bounteey's book babble

♦ Forever

2011-08-30T19:06:00.001+02:00

The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3

by Maggie Stiefvater

Scholastic

released: Jul 12 2011

"Grace. This isn't how it ends."

Synopsis

Grace and Same are struggling to be together. While Grace is still unstable and her shifts come unpredictably, Isabel's father intends to wipe out the pack once and for all. Isabel and Sam try to figure out how to save the wolves, his family, and Cole desperately tries to find a cure for them all.

What I think

Mercy Falls is over. *sigh*

I'd been dying to read that book for what felt like ages and then when it was finally out I didn't have any time to read it, which was really bugging me until I really could start to.

Despite the fact that this is one of those books that you open and only lay aside as soon as it's over, I took my time to read it. Party because I had other stuff to do and my mother practically forced me to stop reading. And then because sometimes I just wanted to enjoy those beautiful, joyful moments of the book a little while longer and at the same time I was afraid of what might happen next and what terrible things could go on on the next few pages.

'Forever' a worthy conclusion to a heart-wrenching series. In a wonderful way Maggie is able to touch my heart with every word she writes. You get to live with her characters and you get to suffer with them. You learn to love, you learn to grieve, you learn to let go and you learn to hold on to.

As to expectations, I strangely had none. I never really thought about what I wanted to have from this book before starting to read it so there's not much I can complain about.

I could have had a little more of Sam and Grace but I suppose it's okay as long as I find Cole that amusing. The end leaves a lot of space to think and guess. There are some questions left but at least I can live with it.

Book Covers: Most Enchanting

2011-08-26T20:36:00.002+02:00

Here are the, in my opinion, most enchanting book covers I came across lately. There will be a motto every month. The theme for September is: dark and mysterious. Suggestions anyone?

This Month's Releases

2011-08-14T16:35:00.003+02:00

Aug 23:

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines #1

First book of Richelle Mead's new Young Adult Series.

Book two, The Golden Lily coming May 2012.

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Unbound #1

Rachel Vincent's new adult paranormal series.

Book two will be called 'Shadow Bound'.

Aug 30:

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Halo #2

Book two of the YA Halo series.

Twisted by Gena Showalter

Intertwined #3

Book three of the Intertwined Series.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

♦ Lament

2011-08-12T14:33:00.002+02:00

Books of Faerie #1

by Maggie Stiefvater
Flux
released Oct 8 2008
sequel: Ballad (10/2009)

Synopsis

Deirdre Monaghan is 16 years old, a gifted harpist player and her stage fright makes her sick every time she has to play in front of an audience. And she's about to realize she's a cloverhand – a person who can see fearies. Gorgeous and mysterious Luke, a flautist who turns out to be the Farie Queen's Assassin, a gallowglass, enters Deirdre's life just about at the same time as four-leaved clovers start to turn up everywhere and a dangerous, beautiful fearie named Aodhan starts stalking her. Deirdre's best friend James and all of her family are in danger when the Faerie Queen is determined to have Deirdre killed before she can threaten her sovereignty.

What I think

Lament is beautifully dark and mysterious. The characters and setting are shaped as nicely as we're used to of Maggie's writing. The book started out as many others may also have but 'Lament' was different in the end. There was a painful clarity in it and you could never really say what might happen next because Deirdre herself seemed to be helpless and clueless about her future.

And there's the mystery of Luke. I think it was not until after the first half of the book that I decided on which side he stands because his closeness in the beginning left no clues of his intentions. And all the while Deridre is drawn between reason and her feelings.

I'd say this book wasn't much more than entertainment that I forgot about pretty fast after I had finished it. It wasn't one of those haunting books that make your gut ache when you're finished, that makes your heart yell that you need more of those characters. But it was good, there's no way denying it.

THE SCORPIO RACES Trailer!

2011-08-11T21:20:00.001+02:00

Here it is.
Maggie's self-made, astonishing, awesome-as-ever Trailer for 'The Scorpio Races' hitting shelves October 18 2011.

For those of you who want to pre-order a signed and doodled in copy of 'The Scorpio Races':
You can get it here

♦ Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love

2011-08-10T22:55:00.003+02:00

Anthology

Running Press Kids
released Aug 3 2010

1) Michelle Zink - The Assassin's Apprentice

Rose, an 18-year old Descendant wants to avenge her family who was killed by a demon named Bael. Asher, who is just one step away from being an Assassin tries to talk Rose out of her plans. They hide out for a while when they discover the feelings they have for each other.

It was a little bit hard for me to get into story because there was so much missing information. You get some background information throughout the story but I could only guess what the story was about in the beginning and then it ended very abruptly.

2) Diana Peterfreund – Errant

It's the upcoming wedding of a young, french lady named Elise. Her family wants to do the traditional unicorn hunt, which is mostly playacting but her future husband decides to have the unicorn killed. The Unicorn hunter Gitta and Elise get to know each other and as they discover a secret, they try to save the Unicorn Enyo.

“Errant” wasn't really a story I liked. I couldn't identify with either of the characters at all. Maybe that's a thing to question in general when it comes to short stories, but I read better ones. The story was quite brutal sometimes and somehow really gross. I wonder why it's in the book.

3) Karen Mahoney – The Spirit Jar

Moth, a young vampire, is sent to London by her Creator Theo to retrieve a book. While attempting to steal the book she encounters Adam, who has the book she wants. They make a deal and Moth tries to help Adam freeing the soul of his dead girlfriend.

This was the first slant of light in the book. It's a well created and well written story with an ass-kicking protagonist. It's the kind of story I expected and wanted to have in this book. Awesome.

4) Justine Musk – Lost

Sasha is good at finding lost things. With the help of Haiden, a mysterious guy she somehow seems to know she discovers her gift to help lost souls find their way.

It's definitely one of the better stories in the book and I have to admit that I didn't really want to stop reading, although my head felt like it was going to burst because of my terrible headache. It's not exactly brilliant, but a very nice story I really enjoyed reading.

5) Sarah Rees Brennan – The Spy who never grew up

Peter Pan is a Spy in the Queen's Secret Service. As a bargain the Queen kidnaps young Ashley who Peter wants to be his mother. Only Ashley doesn't want to be. Together they go on a new mission.

It's a bit confusing. And honestly – Peter Pan as a spy? It's something new and something different, sure, but not really very enchanting, for me anyway.

6) Becca Fitzpatrick - Dungeons of Langeais

Chauncey Langeais is possessed by an angel every year for the week of Cheshvan. In 1769, after 200 years of repeating history he's making plans to destroy the angel. He decides to capture his beautiful lover and keep her in the cellar of his castle.

This is a Hush, Hush story from which Chauncey is already known. It's good to know the story world before reading it because it is much easier to understand a few things about Chauncey, his life and the angel, although you don't necessarily have to know it. The story yells for continuation and I'd really like to read it.

7) Caitlin Kittredge - Behind the Red Door

Jo's friends dare her to go into Ash House, which is said to be haunted. Jo can hardly believe what she discoveres there. Neither does she know about the truths she is going to find, nor does she think about the consequences of her actions.

I didn't think the story would turn out this way. There was a sudden twist to the plot I didn't really expect. I was surprised in a good way, because overall the story was quite interesting and nicely written.

8) Carrie Ryan - Hare Moon

Tabitha lives in the village surrounded by the fence that protects them against the Unconsecrated. She is determined to see the world beyond the forest. When she's forced to join the Sisterhood she has to take decisions that could destroy not only her.

This is a story that is set in the world of “The Forest of Hands and Teeth”. I have to say that I liked the story and that it really gripped me but I also admit that I can't live with Ryan's choice of ending her stories. It's kind of disturbing and makes me think really hard about things.

9) Michelle Rowen - Familiar

Brenda is 16 and a witch-in-practice. When she chooses her familiar, which is like a witch's personal pet she finds out pretty soon that her familiar is a shifter, a young, handsome guy who tries to find a way to buy his way back into his old pack.

This is one of my absolute favorites in this book. It's a really girly-happy-ending story, which is exactly the thing I like and that I expected to have in this book. It's a really funny and sexy story.

10) Rachel Vincent - Fearless

Sabine is a mara, she feeds from the nightmares of others. When she is brought to a halfway house she notices very quickly that something is wrong. Can Sabine and her boyfriend Nash find the reason for the absence of fear in Holster House before it is too late?

It's a story set in the world of the Soul Screamers Series and it also features Nash and Sabine (who is part of Soul Screamers #4). The story itself is very good. Maybe it's interesting to have read the story before reading MSTSteal to get to know Sabine's character and trying to understand her actions.

11) Daniel Marks - Vermillion

Velvet and Nick are dead. They live in the City of the Dead and find and capture souls who cross over to earth again and haunt living people. They are called to Vermillion to assist a different team in finding their missing undertaker. The whole mission gets tougher than they thought it would be.

This story was a little bit boring. Apparently, only the last 10 (of approx. 50) pages are quite entertaining. Not to mention that one of the characters is utterly annoying.

12)Maggie Stiefvater - The Hounds of Ulster

Bryant and Sullivan are “punk gods of Irish music”. All they ever wanted was to participate in the sessions at Mullen's pub. When they make it to Mullen's, Sullivan is enchanted by a beautiful young woman. Bryant tries to stop him but then realizes it's already too late. Sullivan has been taken to another world entirely.

It feels like every story Maggie touches is gonna be wicked good. There's something about the way Maggie tells her stories that absolutely thrills me and this one hasn't been an exception.

13) Daniel Waters - Many Happy Returns

Mandy and her boyfriend Jake are killed in a car accident along with some other friends. Mandy's father hopes she will return – even if she wouldn't be like before.

This story was kind of strange. I can't find any other word for it. It was mostly irritating to just read about Mandy's father and just some little things from Jake. And then there was the paragraph I didn't really get, I think. Also, I'm a big fan of happy endings, so I was kind of disappointed. :D

Overall I'd say this is a nice collection of stories that I'm glad I bought, although it wasn't exactly what I've expected. I think this book shouldn't be missing in any fantasy lover's bookshelf who is looking for some entertainment that doesn't take too long to read.

My favorite book quotations - Part 2

2011-01-22T12:25:00.001+01:00

May contain spoiling content.

My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
"You love him, he loves you and we're all a happy, sloppy, dorky family." - Tod
"I wouldn't know. But she should get her period in a couple of days. Unless you want to stick around for that-" - Kaylee
"I hit Sophie on the back of her head with a universal remote. That thing is huge, it's like a cell phone from the '90s". -Tod

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
"You climbed in my window in the middle of the night, so either you're a vampire or perv, or both. Which is it?" - Ethan

Gone by Lisa McMann
"I'm sorry. Major verbal typo." - Janie

The Spirit Jar my Karen Mahoney
"Yeah, because a movie will take my mind off the fact that we're flying over water and I'm a freaking vampire." - Moth
"Instead, all I can think about is the fact that I'm flying through the air in a metal coffin." - Moth

Fearless by Rachel Vincent
"This is a halfway house, not a birthday party. If the residents were shiny, happy people, they wouldn't be here." - Nash

Vermillion by Daniel Marks
"Yes, I have normal, human-sized ears. I can wear [my hair] like this." - Velvet

The Hounds of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater
"Can you imagine pissing off some massive Irishman, and right before he kills you, you can literally see his balls in his eyes?" - Bryant

Review of 2010 - Blog

2011-01-09T15:50:00.001+01:00

This is the blog-related review of the last year. Mainly, I'm writing it becuase I'm interested in it myself. =)

Total amount of reviews:
15

First review published on this blog:
Meridian by Amber Kizer (Jan 3, 2010)

Last review published in 2010:
My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent (Sep 11, 2010)

Month most active:
January (5 Reviews)

Longest review:
Fallen by Lauren Kate
458 words

Shortest review:
Love is Hell by Various Authors
129 words

♦ City of Ashes

2011-01-04T20:11:00.004+01:00

The Mortal Instruments #2

by Cassandra Clare

Simon and Schuster

released Apr 2008

sequels: City of Glass (3/2009)

City of Fallen Angels (4/2011)

City of Lost Souls (5/2012)

City of Heavenly Fire (9/2013)

Synopsis

Clary just wishes her life to go back to normal. But how could it? After all she is a demon-slaying Shadowhunter who can see vampires, werewolves and faeries.

When the New York City Downworld is shocked by a series of killings of Downworlder children and the 2^nd Mortal Instrument, the Soul-Sword, is stolen Clary and Jace suspect Valentine whose plans seem to take a dangerous form.

And after all, Clary doesn't even know which side her breathtaking and infuriating newfound brother Jace took.

What I think

Okay, what can I say? I loved the book!

I rarely put it down to sleep or eat. It's overrated anyway.

Maybe I even liked it more than the first one but I have to admit that I read that a long time ago and I only know that there was a huge spoilage which made City of Bones a little less attractive.

I had City of Glass lying in my bookshelf for at least a year. And now after I read it I don't know why I waited for so long. I already ordered City of Glass and I can't wait for the fourth book.

I suppose most of you already read it, but if you haven't – do it.

Goals and Anticipations 2011

2011-01-02T21:08:00.002+01:00

Books I definitely want to read in 2011:
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick ✓
Tempest by Becca Fitzpatrick
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
The Poison Eaters by Holly Black
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent ✓
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
White Cat by Holly Black
The Eternal Kiss by Holly Black, Cassandra Clare & Others

Most anticipated releases of 2011:
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent
Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
Red Glove by Holly Black
Tempest by Becca Fitzpatrick
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

I might add more someday.

My Soul to Steal Release

2011-01-02T20:40:00.002+01:00

Know what?
"My Soul to Steal" by Rachel Vincent, book 4 in the Soul Screamers series, hit shelves yesterday!
I'm so excited about it!!

Here's a trailer & the cover blurb.

YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?

Trying to work things out with
Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just
pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their
relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to
take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara,
the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft
them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she
survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to
death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

I DON'T THINK SO.

You can purchase the book on amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or The Book Depository

Review of 2010 - Books

2011-01-01T18:44:00.003+01:00

This is a kind of personal book-related review on 2010.
I have no idea where this post is heading. Honestly. But we'll see.

Books I desperately wanted to read in 2010 and actually did:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Gone by Lisa McMann
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia / Margaret Stohl
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Crashed by Robin Wasserman
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Most anticipated releases of 2010:
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Wired by Robin Wasserman
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Gone by Lisa McMann
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Kiss me Deadly by Becca Fitzpatrick, Rachel Vincent & Others
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia / Margaret Stohl

Favorite books of 2010:
Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia / Margaret Stohl

Books I wanted to read in 2010 but still didn't:
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Kiss me Deadly by Becca Fitzpatrick, Rachel Vincent & Others
The Poison Eaters by Holly Black
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia / Margaret Stohl
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Wired by Robin Wasserman

Books from giveaways / signings / authors in 2010:
Gone by Lisa McMann (giveaway)
The Pact of the Wolves by Nina Blazon (reading/signing)
Crashed by Robin Wasserman (from Robin with signature and very sweet letter)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T17:04:00.000+01:00

I hope you all had a good start in 2011!
My best wishes to all of you out there.
I hope 2011 is gonna be a good year for us!

♦ My Soul to Keep

2010-09-11T11:55:00.004+02:00

Soul Screamers #3

by Rachel Vincent
Harlequin Teen
released Jun 2010
sequel: "My Soul to Steal"

Synopsis

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A bean sidhe like her, he understands her like no one else does. Kaylee thinks that nothing can come between them.
Until something really does.
Demon's Breath. The highly addictive substance has found a way out of the Netherworld and into Kaylee's High School. Kaylee has to find the source and cut off the supply before any of her friends get killed - one of them is already hooked.
And so is someone else...

What I think
I liked 'My Soul to Keep' a lot more than 'My Soul to Save', because Kaylee got caught up in all of what happens for more obvious reasons.
Everything in Kaylee's life is so falling apart and going down I couldn't really believe it. And then there's still a lot more to come. That makes the whole book very dramatic and I like drama. That made me read the book within 24 hours.
And again I noticed all the things in the story that are so well created. The book opens a whole new world for the reader and there's not one single detail missing.
The book was really incredible, altough it was really breaking my heart and I was losing trust in some of the characters. At some ponits I just wanted it all to be over and get better and everyone to be happy again.
And although I woulnd't exactly call it a happy ending for all of the characters I was still very content with how it played out in the end and I especially liked Kaylee's desicions, because I could identify with her and I could really understand her actions.
I am extremly happy that the 3rd book brought an increase, because as I had pointed out I didn't like the 2nd as much, but this one can really keep up with the first book in the series. And I suppose I even like the 3rd a bit more.

♦ Beautiful Creatures

2010-09-09T15:05:00.007+02:00

Caster Chronicles #1

by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
released Dec 1 2009
sequel: Beautiful Darkness

"There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave."

Synopsis

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal the curse that has haunted her family for decades.
Moving into her uncle's old plantation doesn't make it any easier for her to fit in.
Ethan Wate, who's been hoping to escape Gatlin as soon as possible, is dreaming about a girl he has never met before. And when Lena moves into Gatlin's haunted mansion, Ethan is determined to uncover the strong connection between them.
No secret can stay hidden forever.

What I think
'Beautiful Creatures' is thicker than other books I recently read. But I like thick books as long as they're good, because long books tend to be filled with a lot of blabber about things that are not quite important for the plot and you just think "Oh my god, what is all this sh** about?!"
So I was very relieved that 'Beautiful Creatures' was absolutely not that way.
The book gave you just the right amount of information and back story you needed.
I was a little bit reluctant to start reading a book that has about 200 additional pages compared to my other recent books.
But when I was half through it I was like "what, so fast?" and I really liked it.
The whole first two pages I didn't really get that the book is told from Ethan's perspective, but I noticed my fault quite fast after that. It took a little getting used to reading about a very normal boy and the supernatural girl, which is the other way around from what you usually have and then it's also told from the guy's pov.
I like things that are different, that are not as mainstream but still so good.
Sometimes I would've wished to have a little more information, but I think that's just the way Ethan felt all the time and it makes the book suspensful and gives the plot a few unexpected twists, that I really loved.
And it is so good to have a guy like Ethan. He's not the supernatural-nonexistend-hottie. He's just normal and and he's wonderful. That's something you really need.
In the end the plot of 'Beautiful Creatures' leaves you with the right amount of unanswered questions and it's sort of an open end that clearly needs to be continued. And unlike lots of other endings, this one is really good.
Go read for yourself.

♦ Fallen

2010-08-11T22:38:00.008+02:00

Fallen #1

by Lauren Kate
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
released Dec 8 2009
sequel: Torment

"Some angels are destined to fall."

Synopsis

When Luce meets Daniel she knows there's something achingly familiar about him. He captures her attention, even though he makes very clear that he wants nothing to with her. But Luce does not give up and puts her own life at risk by trying to uncover his secrets.

What I think
'Fallen' is very hard for me to review because I don't really know what I should think of it. I have a very split opinion about it. Maybe it was just bad to read reviews before I had finished the book, because then I read on and thought “Oh well, he/she has a point there” and I start to think about aspects of the book I usually wouldn't think about.
I hate to compare books, but I feel like everyone keeps shouting two books at me to compare with 'Fallen'. That's 'Hush, Hush' and that's 'Twilight'.
So, it is true that there are similarities to 'Twilight'(e.g. new girl at school, mysterious good-looking guy, who seems to hate her but she falls in love with him, strange dreams that are giving his dark secret away, and so on)
Yes, it is true that this is kind of a mainstream-scheme, but isn't that exactly what readers want to have? Yes, I think it is. At least partially, because sometimes a little variety would not be amiss.
Then one thing that kinda bothered me was that I couldn't fully identify with Luce and at some points in the book it struck me that she's not that smart and that she seems to be kinda weak-willed. I just asked myself what her problem was.

The ending could have been more. I missed the feeling that I'm in their world and that the situation is really hopeless. Because some books can make you forget that you know there's a happy ending. But 'Fallen' could not.
There are so many questions left open in the end. Those questions in the end are okay and they have to be there to keep a reader's interest. But in 'Fallen' there are too many. It seemed to me like those unanswered questions literally scream at you to read the sequel, just to get the answers you want to have.
Lauren Kate's writing style is not one of those that really capture me. There where sentences in the book I found out of place, they kind of ruined the atmosphere.
In matters of the topic-relation to 'Hush, Hush' I would always prefer and recommend 'Hush, Hush', 'cause it's more appealing.
I think I will read the sequel ('Torment') because the book left an impression and maybe the second book can make up for the first at least a little bit. But I try not to expect too much of it.
The story of Luce and Daniel has more potential and I like the idea of how Daniel always finds Luce and they fall in love and how Daniel can never keep her. That's why I'm gonna read 'Torment' but 'Fallen' was not exactly a great hit.

My favorite book quotations - Part 1

2010-08-11T16:42:00.003+02:00

May contain spoiling content.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater:
"I wasn't sure if I was charmed by his reluctance to share a bed with a girl or insulted that, apparently, I wasn't hot enough for him to charge the mattress like a bull." - Grace
"Even though I knew I was alone, I still shivered." - Grace

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater:
"This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one." - Grace
"Yeah, it's crap now, and you're taking crap to a whole new level." - Sam
"I felt it in my bones: I was home." - Grace
"I still believed in hell. It was heaven I wasn't so sure about anymore." - Cole
"This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf, and a girl who became one." - Sam

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick:
"'More?' he asked. I curled my hand into his hair, pulling him closer. 'More.'" - Nora and Patch

Skinned by Robin Wasserman:
"Liah Kahn is dead. I am Liah Kahn. Therefore [...] I am dead. Except here's the thing: I'm not." - Liah

Crashed by Robin Wasserman:
"Because we fit together. Because his lips were soft but his arms were strong and they held me up. - Liah

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld:
"As if giving up wasn't really that bad, as if fighting was only worthwhile as long as it was amusing." - Tally

♦ My Soul to Take

2010-08-11T16:02:00.006+02:00

Soul Screamers #1

by Rachel Vincent
Harlequin Teen
released Aug 2009
sequels: My Soul to Save [review]
My Soul to Keep [review]
My Soul to Steal
prequel: My Soul to Lose (read it here)

"The last thing you hear before you die."

Synopsis
Something's wrong with Kaylee Cavanaugh.
She senses when someone is going to die. And when that happens she starts to scream bloody murder and she can't control it, let alone stop it.

Kaylee just caught the attention of the hottest guy in school and he seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. When classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

What I think
'My Soul to Take' was really a pleasure to read. It was something different again, none of the mainstream-all-the-same-books. I like the idea of the book and there's nothing to complain about the storyline.
What stood out to me was that MSTT is very well written, it was very vivid and gripping.
It was not exactly extraordinary but it was very good.
One thing about Kaylee that bugs me is her lack of self-confidence. She's worrying just a little bit too much about being played with. She should've had a little bit more confidence in Nash from the beginning, although her suspicion was not ill-founded.
When I ordered My Soul to Take I ordered My Soul to Save at the same time and I was not disappointed. The story kept my interest throughout the whole book although I wouldn't say that I devoured it really fast.

♦ My Soul to Save

2010-08-11T15:50:00.014+02:00

Soul Screamers #2

by Rachel Vincent
Harlequin Teen
released Dec 2009
sequels: My Soul to Keep (6/2010) [review]
My Soul to Steal (1/2011)

"If she were going to die, I'd already be screaming. I'm a banshee. That's what we do."

Synopsis
When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone is about to die.
When pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows that something is dead wrong about her. She can't cry for someone without a soul.
Starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a lifetime of fame and fortune. In exchange for eternity of torture in the Netherworld. Kaylee can't let it happen, even if trying to save their souls could mean losing her own.

What I think
'My Soul to Save' took me quite a while to read. It was a little bit boring first. Not because the story was bad, but because I was not so very interested in the plot. Although it kept dragging on in the beginning I was through that part of the book faster than I'd thought. Somewhere in the middle it got a lot more interesting and I was fascinated by the story a lot more. The ending of the book was totally of my taste, so imo the book grew more intense.
MSTS lacked a bit of Kaylee and Nash, as crazy as it sounds but the book was more about other people's lives and problems and they only got themselves into it on purpose.
It doesn't quite keep the level of My Soul to Take, which disappointed me a little bit. I suppose I expected a bit more of it. But I will definitely read the next two books.

♦ Linger

2010-08-11T14:41:00.011+02:00

Wolves of Mercy Falls #2

by Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic
released Jul 4 2010
sequel: Forever (7/2011)

"This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one."

Synopsis
Sam and Grace must fight to be together. Grace has to challenge her parents and tries to keep her secrets. Sam sturggles with his past while thinking about his future. Just as things start to settle down, Grace finds herself changing in ways she would never have expected.

What I think

Before I read 'Linger' I knew that Cole was one of the new wolves and that there were parts from his perspective, but I wouldn't have thought that he was so important for the plot.
At the beginning I thought that Cole kinda disturbed the whole thing a little. I mean, not Cole himself but more the distance the parts told from Cole's POV put between me as a reader and Sam and Grace. But the farther I got into the book that feeling disappeared.
And what I loved was that unlike many other sequels, Linger really kept the level of Shiver. Most 2nd parts often feel like it's not that book anymore. Too many things just feel a bit off and Linger did not. It felt just right.
Rilke's poems always make me smile a bit.
The ending was really killing me. I sat in my Dad's car reading it and tried so hard not to cry.
I mean, heart-wrenching pretty much got it right. You know, now I can't wait to read Forever, cause it's really bothering me not to know what happens.
(And honestly, I need to have origami birds and Christmas lights in my room.)

Giveaway at A Journey of Books

2010-05-31T21:20:00.002+02:00

There's a giveaway running at "A Journey of Books".
They have two copies of "My Soul to Keep" by Rachel Vincent.
Giveaway ends June 4, 2010. It is open internationally.

For more info and the giveaway, visit A Journey of Books.

Good luck to everyone who entered or will enter!

♦ Hush, Hush

2010-05-30T22:18:00.012+02:00

Hush, Hush #1

by Becca Fitzpatrick
Simon & Schuster
released Oct 13 2009
sequel: Crescendo (10/2010)
Tempest (10/2011)

"Falling for the fallen."

Synopsis

As Nora encounters Patch, a mysterious new guy in her class, she feels strangely attracted to him. After a series of terrifying incidents, Nora is not sure whom she can trust. Patch seems to know everything about her and be everywhere she is. When Nora tries to find the truth she finds herself in the middle of centuries-old battle between the immortal and those who have fallen.

What I think

'Hush, Hush' blew my mind. I can't say how much I love it. Although I've been very busy, I managed to read it within 2 days. I've read a lot of good books, but this tops the list.

If you haven't already read it, go and get it NOW!

What I liked about the book was that you could never trust in what you read or rather what Nora saw or experienced. And then there was that hovering threat all along the book and the mystery of the whole situation Nora finds herself thrown into. And then of course the mystery of Patch himself and of who he really is.

The inner conflict of Nora was something that nearly ripped me apart as a reader, because I didn't know either whom Nora should or could trust.

♦ Shiver

2010-05-13T15:19:00.015+02:00

Wolves of Mercy Falls #1

by Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic
released Aug 1 2009
sequels: Linger (7/2010) [review]
Forever (7/2011)

Synopsis

Grace is fascinated by the wolves in the woods behind her house; one yellow-eyed wolf in particular. Sam, who leads two lives. In winter, he stays in the frozen woods. In summer, he has few months to be human. Grace and Sam finally meet and realize they can't bear to be apart. Sam must fight to stay human - or risk losing himself, and Grace, for ever.

What I think
I read the first chapter, which is only 1 1/2 pages long - and I loved it.
I read the second chapter, 2 1/2 pages - and I loved it even more.
I like how Grace is; who she is. Sometimes she seems to be so normal, so much like me, but then again she is so different and I wish I'd be like her.
The book was so cute and romantic, but you read it living in fear like Grace and Sam.
'Shiver' made me happy and it made me sad at the same time.
I'd planned on reading it at school but when I got close to the end, I realized I couldn't because I'd be crying my eyes out. And I did cry, I cried until there were no more tears left.
For some books the end is important to me for judging about it. But 'Shiver' is different. I had already made up my mind and it didn't matter to me how it would end. It was irrelevant. Everything else mattered, just not the end. The end didn't change anything about my opinion.

Linger Trailer

2010-05-13T14:55:00.005+02:00

So guys, here is the 'Linger' trailer. I can sooo not wait to read that book!
Enjoy!

♦ Evermore

2010-05-13T14:43:00.009+02:00

The Immortals Series #1

by Alyson Noel
St. Martin's Press
released Feb 3 2009
sequels: Blue Moon (7/2009)
Shadowland (11/2009)
Dark Flame (6/2010)

Synopsis
After a horrible accident, in which her family died, Ever can see auras and hear people's thoughts. Except Damen's. Damen Auguste is the only one who can silence the random thoughts in Ever's head, he always seems to know what she's thinking and he never dies.

What I think
It was a nice read and I certainly liked the book, otherwise I wouldn't have read the sequel 'Blue Moon', but it's missing the certain something. The magic of a story that turns a good book into a really good book.
Some books make me miss it after reading it; the story, the world, the characters. I didn't miss 'Evermore' after I had finishd reading it. That doesn't mean it's not good, that it is, but it's not quite one of my favorite books. Not one of those books I could read over and over again.
There was nothing that I didn't really like or something about the story, the plot or the characters that bugged me, but I feel like there's something missing. I just can't put my finger on what it is.

Writer's block... sort of

2010-04-15T18:48:00.002+02:00

Hey guys.
I'll get straight to the ponit. Here's the problem:
I have a writer's block... sort of. A blogger's block or whatever.
I started writing like four reviews (Crashed, Hush,Hush, Shiver, Evermore) but there's something missing to each of them. I just can't finish them because I can't find the words. (And trust me, I always find words.)
Here's the deal, I'm thinking about either wait until I can finish them
or post them right away and add some things whenever they come to my mind. (I'd keep you updated on it.)

What do you think? I need your help. So please tell me.

Cover Reveal of 'Crescendo'

2010-04-09T20:18:00.003+02:00

I just wanted to tell you that the cover of 'Crescendo' by Becca Fitzpatrick (sequel to 'Hush, Hush') will be revealed tomorrow!
After starting to read 'Hush, Hush' today, I'm really excited to see the cover because I'm definitely gonna read it. 'Hush, Hush' would have to get really bad to stop me from getting 'Crescendo'. Considering the first 7 chapters, that's not gonna happen!

You can check out the cover reveal at Fallen Archangel.

♦ Thirteen Reasons Why

2010-03-29T12:38:00.006+02:00

by Jay Asher
Razorbill
released Oct 18 2007

Synopsis

Clay receives a package that contains casette tapes on which Hannah Baker explains the thirteen reasons why she put an end to her life. Hannah was Clay's calssmate and crush and he is one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story - and thus one of the 13 reaosns that led to her suicide.

What I think

I remember reading 'Thirteen Reasons Why' last summer break. It was one of those rare books that I couldn't put down. I read it in one and a half days and the night in between without eating or sleeping.

It was a shocking book but it was also one of the most interesting, compelling and suspenseful books I've ever read. I couldn't stop reading and I think my thoughts didn't stop circling around the story until one or two weeks after I had finished it.

I'd say it's not a book for the faint hearted, though. Some parts of the book really left me speechless.

That girl committed suicide and she had her reasons. Some might be just little things adding up in the end, but others are horrible. Clay spends one day and part of the night to go to the locations Hannah's voice tells him to go to and he finds out about every reason an every person that has been involved.

The changing POV of Hannah and Clay makes the book very interesting and in my opinion also very vivid.

'Thirteen Reasons Why' is a book that I will definitely read again.

Coming up

2010-03-28T20:59:00.002+02:00

Okay, I suppose you all noticed my last update.
The Runemarks mini review. Well, read it if you're intereseted.

So, I'm currently re-reading Robin Wasserman's "Skinned" after I noticed that I can't remember some things happening in the book. I started reading "Crashed" but stopped after two chapters to read "Skinned" again.

That's how it is.
I have two more days of school until the Easter Holidays. I really hope I can read loads of books in my free time! (Well, that's not so easy 'cause I'm doing my license right now.)

Stay tuned.
See y'all.

♦ Runemarks (Mini Review)

2010-03-28T20:45:00.005+02:00

by Joanne Harris
Corgi
528 Pages
released Jan 8 2008
paperback available

Okay, this is really just a tiny mini review.

The reason: I havent't finished reading the book.

The beginning was really totally boring and after 2/3 of the book I realized it was just not my genre. It kind of bugged me a little because I hoped it would get better after a while. The book couldn't hold my interest at all.

I will read it as soon as I have time to read it. But at the moment I don't feel like reading a book that I don't really like.

No offense! It's just not the kind of book I enjoy reading.

This has gone wrong

2010-02-27T15:27:00.006+01:00

Okay, I admit it. My holiday plans went wrong, totally wrong.
I really wanted to do the reviews or at least one but my theater teachers had different plans.
We had to do a few extra rehearsals during the holidays, which means extra stress and less sleep for another couple of days. And now I'm totally into acting. We had our premiere on Thursday and another performance on Friday (yesterday) so there's one left for tonight. You won't believe how happy I'll be when the curtain falls for the last time. On the other hand I'll be really sad because I totally enjoy this time and I'm having so much fun onstage.

So, all in all it means you have to give me a little more time, because I need to catch up on school and sleeping.
Maybe I'm gonna post some pictures in a few days. Stay tuned if you wanna see me with really creepy makeup. :D

Just a little update

2010-02-15T17:49:00.003+01:00

So guys, I know it's been a while since my last post and I'm really sorry about it.
I have holidays now (just one week but still) so I'll try to review a few books.
I've been really busy. I've had a lot of rehearsals for the new play, I've been dancing as much as I could and I had to do my course selection for the next 2 years of school.

I'm not quite sure about the next book I'm gonna review yet. Maybe "Evermore", maybe something different. I'll take a look at my bookshelf to decide.

And also, I wanted to tell you that I actually won a book contest (the New Years Contest on Hooked on YA Books, the one I told you about earlier)
I absolutely can't believe it and I am sooo happy about it! Thanks again to Alexa! =)
The prize was choosing a book that's going to be released in 2010 and I've chosen GONE by Lisa McMann. Can't wait to read it!

Stay tuned, I'll be updating soon!

♦ Love is Hell

2010-01-06T20:47:00.009+01:00

Anthology including:
Sleeping with the Spirit by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Stupid Perfect World by Scott Westerfeld
Thinner Than Water by Justine Larbalestier
Fan Fictions by Gabrielle Zevin
Love Struck by Melissa Mar

HarperTeen
released Nov 25 2008

Synopsis
Sleeping with the Spirit by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Brenda is haunted by the ghost of a 17 year old boy, who was murdered 20 years before. After she loses her fear and tries to help Trevis handle his last task they fall in love with each other. But Brenda got to let him go; he wants to find peace after 20 years of wandering around and finding someone to help him.
Stupid Perfect World by Scott Westerfeld
In a world where you don't have to sleep, can't get sick or have your hormones troubling you, teenagers are asked to do something from "the old days" in calss. Keiran is trying out sleeping and Maria gives free rein to her hormones - and falls madly in love. The characters experience "real life" and what it means to truly feel.
Thinner than Water by Justine Larbalestier
15 year old Jeannie lives in a village with old traditions. After her 15th birthday she has to work in the family bakery and she has to find a boy to marry. She choses Robbie, a boy who is unwanted an unvalued, because the village community thinks he's fairy folk. Jeannie and Robbie lead a simple, but happy life until Jeannie's family decides to get rid of Robbie. Is Jeannie willing to give up her life for being with Robbie?
Fan Fictions by Gabrielle Zevin
Paige is neither popular nor famous at her school. She hides in the school library and loves to read. The librarian suggests reading "The Immortals" but she's not interested in the book. Not even when a mysterious boy named Aaron wants to talk with her about the book. Paige and Aaron get to know each other more closely and soon they become more than just friends.
When Aaron disappears and Paige is devastated she hears her calssmates backbite about her and Aaron in the book club. Paige knows she hasn't just imagined Aaron.
Love Struck by Melissa Marr
Alana gets trapped by a selchie, a fey creature, when she picks up his Other-Skin. Murrin now sees Alana as his wife, his one true love. Murrin and Alana are bonded by the pelt and Alana can't get rid of it. As Murrin hovers over her, Alana falls for him. As time goes by, Murrin's craving for his home, the sea, is growning.

What I think
'Love is Hell' is a wonderful collection of paranormal love stories. Not every story turns out in eternal love, but they have a happy ending in a different way. (Except for Fan Fictions, maybe.)
I especially loved 'Thinner Than Water' and 'Love Struck'. In my opinion, they're both wonderful, well-written stories.
The only one I didn't like so much was 'Fan Fictions'. It was totally confusing and it didn't really make a lot of sense to me.
The other four stories are a lot better and more captivating, taking you along with the feelings of the characters and some may leave you crying.
All in all 'Love is Hell' is surely a book for everyone who likes supernatural love if it doesn't necessarily have to have a happy ending.

♦ The Forest of Hands and Teeth

2010-01-06T17:02:00.011+01:00

by Carrie Ryan
Delacorte Press
released Mar 10 2009
sequels: The Dead-Tossed Waves (3/2010)
The Dark and Hollow Places (3/2011)

"In Mary's world, there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village;
the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth."

Synopsis
When the fence protecting the village is brenched and they're overrun by the Unconsecrated, Mary has to choose between the village and the only chance she has to escape and follow her greatest dream: the ocean.
She searches for life outside a world surrounded by death and has to learn the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

What I think
Contains major spoiling content (hidden) show it if you like
'The Forest of Hands an Teeth' was someting totally new for me. It was very exciting and suspenseful, although the beginning stretches a little and it started being boring a little bit. But when the story begins it's a real page-turner. You never know what comes next and you never know what Mary will discover next on her way through the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

I have to say though that I didn't like how the story turned out in the end. Mary may have had her own personal happy ending, but it was not a happy ending for me as a reader. I couldn't quite understand all of her actions. She follows a dream she had her whole life and she sacrificed a lot to fulfill it. It was not what I had expected, but maybe it's human nature or just part of Mary's character.
She loses everyone she cared for, she even kind of sacrificed them (her brother anyway) just to see the ocean. She desperately wanted to see it, but I think it was selfish and dumb and in my opinion it wasn't worth ending up all alone and being picked up by a stranger at the beach.
If you're a fan of happy endings you should reconsider reading this book.
I don't really know yet if I'm going to read the sequel or not.
It's fantasy mixed up with horror and it was nevertheless nice to read and a really gripping story.

Short note / spoiling

2010-01-05T22:18:00.007+01:00

I've been asked why I didn't write more about the plot of the books.
This has mainly two reasons.
First, I don't have time to write more detailed summaries of the books. I'm happy when I have time to read them.
And second, I'm sure I would tell too much and I don't want anyone to get spoiled because of my blog. I've been spoiled a few times and I think it ruins the reading pleasure and kills the suspense.
That's my opinion, hope you understand ;)

By the way, spoiling content will look like this if I can't avoid it:
Seems like you got how to show them.
Just highlight it, if you want to know.

Want to win a book?

2010-01-05T22:08:00.016+01:00

Do you want to win a book that's going to be released in 2010?
ANY book released in 2010?
Go to Hooked On YA Books to find out more about the New Year Contest.
Ends on February 1st.

Plus, there is a Holiday & 150+ Followers Contest, ending on Jan 31st.

Great idea. I will definitely participate!

♦ I heart you, you haunt me

2010-01-04T23:33:00.037+01:00

by Lisa Schroeder
Simon Pulse
released Jan 8 2008

"Girl meets boy.
Girl loses boy.
Girl gets boy back...
...sort of.

Some bonds just can't be broken."

Synopsis
Ava knows it's her fault her boyfriend died. But she knows Jackson is still with her.
She can hear his whispers in her head and she can see him in her dreams.

What I think
'I heart you, you haunt me' is one of the most beautiful and enchanting love stories I've ever read.
The plot is tragic and it was the first book that made me cry at the beginning(!!)
The characters of Ava and Jackson are drawn very nicely and their love seemed almost tangible.
I had never read a book in verse before, but it was a wonderful experience. I would have never thought that a verse novel could be so great and well-written.
It was, and still is, somehow impossible for me that the atmosphere between Ava and Jackson would come out so clearly and detailed.

I can't say how much the verse affected the impression of the book, because I have nothing to compare with, but I can say that it is a brilliant, magical and lovely story.

My growing wish list

2010-01-04T22:30:00.012+01:00

My amazon.com wish list is growing.
I'd love to read 'The Poison Eaters' , a short story collection by Holly Black coming out in February.
Also, I added 'Chasing Brooklyn' by Lisa Schroeder and 'Fallen' by Lauren Kate.
And there would be tons of other books I'd like to read! (Mortal Instuments 2 and 3 by Cassandra Clare are still missing in my collection and I've come across 'Hush, Hush' by Becca Fitzpatrick and 'Soul Screamers' by Rachel Vincent, which awoke my interest, now that I've read 'Meridian', which seems to go into a similar direction.)

But well, a wishlist is fairly useless, if there's no one to fulfil a wish.

♦ Skinned

2010-01-03T21:13:00.037+01:00

Skinned Trilogy #1

by Robin Wasserman
Simon Pulse
released Sep 9 2008
sequels: Crashed (8/2009)
Wired (9/2010)

Synopsis
Lia Kahn was popular and beautiful; she led a perfect life. That was before the car crash nearly got her killed.
After that she's been downloaded into a body that only looks human. She can't feel pain, she won't age and she can't really die. But the price she has to pay is high; she's rejected by her friends and betrayed by her boyfriend. Her old life is gone and it will never change again.
Lia is forced to join others of her kind. But they are feared, hated and looked at as freaks. They're not human in any way, and they have to pay for it.

What I think

Skinned is one of my favorite books, although a lot of my friends say they would never, ever read it. It's a book that, on the one side, shows an idea of our possible future and on the other side is very profound, treating of human nature and dealing with who we truly are.

One of the things I like most about the book is how it's written. What happens to Lia is very tragic and there's a certain ironic aspect to how the story is told and I think it's a very important aspect. I don't know how you could stand hearing Lia's story without it. I kind of got into it very quickly and the book was very intense (or whatever you'd like to call it.)
The other thing, of course, is the story itself. It's tragic, compelling, wonderful and all of the other things I expect of a really good book.
I liked the idea of it so much, but it also gave me the creeps at first because it's really intimidating what they can do and I don't think it is that absurd to happen in the future.
You have to be open for something new if you're not very familiar with that genre,though. It was something new for me as well, I was kind of into urban fantasy a lot before I read 'Skinned' and I was a little bit skeptic at first.
I can't even remember where I bought the book or why I bought in the first place but it was absolutely the right choice to do. I love it and I can highly recommend this book.

♦ Meridian

2010-01-03T16:23:00.032+01:00

Fenestra #1

by Amber Kizer
Delacorte Press
released Aug 11 2009

Synopsis
Meridian had always been accompanied by death. Insects and other small animals would come to her to die. On her 16th birthday, after a terrible accident she's sent to Colorado to live with her great-aunt. There, she has to learn that she is a Fenestra; a half-human, half-angel link between life and death. But Meridian and Tens, her love and also her protector are in great danger; haunted by the Aternocti they have to find a way out and Meridian has to learn how to be a Fenestra before their time runs out.

What I think
Contains mild spoiling content (hidden) show it if you like

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I totally enjoyed it and I could barely stop until I had finished.
I'm very happy that there will be a sequel, because I would love to read more and the story clearly is not over yet.
It is a totally new kind of concept (for me anyway, if not generally) that there's something like the Fenestrae, who help souls finding their way to heaven (or whatever you like to call it.)

The constant calls and the other things that happened (Meridian encountering the Reverend several times and being officially threatened by him) created a lot of suspense, but it's more the kind of suspense that doesn't let you put the book down from the moment you start reading it. The showdown wasn't boring, but it was not the kind of suspense that quickens your pulse and gets your hands sweaty. I missed that a little bit, because I think there would have been more potential. But that's not really a major issue.
I waited for something interesting to happen all the time, but when I expected Meridian and Tens to be safe for a while, they were not. This was the final showdown, which wasn't very spectacular or interesting. As I said before, I suppose there could have been more. The fact that Meridian met all those people who gave her calling cards should have been more developed and actually I got the whole point of those cards from the beginning, but it seems like Meridian didn't. That bugged me a little.

'Meridian' is very well written and I'm looking forward to its sequel. I am very happy that I found this book, although it didn't exactly knock my socks off and I've read better books.

Upcoming

2010-01-02T14:08:00.006+01:00

I suppose 'Meridian' will be the first review , 'cause that's the book I read most recently. The other ones will follow, although I guess I'll have to re-read some of the books in my update list.

And also, there'll be a lot more reviews of books I planned to buy, but don't have the money yet. There's Alyson Noel's 'Shadowland', book 3 of The Immortals series and 'Crashed' by Robin Wasserman, sequel to 'Skinned' as well as Maggie Stiefvater's 'Shiver' and maybe 'Lament' and 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins.

Plus, I have added 'Tithe' , 'Valiant' and 'Ironside' by Holly Black to my upcoming reviews list.

Welcome-Post

2010-01-01T21:30:00.006+01:00

Well, I decided to restart the book babble blog project.
I had started a blog before and gave it up again because of the lack of time...
But now I decided to take the time to write the reviews and post them here.

And if blogspot manages to solve the problem they have with the twitter gadget, I'll even link my twitter account and my blog.
I just have to find out why blogspot shows me my tweets in the preview, but not on my blog.