptonite (in a good way)

Now Playing: E.T - Katy Perry

Hey guys! I recently have been going on one of my reading binges again (they are so fun and bad at the same time) and recently, I had the pleasure of reading Obsidian.

I mean, I was initially startled to even find myself reading. Why, you ask, is because of the Goodreads summary.


Goodreads says:

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

                        If I don't kill him first, that is.

Aliens? Annoying douche boys that infuriate you even though you JUST met? What??? And not to mention this book had and still has everyone stark raving mad for the book.The Daemon invasion twitter tags and pictures of the actors that were touring Georgia/Florida area and Hungary(?)

 I had to admit, curiosity snapped at me like an annoyingly beautifully wrapped present with my name on it, but I couldn't open because I thought that a snake would be in there to fool me. 

I'm glad that I took the chance and read it. As Juli put it, Think TWILIGHT and EVERMORE combined, except with aliens, and way more awesome!  

It's true. Obsidian lived up to its height and surpassed it. Witty banter, hilarious moments, and for many of us, Katy, the main character, is a book blogger, so there would be sporadic mentions of blogging memes like IMM and others. I adored her and Daemon was actually a dick. But with good reason.See, because his brother got involved with a human, she betrayed his trust and they both ended up as goners. 

I'd say that Obsidian was like one of those ponds that looks shallow, but goes to like ten feet underneath. 

Seriously, what starts off as girl moving to middle-of-nowhere with hot people that are holding some deep dark secret turns into more as a the aliens are shown to be the center of the focus with the romance at a minimum, slowly blossoming into something intoxicating. Okay, not that specifically but its ridiculously awesome and believable transforming from I-hate-your-guts-because-you're-an-ass to I-can-deal-with-your-'tude-because-I've-got-sass-unbelievably-snarky-sass. Trust me guys, if you want a mixture of smexiness, snarkitude, and just overall coolness and believableness of a girl who lost her father and moved with her mother to start anew. 

But, the one thing I found funny/kinda hysterical was that we do see Katy's mom in the story (where others, there are simply no adults/they disappear in a coinkadinc  manner before sh!t hits the fan) and I just wanna see more Mama Katy. 

All in all, Obsidian was a bit of a jeer towards Twilight (oh hahahahahahahaha J. Armentrout for making her aliens as beings of light. I kid you not, when that scene happens, you'll role out of your chair laughing) but definitely a good summer read. 

Mercy on My Reading Soul!

Now Playing: No Easy Way (Out) - Digital Daggers

Goodreads says "Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?"

Grave Mercy is a story about a girl who's being forced into an arranged marriage. Almost as soon as that happens, she is rescued from this crappy fate by Saint Mortain's Convent. This convent isn't your average abbey, with your ordinary nuns. The Convent is the den of assassins-in-training that defend the island of Brittany.

Now, this one is a historical novel filled with twinges of paranormal, gothic tropes, shenanagins in court, romance, and dare I say it, Light Fantasy, because of their nine gods and Death as a prominent figure in this story.

I fell in love with the Convent, Ismae's (our protagonist) obviously broken interior that she hides with a cool exterior.

In short, I'm in lesbians with this book.

 It's fantastic, there is enough history in there that is accurate, yet lends itself specifically to the plot you know? LaFevers characters feel so life-like with the nuns and their scary orderness to Ismae's friends Sybella and Annith, who yearns to be out there kicking butt while Sybella is off being a BAMF. Then there's the (does obligatory jackass seem more present now more than ever?!) obligatory jackass with a heart of gold, Guvriel. As well as the double-crossing's going down in the court of young Queen Anne, who is a BAMF at twelve years old.

I'm dead, guys. Dead.

Grave Mercy is described as Nikita meets the 15th Century. Dude, yes. It's scary accurate as the Convent takes girls who are obviously broken and feel worthless, and gives them a sense of worth and empowerment. I think Grave Mercy is a great read for everyone, because it incorporates a little bit of each genre and then packs it in a powerful punch. It took me six hours because LaFevers' world in utterly captivating. Albeit it being nearly 600 pages, it was definitely worth it as the story comes to a beautiful conclusion, ending Ismae's story but continuing the convent's role in society with the next story about Sybella.



I think that this gif from Teen Wolf is my love embodied.



I think that y'all should read it. It's a great investment of six hours, freaking fantastic and you're missing out on a great piece of pie if you don't eat, read it.

Paranormal Books amidst piles of Fantasy, wait WHAT?!

On the iPod: I Miss You - Blink 182

Hola, blog readers, I recently started this one book like a while ago and finished it just to forget it because 'lo, I slept most of the summer (besides blogging and the YAcT) so it's about time this book got reviewed.

Goodreads summary:

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Oh god, Shade was such an emotional book for me that it's really nice to find a paranormal book that wasn't really fun and comical in a sense, as much as it was dealing with the emotional backlash of losing someone AND still have them without you, but not with you.

Crazy right?!

Well, Shade's about Aura Salvatore and her boyfriend, Logan (the geek and the rocker love) with another twist thrown in; teenagers or those born *after the Shift* can see ghosts while their parents have to rely on BlackBoxes (<--the salt against the ghost). So, one day when Logan's off after a concert and he and Aura are, um, going to consummate their love, he dies. Yep, but he's still here in the world living as a ghost. And then you throw in Zachary, who's so understanding, and kind, and incredible and alive, well then, you have yourselves a quite thoughtful Urban Fantasy/Paranormal/YA that's really beautiful and all I can say is, pick up a copy for yourself. Jeri Smith-Ready wrote a flawless and timeless book that deserves this:

Shade also has that very *doomed relationship* (between Logan and Aura) feel to it, and I loved it. It also included a decent love triangle because it had a purpose (le gasp! it's true though). I'd say Shade deserves a 10/10 on the WondefulbookshelfofJaz scale.

I'm pretty sure that's a first here.

p.s wanna know more about Jeri Smith Ready and her schmazin' books? Go here!

Peace!

10 REASONS WHY I AM SO PSYCHED FOR HOURGLASS

Okay so while I got an ARC of Hourglass, I loaned it to a friend. And then when I ordered Hourglass a while ago, my bookstore was all like, "No, you didn't have it as an order' which threatened my mental stability so I shall say WHY I AM SO PSYCHED TO GET MY PAWS ON HOURGLASS.

10 REASONS WHY I AM PSYCHED FOR HOURGLASS:

1) The characters: Emerson, Michael, Kaleb. I MUST HAVE THEM.

2) Myra McEntire: Uh, hello? She did an interview with me. 'Nuff said.

3) it's PARANORMAL and I LOVE PARANORMAL. like it's legit stuff.

4) It's X-Men all over again with the Mysterious HOURGLASS INSTITUTION. I LOVE IT!

5) it's got the southern-y feel. I like southern reads. Tru fax, bro.

6) boys. specifically Michael and Kaleb.

7) the way that Emerson's brother and wife DO care for her. Hence, the Hourglass institution. You're some cool parents.

8) did i Mention, the paranormal and boys? moving along...

9) IT'S AWESOME

10) IT'S MADE OF AWESOME-SAUCE.

And that is WHY I will post the review of Hourglass AS SOON AS I FINISH IT.

A Touch Mortal!

Hey bloggers, I'm back! And with a rocking new blog that was better than the drab old one! So what I've read this time: A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford.

BLURB from Amazon: Eden didn't expect Az. Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.
Yeah.
So long happily-ever-after.
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.
And that's only the beginning of the end.

Can you say WHOA? Because I certainly did. Leah has this *writing* that I cannot explain because it is simply explainable (but it's TOTALLY good)as well as creating characters that are both good and bad but SO flawed that it really adds to the experience of reading this Magnificent book. I shall tell you WHY:

Clifford's characters are WELL ROUNDED: You see many sides to them; hopeful, desperate, scared, sometime only out for themselves, selfishly and it's so AWESOME.

Also the names? Gabe, Az, Eden for a few. Are totally Epic. Better than give them that whole, "Peter,Michael and Mary Sue" sort of vibe.

Second: Clifford doesn't shy away from sensitive topics NOR does she portray them in good light: Suicide is sort of big in the Touch Mortal world especially when a couple of the Siders commit it. She shows: this is what happened, this is how bad it gets for the Siders that they turn to the option of taking their own *existence* (not life).

And third: The Villian, Luke. He's a big hunk clad in leather and totally drool worthy (or I thought so). He's the bad boy that you love to hate (CHUCK BASS!!!) and he's a manipulative little bas**** who's really TRULY shown as TOTALLY OUT FOR HIMSELF. And I love him. Even though some hated him. I guess I like bad boys... :) ANYWAYS...

The ending in A Touch Mortal is jaw dropping. Like, it's some pretty big bombs dropped that everyone who read ATM is *AWAITING* A Touch Morbid, the sequel. It was some epic shiz, you guys.

P.S A Touch Mortal cover (who is Eden) was a rocking cover and totally must have. I will find a poster of it!!!!

Thanks and keep reading!

Books Made of Awesomesauce and other stuff....

Hey Blogger readers, I'm Back! No silly I wasn't gone... anyways I just re-read Hex Hall AND Demonglass for like the thirtieth time since it came out. I haven't read a book since Last Sacrifice that's made me gasp, cry, laugh and want to chuck the book at the wall which wasn't since... January. But that all I changed when I got my paws on Demonglass and read it in an hour. That's right folks, an HOUR. I think I beat my other record which was finishing a book in an hour and A HALF.


SPOILER ALERT; for those who haven't read the Hex Hall series, go. Read it now.
Demonglass picked up where Hex Hall ended, as Archer was revealed to be a member of L'Occhio di Dio and Sophie goes to London to go through with the Removal, which strips you of your powers but kills you... as well as going to the Council with her father. Jenna and Cal also go with her as well as a couple new characters (coughcoughNick&Daisy).. I LOVED LOVED LOVED <3 DEMONGLASS. It had everything Hex Hall was made of plus more... like ______ and make out session and one HELL of a cliffhanger. Oh man, well played Rachel Hawkins. Well played.




Also I was lurking around Myra Mcentire's Blog and I got a glimpse of Hourglass her book coming out this summer. I need that book because it's full of awesome. Here's the summary I got off Amazon: "One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut."

Doesn't that scream HOLY COW THIS BOOK IS THE SHIZ?!
Lastly, Doctor Who is coming back April 23rd.

APRIl TWENTY FREAKING THIRD. I CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG FOR MATT SMITH MAN. I CAN'T!
oh well, i'll go hide in a corner now and rewatch Doctor Who episodes while you admire this poster for it.