Insurgent Trailer!!

I don't really have anything of my own to share today, so instead I want to show you this pure awesomeness I just discovered!! The trailer for Insurgent by Veronica Roth!!

EEEEP! Is it possible that I'm MORE excited now?? I guess, because I am! This is one of the best book trailers I've seen. Sometimes I have problems with the voice-overs, because of course the voices are never going to match what you hear in your head. But these were good! And besides that, the trailer flashed nicely through several pivotal-looking scenes in the book, and the whole thing was long enough to be exciting and short enough to not drag on. Seriously, SERIOUSLY awesome!!


Wait. You've read Divergent, right? RIGHT? If you haven't, you absolutely MUST! It's definitely one of my favorite books!


So, what do you think about the trailer? Do you know of any other AWESOME book trailers? Leave me a comment!


(And don't forget to get the Insurgent countdown widget! You can steal it from my sidebar if you like -->)


(:D)
~Mag

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

You know those awesome times when you're just looking around the library's shelf and you pick up a book at random and that book is AWESOME? This is one of those times. Besides that, this book is by JENNIFER LYNN BARNES, who wrote the Raised by Wolves series. WHICH I LOVE. So I knew I was going to love this book, and I TOTALLY did!

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human. 

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely. 

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism. 

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process. 

------

There was so much I ABSOLUTELY loved about this book. To name a few:

-Kali. She was an awesome, AWESOME heroine. 

-Zev's name. And Zev himself, of course. He was different, and definitely interesting and mysterious.

-Skylar. Okay, definitely one of my favorite characters OF ALL TIME. But I think she needs to re-evaluate what the word "little" means.

-The every-other-day pattern of Kali's powers. It's such a original and cool idea. Imagine, for a second: You're a normal girl. Powerless. Average. Then the sun comes up, and suddenly you're not. You're a monster hunter. Dawn comes back around, and boom, rinse and repeat.

-The world and mythology. As much as I love books where paranormals are a closely guarded secret, known only by a select few, the alternate worlds, similar to ours but different (Like Holly Black's Curse Workers series) where everyone knows are SO COOL. Besides that, I've always liked when multiple types of paranormals exist in the same world.

But more than just all that, the story itself was just incredible. It was unique and fun and twisty-turny, and I loved everything about it. The characters were awesome and hilarious, and those fantastic kind of characters that you wish you could actually meet and be friends with. 

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure this is going to be a stand-alone novel, which makes me sad because it's JUST SO GOOD. I don't want it to be over, you know? But yeah, as far as I can tell, this is it.

Anyway, WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS AWESOME, FANTASTICAL book gets <*><*><*><*><*>

(:D)

~Mag

Waiting on Wednesday: Toxic by Jus Accardo

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine, spotlighting books that have not yet been released but are being greatly anticipated. Today, my pick under the category "This book looks so fantastic it isn't even funny" is the sequel to the awesome Touch by Jus Accardo: Toxic.

When a Six saved Kale’s life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she’d lose the one thing she’d give anything to keep… And as if it’s not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice—surrender to Denazen for the cure…or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn’t involve being bagged and tagged—or losing someone she loves—Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there’s a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there’s any hope of proving Jade’s guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...  

------

I just read Touch the other day, and I absolutely LOVED it. I totally can't wait to see what happens next (both in Toxic and in the novella, Untouched) with Kale, Dez, and the Sixes. AND THAT SYNOPSIS! Eek. I'm already freaking out. It seems like bad is doomed to go to worse in this one!


Grr. This book is going to drive me crazy, I already know it.


What are you waiting on this week?


(:D)
~Mag

Review: School's Out--Forever by James Patterson (MRRC)

So, who out there is participating in the Maximum Ride Reading Challenge?

I'm actually hosting it, along with the delightful Ella from Musings in Ink. Basically, the point of the Challenge is to read (or re-read) all seven of the already-released Max Ride books, in preparation for the release of the LAST ONE, Nevermore! All the details are on the Official MRRC Blog. It's never too late to sign up! (Also, if you've already signed up with Linky, we're going to need you to re-sign up a different way. Details about that are on the signup page on the blog. Thanks!)

School's Out--Forever by James Patterson 

Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride and the other members of the "Flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It seems like a dream come true--except that they're being hunted by half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" who can fly, too. 

In Book 2 of the series, the Flock members are taken under the wing of an FBI agent and try to live "normal" lives by going to school, making friends--and continuing their relentless search for their parents. But the Erasers return, forcing the Flock to abandon their search and make their escape once again. The voice inside Max's head keeps telling her that it's up to her to save the world, but this is especially challenging to do when she is faced with her ultimate match: a newer and better version of herself, Maximum Ride II. Max's heart-stopping quest to investigate the mind-blowing mystery of her ultimate destiny continues in the scariest, strangest, and funniest James Patterson novel yet. 

------

 The flock is back and better than ever! No, seriously, the second Max Ride book may be even better than the first!


We're tossed right back into the action, as School's Out--Forever picks up right where The Angel Experiment left off. For a second, it seems like everything's okay and the flock might actually catch a break. And then, naturally, all heck breaks loose.


After an emergency leaves them with no choice but to go to a hospital, the flock is discovered by the FBI, who are VERY interested in the genetically altered kids. Which is only to be expected. Oh, and it gets worse. Because now Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel are sent to live with an FBI agent. Who enrolls them in SCHOOL. Yeah. 


As they try to blend in with the "normal" kids at school, the flock is still trying to discover all they can about their parents and where they came from. Oh, and let's not forget the fact that Max was apparently made to "save the world". That's a biggie.


All the awesomeness of The Angel Experiment is back in full force. The flock is as hilarious, kick-butt, and lovable as ever, and the twists and turns at every corner keep the pages turning. And if you're a fan of sarcasm, (as I most DEFINITELY am) then Max is seriously the heroine for you, because you can barely go more than two sentences in the narrative without finding a snarky comment.


The rest of the flock is as awesome as ever, too. Especially Fang. I LOVE Fang. And his and Max's relationship can only get more complicated. So it does.


Basically, my point is that if you loved TAE and you haven't read SOF, you MUST. And if you haven't read either, go read them both. (And the rest of the series, during the Max Ride Reading Challenge! [More shameless plugging ;D])


To finish up, some delightful teasers from School's Out--Forever. (You can see more from my Teaser Tuesday HERE)

     "I look like prep school Barbie," Nudge complained, as she entered the kitchen. She caught sight of me in my uniform and looked slightly mollified. "Actually, you look like prep school Barbie. I'm just Barbie's friend."

(This next one's slightly edited for spoilers)

     "You're kidding, right? Please tell me you have a stronger motive for me than 'fair is fair.' Life isn't fair. Nothing is fair, ever. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I need to help you because fair is fair? Try, 'I need you to help me so I won't rip out your spine and beat you with it. I might respond to that. Maybe."

And one more, because I can't resist.

     "Fang! This is a huge break! Of course we should go check it out!"
     He looked at me. "But we're grounded." he said with a straight face.
     I stared at him for a second, and then we both burst out laughing.

School's Out--Forever gets <*><*><*><*><*> 


(:D)
~Mag

Teaser Tuesday: School's Out--Forever by James Patterson

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play, and the rules are simple:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's Teasers come from School's Out--Forever, the second book in the fantastical Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. (While we're on the subject, more shameless plugging: Join the Max Ride Reading Challenge!)

1.
     "You know what's creepy?" Nudge said, eating caramel popcorn. "A chipmunk that big."
     -Page 328 

2.
     Not amused, I glanced over at Fang. He smiled, lighting up our immediate area, and offered me some Cracker Jack.
     -Page 329

So I just feel like I should mention that that first teaser makes sense in context. But it's so much funnier out of context. So I'll leave it like that.


What are you reading this week? Leave your TT links in the comments!


(:D)
~Mag

Review: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (MRRC)

So, who out there is participating in the Maximum Ride Reading Challenge?

I'm actually hosting it, along with the delightful Ella from Musings in Ink. Basically, the point of the Challenge is to read (or re-read) all seven of the already-released Max Ride books, in preparation for the release of the LAST ONE, Nevermore! All the details are on the Official MRRC Blog. It's never too late to sign up! (Also, if you've already signed up, we're going to need you to re-sign up a different way. Details about that are on the signup page on the blog. Thanks!)

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson 

In James Patterson's blockbuster series, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?  

------

Okay, so one thing I forgot about this book is how FAST-PACED it is--and in a good way! It jumps right into the action, and the super-short chapters make it seem even faster.


Max is such a super-awesome heroine. I mean, imagine for a second that you were a genetically altered teenage girl who was part bird, had wings, and were being hunted by crazy wolf-men who'd love to either kill you or take you back to a group of crazy scientists who'd looooove to cut apart your brain. Do you think you'd be able to crack jokes all the time?


But behind her tough exterior, Max is really a kind, soft person (but don't tell her I said that!). She cares about her friends--her FAMILY--and she'd do anything to protect them. Which is why she'll do anything to get Angel back when the littlest Flock member is kidnapped by the aforementioned wack-jobs.


Then there's Fang. Max's right-wing guy, her second in command, her best friend. Nothing with Fang is ever complicated...until it is. But that's all I'll say about THAT.


The whole Flock is really great. We have Max the leader, Fang the strong and silent, Iggy the pyromaniac, Nudge the chatterbox, the Gasman whose name needs no elaboration, and Angel, the cute little one. Every last one of them is unique, and fantastic in their own way. Together, though, is when they really shine, whether they're fighting Erasers or just working together on finding information about the School and their parents.


One more major thing I love about the Angel Experiment (and ALL the Max Ride books!) is how FUNNY they are. Seriously, they're all full-to-the-brim with laugh out loud moments. I couldn't even come close to naming them all, but I'll share a couple:

     Popcorn for breakfast! Why not? It's a grain. It's like, grits, but with high self-esteem.

     "I didn't know a van could go up on two wheels like that, for so long." -Nudge 

     Why was the blind guy playing with matches, you ask? Because he's good at it. Anything to do with fire, igniting things, exploding things, things with fuses, wicks, accelerants...Iggy's your man. It's one of those good/bad things.

And one more:

     "Feeding a crowd?" the woman behind the counter asked.     "Yes, ma'am," Fang said sweetly.      Yeah, him and all his split personalities, I thought.

 Anyway, this book ROCKS, so it gets <*><*><*><*><*>


(Seriously, you guys, go check out maxridereadingchallenge.blogspot.com!)


(:D)
~Mag

In My Mailbox (3/25/12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, and it's all about talking about what you got in your mailbox each week!

IN MY ACTUAL MAILBOX


-Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter. EEEEEK. So, so awesome! I've been DYING for this one forever!

FROM THE LIBRARY

-Awake at Dawn by C. C. Hunter. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?? Can't wait to read this one.

Nothing bought this week, on my Kindle or otherwise, BUT (as you guys know) I did get to go to a stop on Rachel Hawkins' Spell Bound tour, and THAT was awesome! She was great and it was SUPER FUN!


And I got signed books!

This one's signed to my sister, Lilly. When I heard about the signing, she secretly checked out Hex Hall from the library and hid it behind another book jacket so she could read it and surprise me. SHE IS THE BEST.

I don't know what's up with the lighting on this one, but you get the idea.

AREN'T THOSE AWESOME?? I'm so excited.


So what's in YOUR mailbox this week?


(:D)
~Mag

Novels 'n' Notes Update

So, if you've been a follower for a while, you might have seen some of my Novels 'n' Notes posts. Novels ‘n’ Notes is a weekly event I created here at Geek Chic to talk about songs that remind me of books. Usually I post them on Fridays. You also may have noticed that they have been mysteriously absent the last couple weeks. I'm really sorry about that, but if you like them, don't worry--they ARE coming back. Right now I'm working on stockpiling songs, because, of course, not every song reminds me of a book in a concrete way.

For now, you can see previous NN posts by clicking on the "Novels 'n' Notes" label, either on the sidebar or at the bottom of this post. Don't forget that you are more than welcome to make your own NN posts on your own blog! I only ask that you use the official logo (designed by the awesome CJ, as was my blog logo!) and leave me a link to your post, because I'd LOVE to see it!

But yeah, Novels 'n' Notes will be back within the next couple of weeks! I'm looking forward to sharing more books and music with you guys!

(:D)

~Mag

Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

EEEEEP. I have been waiting for this book for SO LONG. I absolutely ADORED Hex Hall and Demonglass (And Archer. Of course Archer.), so I couldn't wait to get my hands on Spell Bound!


Beware! My review WILL contain spoilers for the first two books in the series, Hex Hall and Demonglass.

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

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?

------ 

Okay, so, to talk about Spell Bound, first I have to talk about Demonglass. Because, um, CLIFFHANGER. (And before I continue, more disclaimer: STOP READING IF YOU HAVE NOT READ HEX HALL AND DEMONGLASS! SERIOUSLY, DUDE, SPOILERS AHEAD! Not for Spell Bound, but definitely for the others. Okay. Carry on.)


I spent several months in a state of freaking out, occasionally breaking into mental chants of, "Everything's okay, Archer's alive. Archer's alive. He has to be alive. Right? Right? Right?" And things of that nature. (Oh, and I was also very concerned about the well-being of Sophie's dad and Cal and Jenna. Yeah. Definitely.) Anyway, once I had Spell Bound in my hands, there was also a slight moment of "I don't want to read this because then it will be over and I don't want it to be over." (Luckily, this went away quickly as I was informed by my friend (known on Twitter as Cross=Boss or @crossequalsboss in honor of Archer himself) that there would indeed be a SPIN OFF of Hex Hall, which made my day.)


But none of that is really a review (or even about Spell Bound) so let's get to that.


Thanks to Demonglass's cliffhanger of epic proportions (Okay, maybe not the most brain-killing, soul-crushing cliffhanger ever, but still) we're thrown right into the action with Spell Bound. Sophie's taken Cal's advice and taken the Itineris to Aislinn Brannick, and that quickly seems like a bad idea as Sophie promptly lands herself in huge heaps of trouble.


It isn't long, though, before she meets the Brannicks and starts getting answers--answers that pretty much shatter everything she ever thought she knew about her family. As if being a demon weren't bad enough, there's MORE.


Soon Sophie is preparing for battle alongside the Brannicks, while gradually learning the whereabouts of her friends after what went down at Thorne Abbey. Some people got out, both friends...and enemies.


The characters in this installment were just as awesome as they were in the other books. Sophie, of course, was as witty, sarcastic, and awesome as ever. (Everyone knows I love me some sarcasm!) Cal, Archer, and Jenna were awesome as well, as usual. ESPECIALLY ARCHER. Obviously. (Have you noticed I'm in love with him? Yeah.) Even Elodie pretty much rocked. Plus there were some fabulous new characters who were FANTASTIC!


Seriously, though, this book was super full of action, snark, romance, and pure AWESOME. If you loved the other two books (and how could you have NOT??) then you'll love this one too.


But possibly the best part is that there will indeed be a spin off! Which is great, because there while the ending was satisfying, there were definitely things left open that could be developed into more awesome stuff!


(I've just noticed I used the word "awesome" a lot. Note to self: invest in thesaurus.)


Anyway, WITHOUT A DOUBT Spell Bound recieves <*><*><*><*><*>


(:D)
~Mag

Waiting on Wednesday: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine, spotlighting books that have not yet been released but are being greatly anticipated. Today, my pick under the category "EEEEEEEEEEEEK hey look a book that shall be AWESOME" is the FIFTH book in the INCREDIBLE Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare: City of Lost Souls


(Please remember that the synopsis contains spoilers for the other books in the Mortal Instruments series, so please beware if you haven't read them all!)

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.  

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?  

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.  

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?  

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series. 

I AM SO EXCITED. How could I not be?? TMI is one of my favorite series of all time, and I can't WAIT to see what happens next, not just for Jace and Clary, but also for Alec, Magnus, Isabelle, Simon, Maia, Jordan, Luke, Jocelyn...the list goes on and on.


Seriously, people, this will be EPIC. If you haven't read the first four books yet you MUST DO THIS NOW. Seriously, go. You have NO CLUE what you're missing!


Oh, and don't forget that you can read the prologue of CoLS HERE!


EEEP. So exciting!


What are you waiting on this week? Leave your WoW links in the comments!


(:D)
~Mag

Teaser Tuesday: Touch by Jus Accardo

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play, and the rules are simple:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 
Today's teasers come from Touch by Jus Accardo. I AM LIKING THIS BOOK, PEOPLE.

1.
     "How am I able to touch you? Everyone else would have died a horrible death." 

      -Kindle Location 269 

2.
     "I can't believe you went snooping. What if he came back?" 

     -Kindle Location 432

What are you reading this week? Leave your TT links in the comments!


(:D)
~Mag

Review: Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

I'd had my eye on this book to buy on Kindle for a while, but I didn't get it until recently. And once I did get it, I realized how FANTASTIC it was! Seriously, this book rocked.

Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand 

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.  

Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.  

------

Tara was normal. Until she wasn't.


One second she's an average girl, and the next she's thrust into the world of Werewolves and the Hunters who are destined to kill them. Tara is one of those Hunters, and she only discovers that as she makes her first kill.


It isn't long before Tara discovers a group called The Cause: the only group in which Werewolves and Hunters coexist peacefully and work toward unity between the species. And they want her to join them.


And you know that part in the synopsis up there? When "he" shows up? His name is Wes. He's a Werewolf, he's mysterious, he's, um, GORGEOUS, and Tara is drawn to him in a way she can't begin to understand. 


As Tara struggles to understand the truth about herself and the people she meets, she also has to worry about keeping the secret of her new double life from her mom and her friends, a friend/newly ex boyfriend who won't take "no" for an answer, and,  oh yeah, a crazy psycho who'd love to see her dead.


GREAT.


Dirty Blood was an awesome read, without a doubt. In fact, it's one of those reads where the more I think about it the more I like it. And Wes. Obviously, I love WES. He's fantastic.


I know that werewolves (like vamps and fae) are heading toward the over-used area, but not only have they not reached it yet (in my opinion) this book doesn't make them come off as too cliche or overused. Plus the addition of a race of humans dedicated to killing them is a fun little bonus.


If everything I've just said isn't enough reason for you to go buy this book now, remember that it's only $0.99 for Kindle and that it has Wes in it. And Wes makes eeeeeverything awesome :)


I so can't wait to read Cold Blood.


Dirty Blood gets <*><*><*><*><*>


(:D)
~Mag

Review: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

There is a very long story behind my journey to reading Angelfire, and it was filled with much sadness, disappointment, and angst. 


Short version:
1. Heard about Angelfire
2. Checked library's website to see if they had Angelfire
3. Put Angelfire on hold
4. Angelfire got in on hold
5. Was unable to pick it up and lost hold.
6. Repeat steps 3-5
7. Repeat step 6
8. FINALLY GET BOOK.
9. Read book in several hours.
10. O.O


*Clears throat* So, yeah. Review.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton 

First there are nightmares.  

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.  

Then come the memories.  

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.  

Now she must hunt.  

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.  

------

So let's begin. I really liked this book. A lot. The memory thing reminded me of Shattered Souls, another great read! (Actually, this may have come out first, I'm not sure. But I read SS first, so.) But the other parts of the plot were very different, especially Ellie's and Lenzi's jobs. 


Naturally, I loved Will. He was a fantastic love interest, what with his protectiveness (YES), his seriousness/quietness (YES), his strong/skilled-ness (YES), his loyalty (YES), and, of course, his looks. (BIG YES!) It was easy to see how much he cared about Ellie, and how much he would give up to keep her safe and happy. It's so sweet, and sad at the same time.


Ellie was great, too. She had no idea what was going on, and she could be a bit selfish and spoiled at times, but that's what made her realistic. I mean, if you were thrust into a situation like this with no memory of what you were supposed to be doing, would you be all, "Yeah, let's go kill some reapers! I am ready for ACTION!" or would you be more like, "Um, I still want to hang out with my friends and be with my family and notice how ridiculously hot this Will guy is."


And then on the other hand, when she needed to be, she was brave and strong and smart, and she did what she needed to do, to protect those she cared about and the whole world.


This book was full of great supporting characters, too. I really liked Nathaniel and Lauren, and hope to see more of them in future books. Same with Kate. 


And someone else: This is kinda a spoiler, so I'll hide it. Highlight at your own risk!


Cadan. There is absolutely no way he doesn't come back in later books. Because there is definitely something weird going on with him. I'm almost afraid it's going to become a love triangle. But surely that won't happen. Right? Right??


Spoiler over. 


Altogether, I liked this book a lot and I'm looking forward to reading the next one!


It gets <*><*><*><*>


(:D)
~Mag

In My Mailbox (3/18/12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, and it's all about talking about what you got in your mailbox each week! 

IN MY ACTUAL  MAILBOX


I am delighted to inform  you that I did get some FANTASTIC things in my mailbox this week!



-Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
-Another Hex Hall (for my giveaway winner!)
-Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
-Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
-New Girl by Paige Harbison

FROM THE LIBRARY


Lots of goodness this week!


-Angel Fire by L. A. Weatherly. I was really excited about this when I first got it (I LOVED Angel Burn) but now that I've read the synopsis and learned there's probably going to be a love triangle, I'm more reluctant. A love triangle is the LAST thing I want in this series.


-Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barns. I loooove her other books, and this one sounds SO COOL.


-Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton. Not to be confused with the other Angel Fire from this week. I finished this one last night/this morning, and it was SO GOOD. Review to come!


-Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck. Read this one already, too. First half was great. Second half shattered my soul.


-Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck. Read this one. Enjoyed it so much more than Tiger's Quest. Can't WAIT for the next one!!


-Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver. ANOTHER one I've finished. People keep calling the end a terrible cliffhanger, but it was my favorite part of the book! Awesome ending (even though I KNEW it was going to happen, lol) and I'm looking forward to what comes next!


-A Life of Joy by Amy Clipston. Book four in the Kauffman Amish Bakery series, a series me and my mom have been reading together. 

Don't know where Tiger's Quest and A Life of Joy scampered off to when it came time for picture taking...


ON MY KINDLE


-The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton. I don't know much about this book, but I won it by playing a game on Twitter, and it seems interesting!

Please excuse the glares in the pictures, my camera decided to get all flashy today :)


What's in your mailbox this week?


(:D)
~Mag