Sunday, November 30, 2014

RELEASE REVIEW: The Girl with the Half and Half Face

ISBN: 9781312607
Pages: 226
Source: Author
Appearance: 
23485235

Summary:
She’s been trained to follow wherever her Core leads.
Until it leads her away from everything she’s ever known . . . into mortal danger.
Eighteen-year-old Kayli-el discovers she’s part of a new, evolving species on her planet, with a powerful internal guidance called the Core. After her teacher is murdered for its secrets, Kayli-el runs for her life – right into the arms of Tamber, a boy who’s crossed the ocean on a mysterious quest . . . to find her!
When the same killers who murdered her teacher capture her best friend Serene, Kayli-el faces a choice with potentially deadly consequences: follow her Core’s wisdom and flee across the ocean to safety with Tamber, or defy her own guidance to try to save Serene’s life.
 

Hello everyone! Today I've got my release day review of The Girl with the Half and Half Face! This is a fun YA fantasy that I had the chance of reviewing. I did receive a copy for review but my thoughts are completely my own!

Kayli-el can't wait for her Day of Independence, the day she turns 18. When that day comes, she doesn't sleep a wink throughout the night, and then the Abbey is invaded by Cronin soldiers and her teacher Patriq is shot and killed. She runs off into the night and barely escapes with her life, only surviving after finding Tamber and his twin brother, Helvans who have come across the ocean on their Quest. Then Kay finds out that the people who murdered Patriq and are searching for her have captured her friend Serene instead. Going against her Core, Kay decides to save her best friends, dragging Tamber and Ti into the battle for their survival.

The Girl with the Half and Half Face was a very unique and different from anything else that I've read before. The idea of the Core or one's inner subconscious that helps to guide someone in making decisions sounds really awesome. What I liked how the author made the Core something you could count on, but at the same time everything is so up in the air it's up for interpretations. You could also go against you Core or manipulate it to show what you want to hear. There's also the different griesses, hopefully I'm spelling that right, where different people have different scents that tell them apart. Cronins from Helvans to Belorans. The differences between the cultures is very interesting and distinct, from their scents to their statuses and technological advancement.

I'm trying to sum up Kay in a sentence but I can't seem to do that. She's definitely an interesting character with her connection to the Core. When she defies her Core, it shows her loyalty towards her friends, but at the same time her recklessness. Despite that, I liked how she depended on her Core to guide her through the struggles that she had to face throughout the book. I had a couple of problems, not relating to her character, but to her purpose in the book. I understand the importance of being able to connect with one's Core, and I probably just missed it in the book, but I couldn't place how the Core was identified in a person. Kay mentions how the evil Cronin Lord had the Core, but his thirst for power shadowed it and that's as much as I remember. The second thing I was confused on was the half and half face. I mean, it's the title of the book, but I don't know what it means. Kay does think at one point if she's a bi-racial child which results in her half and half face but she quickly dismisses the thought as well.

The plot itself was very intriguing and I felt myself being pulled in all different ways as the book took me on a roller coaster ride. There are parts where you just freeze and your heart clenches in fear for what the next page holds. All in all, Leslie Miller did a really great job in keeping my interest throughout the book.

Overall, this is a pretty good start to a new series. Be sure to check it out on Goodreads for more information or click on the cover to access the Amazon buy link! Thanks so much for reading, I'll see you guys in December!! 

3.5 out of 5 stars

Foreverly Obsessed,

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Black Friday BookOutlet Haul!

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving full of family and love and of course food! As many people know, the day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday where stores present ridiculously awesome discounts for their products. I found out from several BookTubers that the legendary BookOutlet was giving away a 10 dollar Black Friday Coupon (shipping not included) for people to spend! So of course I took advantage of the deal and picked out a couple books!

I don't know when exactly my books are arriving but at this point I'm too excited to care, so let's get into my little haul!

28247
I already own the first two books in the Age of the Five trilogy when I bought them during a library sale and now I have the entire trilogy! I've heard some really great things about Trudi Canavan's fantasy books so I'm really excited to finally check out her books!

10137823
I have already read this books and I absolutely LOVED it! I have no other words to say other than I am dying of excitement to have my own copy to keep forever! 

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Again, no other words besides it's a BRANDON SANDERSON book and I am dying! I already own a Kindle copy of this book when it was free on Amazon, but come on, to have the actual physical copy? Out of this world! I don't even care if buying the first book means I'm probably going to buy the remaining ~11 books because it's Brandon Sanderson, I'd buy anything he writes. 

8978583
This was a pure cover buy for me. That and I had 2 dollars left for the 10 dollar coupon and I didn't want to waste it. The cover is really gorgeous and I haven't read a historical fiction in a long time, so I'm hoping that I like it. It has a 4.04 rating on Goodreads and the majority of my Goodreads friends really liked it. Fingers crossed!!

So there's my little book haul! I spent a total of $10.81 with a shipping for $4.99. With the coupon, I actually only spent $5.80 which is crazy! 
Did anyone else take advantage of this crazy awesome deal? If so, let me know what you guys bought in the comments below!!

One last thing, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you all so very much for reading this blog. I'm so grateful and honored that you'd spend time to check out my rants about books. EmojiEmojiEmoji

Foreverly Obsessed,

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Mini Reviews: Ghosting and Rock Angel

Hey everyone! Today I've got two mini reviews for you guys. I was sent both these books for review from BookSparks and my opinions are 100% my own. Let's get into the review :)

Ghosting by Edith Pattou
ISBN: 147784774X
Pages: 392
Source: BookSparks
Appearance:
21558973

Summary:
On a hot summer night in a Midwestern town, a high school teenage prank goes horrifically awry. Alcohol, guns, and a dare. Within minutes, as events collide, innocents becomes victims—with tragic outcomes altering lives forever, a grisly and unfortunate scenario all too familiar from current real-life headlines. But victims can also become survivors, and as we come to know each character through his/her own distinctive voice and their interactions with one another, we see how, despite pain and guilt, they can reach out to one another, find a new equilibrium, and survive.
Told through multiple points of view in naturalistic free verse and stream of consciousness, this is an unforgettable, haunting tale.


 Ghosting is one of those books that completely took me by surprise. I usually have a hard time getting through verse novels and I have no idea why. I've put down so many books because I couldn't continue reading the story in verse. Ghosting did not read like a verse novel to me, the words just flowed together and I become so engrossed in the story. I swear, I must have looked insane flipping pages at the rate I was reading.

The story follows a group of teenagers, we've got the jock and his girlfriend + bestie, the druggie, and the girl who just moved back to town. They've decided to attend a Halloween party but ditch early and take a detour down the cemetery. The book switches between the character's perspective as well as that of the Ms. Popular's sister and the boy who lives in the house by the cemetery. Each perspectives gives you more insight as to what is going on in the story and when the big climax hits, I was left with one hopeless thought: That was all just a big misunderstanding.

Ghosting manages to tear you apart as the characters in the book shatter in different ways after the accident (and no it wasn't a car accident). Thankfully, the climax of the story occurs somewhat in the middle and you get to experience and see the characters pick themselves back up from the ground and piece themselves back together. The journey itself is absolutely moving and each step they take towards healing gives you even more hope for what the next page holds.

There aren't enough words to describe my emotions for this book, but it was a freaking fantastic story and took me on a crazy journey throughout life. Highly highly recommend!

4 out of 5 stars

Rock Angel by Jeanne Bogino
ISBN: 098523136X
Pages: 400
Source: BookSparks
Appearance:
21844287
Summary: 
Shan is young, beautiful, talented, and addicted to heroin in Rock Angel, a novel that follows her meteoric rise to guitar goddess stardom in the 90’s. She is discovered in New York by a handsome, arrogant musical genius named Quinn, and sparks fly between them when he hires her as lead guitarist of his band. Although Quinn is accustomed to bedding a different groupie every night, he can’t ignore his deepening feelings for his new band mate. From gritty Greenwich Village clubs to L.A.’s Troubadour; gigging and touring the country to the cover of Rolling Stone, Rock Angel is infused with the passionate music and intense sexual chemistry of Shan and Quinn. Shan must work out her personal demons and learn to trust Quinn enough to love him, but still remain true to the music that has always been her salvation. A hot, hard-driving story set in an intoxicating world of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. 


I was supposed to participate in a book tour for Rock Angel but ended up receiving my book late. Not to worry, I got it in the end and it blew me away as well. I'm being 100% completely honest when I say that, not sugarcoating anything because for one, Rock Angel is not a book that is sugarcoated. It presents the raw problems of drug addiction with such incredible force you're left feeling stunned at what you just read. 

Again, I came into this book with relatively low expectations. I thought it sounded interesting, but I mean, drugs and the music industry, we've all read something about that. What I didn't expect was for Jeanne Bogino to walk up to us and slap some reality into our brains. 

Our main character Shan deals with heroin addiction and she's been fighting it for years. When she joins Quinn and his bandmates, she switches to another drug, one that is prescribed by the doctor to wean her off of heroin. Later on, she falls in love with Quinn and they get married to find that their future child could possibly be a drug addict as well. And things spiral from there. 

Drugs is such a prevalent theme in this book, it really surprised me. While drugs was the devil, Shan's music proved to be her savior. Both she and Quinn poured their hearts out in their songs and it's their escape from the world. Quinn is so supportive of Shan, but she's just been hurt too much to fully trust him. Their relationship is fragile and there are moments when it literally seems like everything was going to break into a million pieces. 

Rock Angel is definitely not a light fun music industry romance, it's heavy on all sorts of levels and really makes you look at the world differently. 

3.5 out of 5 stars

Foreverly Obsessed,

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Teaser Tuesday: Rebels


Hey everyone! It's been a while since I did a Teaser Tuesday and I recently started reading a book that I was sent for review by BookLooks review group. Teaser Tuesday is weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

The rules are simple, anyone can join:

  1. Grab your current read.
  2. Open to a random page.
  3. Share 2 teaser sentences from somewhere on that page - BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS
  4. Share the title & author so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers! 
ISBN: 0310735777 
Pages: 304
Source: BookLooks
Appearance: 
18940732

THE TEASER:
Two days later, Shaylinn had her letters ready to send. She wasn't supposed to wander the basements alone, but she couldn't risk anyone knowing what she was doing - especially not Nell, who couldn't keep a secret to save her life.
~Pg 179

Foreverly Obsessed,

Monday, November 24, 2014

COVER REVEAL: Atlantis Rising

Release Date: 01/06/15
Entangled Teen
352 pages

THE COVER:

Summary from Goodreads:
I am different. I have always been different, but no one can know or my life will be in danger. So I hide in plain sight, wearing drab clothes and thick glasses and trying to be invisible. I’m so good at hiding, no one has ever noticed me. Until Ian…the mysterious and oh-so-cute boy I know I need to avoid.
Now I have been seen. And more terrifying still, I am wanted—by those who would protect me and those who would destroy everything and everyone I love. But if they’re all terrified about who I am, wait until they see what I can do…



About the Author

Gloria Craw grew up in the desert southwest, inspired every day by the wide skies and rich colors around her. After high school, she attended the University of Utah where she majored and got a degree in anthropology. These days, she lives in the ‘burbs’ just outside of Seattle, Washington where she is the shepherd of a husband, four daughters and a very hairy dog. 

Author Links:
 photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png  photo icontwitter-32x32_zpsae13e2b2.png  photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Review Request: Hatch

ASIN: B00G0KKBBC
Pages: 344
Source: Author
Appearance:
18723722

Summary: 
Ammon's job was simple, to care for the dragon eggs in the Nest. It should have been easy, but it wasn't. When the sun rose after the hatch, he had made an enemy of the most powerful man in the kingdom, and he would soon learn that was the least of his problems!

Hey everyone! Today I've got a review request to share with you guys. I recently uploaded a profile on tweetyourbooks.com which is a website that allows authors to connect with various bloggers to review their books. I got a ton of review requests so you'll be seeing a lot of them hopefully in the near future. So the first review I have is Hatch by James Stevens, a YA dragon fantasy full of adventure. Let's get into the review~

Ammon was hired to take fore the dragon eggs, keeping them warm and safe until hatching. If all went well, he'd get his pay and be on his way. Unfortunately life does that work that way and he finds himself bonded to a golden dragon on Hatching day. The dragon was late to the hatch which was unheard of, but the color makes it all the more special. To top it all off, he also made an enemy of the king's heir, a greedy conniving man by the name of Tirate. Tirate's been waiting ages to bond with a dragon as that is the only thing that is keeping him away from the throne. To be bonded with a golden dragon is the greatest of honors and will make him an unstoppable tyrant. 

I'll admit that when I first read the summary, I wasn't all that interested. My only drive to accept the request was because there were dragons and it's been ages since I read a dragon book. I was afraid that this book would not live up to my expectations and I'd be left disappointed BUT everything I ever feared of was COMPLETELY disproven when I finished reading Hatch. This book was so much fun to read and full adventure and epicness and adorable dragons! 

Ammon is one of those characters who go through a lot of character development and growth throughout the course of the story. He starts off a timid watcher of the eggs with a small spark of courage that by the end of the book grows into a full blown flame. There were parts of the story line that I easily saw coming so yes, it does get pretty predictable, but the fun and new thing about the story were the characters. I don't think I've ever met any other dragon with as much sass as Fulgid. That little golden dragon has got some serious attitude and he's absolutely adorable. The two of them make a very uncanny pair as they share an incredibly strong bong of loyalty and courage. 

Other memorable characters included Boris, King Erik. the knights, and El. Boris took on the role of a father figure, guiding Ammon to become educated in the way of a dragon knight. King Erik is like a wise uncle or grandfather, depending on how you look at him. Both of them were really amazing people and helped Ammon grow so much throughout the book. 

Of course, we must include El, Ammon's wife (spoiler?) I liked her fire because it made reading her conversations with Ammon really enjoyable. They are both pretty young and thrust into a crazy situation. My one problem with their relationship was how stilted it was. Obviously it was mega awkward at moments because they didn't plan on becoming married to each other, but the way El handled it didn't really make sense. She spends a month after marriage avoiding Ammon and then he goes to risk his life and she's upset that he's leaving her alone? In the end, they do work things out so it's all good.

It seems crazy to say this but I absolutely adored Tirate and Liah. They are absolutely the most hilarious "villains" of a story I've ever read to date. Tirate seems like a petulant child while Liah is like a whining cough (rhymes with itch). I still didn't like Liah because of how she treated El, but that ending had me laughing so hard I might have cried.

Overall, the story is definitely very enjoyable. It was a bit long and there are a couple grammatical errors, but it's a first book so I'm not too worried about it. Hopefully the second book comes out soon because I miss Fulgid already. 

4 out of 5 stars

Foreverly Obsessed,



Saturday, November 22, 2014

BOOK BLITZ: Coral and Bone

ISBN: 0993653707
Pages: 290
Publication Date: July 1 2014
Appearance: 
21826050
Summary:
Halen knows the sparks igniting under her fingertips are dangerous. She has spent her entire life trying to quell the tingly feelings that make her destroy things, but now that she is back in Rockaway Beach, where she watched her father drown, the flames have become impossible to tame.
Halen is trying to hold on, but when she is thrust into a mysterious new world, the underwater realm of Elosia, she unravels the secrets of her past and can't help but ignite. As she explores Elosia, she realizes her life has been a lie. And when those who have deceived her come to her for help, Halen must choose—walk away or unleash the magick that could destroy them all.
 




EXCERPT:

"See who you are," the mermaid whispered.
Halen's eyes clouded over and when the smoke cleared she found herself standing in an open field. She was dressed in a cotton dress which fell around her ankles. Soft grass tickled her toes. She took a step forward and a flower sprung from the ground beside her. She leaned down to pick the red poppy. As she took another step a flower sprang up from between the blades of grass. Halen smiled. She walked a little farther and with each step a new poppy sprouted and bloomed. She ran faster and the field blossomed under her feet, and when she waved her hand, the entire valley filled with red poppies. She inhaled their sweet scent and when she exhaled, the birds glided in the breeze of her breath through an endless blue sky.
Halen laughed when the wind caught her skirt and swept the fabric up over her head, but when she pushed it down, dark clouds rolled overhead. She took one step forward and the grass beneath her feet sizzled to a crisp. Taking another step, the poppies burst into flames. The fire licked the hem of her skirt and she gathered it up over her knees. Scanning the field, she spotted a boulder; if she could make it there, remove her feet from the ground, she could save the rest of the field.
She ran in long strides, and with each step, she scorched the ground with her fiery feet. Suddenly, she tripped. Her hands touched down and the ground combusted with a brilliant light. The fire raced through the field, spreading to the trees. The flames reached up, lassoing the birds from the sky, dragging them to the ground. Halen crawled to the rock and hoisted herself up. She stared out to the barren land. "No, no. What have I done?" She clawed the air and the clouds rumbled with thunder. The fire burned hotter and hotter under her flesh. The only way to extinguish the flames was to release them. Tilting her head back, she opened her mouth wide and screamed. What birds had not been burned turned now to black beasts swirling in the torrid sky.

EXTRAS:

Coral & Bone Dream Cast
Halen ~ Halie Steinfeld
Dax ~ Alex Pettyfyer
Tage ~ Chloe Moretz
Ezra ~ Soto Fukushi

Coral & Bone Epic Playlist
Born to Die ~ Lana Del Rey
Clarity ~ Zedd
Breathing Underwater ~ Metric
Dark Horse ~ Katy Perry
Monster ~ Eminem ft. Rihanna
Light Em Up ~ Fall Out Boys
Burn ~ Ellie Goulding






GIVEAWAY

AUTHOR BIO
I write stories about magick, love and dark creatures lurking in the shadows. When I'm not lost in Edit Land you can find me reading a book from my towering TBR pile or at the movie theater nibbling licorice. I don't have a lucky number, but my favorite time is 11:11. I completely believe that the fortunes found inside cookies will come true and that you must be careful when wishing on stars. I live on an island, so if you want to visit you'll need a boat, and if you want to survive the passage, be sure to bring candy for the mermaids.  

Author links: