Review: Hourglass - Myra McEntire

Where I got it: Amazon Vine

Rating: 4 stars

Cover Rating: 4.5 stars (Super creepy, the book isn't as creepy as a girl walking on the wall might imply. The colors are great and the font for the title is perfect.)

Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: June 14, 2011

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Page Count: 400 p.

Right before Emerson's parents died, she started seeing ghosts, or at least what she thought were ghosts. No one else could see them and it caused her a lot of grief and even got her institutionalized. Now she's out and living with her older brother, Thomas and his wife Dru. She has slowly weened herself off the meds, without telling anyone, even though it makes the visions come back. Her brother is very understanding and always trying to find someone to help Emerson. That's when she meets Michael. He's from a company called Hourglass, that helps people with abilities like Emerson's in coping adn using their abilities. If Emerson can start belieing that she has a gift rather than a curse, she may be able to help save lives. Michael wants her help, and she can't deny the connection between them, but the more she finds out about everything, the crazier it all begins to sound.

This book was very awesome. I loved Emerson. Some may find her too catty, but it's all a defense mechanism, because she feels alone in her ability to see things that aren't really there. This story sort of reminded me of X-Men in some ways, just because a bunch of misfits end up coming together and finding each other through the Hourglass, that was made by someone like them for people like them. I loved the dialogue in this story; the back and forth between the characters was wholly realistic and awesomely cutting. Michael was also quite swoon-worthy, so that helps. The dynamic between Emerson and Michael showed that they were connected by something bigger than themselves, the tension and electricity between them was tangible within the words. I am very interested to see more with Lily, Emerson's best friend, in the next book. The town that Emerson lives in sounds really fantastic, even if there is something evil lurking in the background. This book was wonderful on it's own, but I am excited to continue with the characters in book two. I appreciate a book that can wrap up it's story in one, but then still leave enough for a sequel (or two). Myra McEntire made a stunning debut that you would be a fool not to pick up.

First Line:

"My small Southern hometown is beautiful in the haunting way an aging debutante is beautiful."

Favorite Line:

"Not only is this woman a saint, but she makes killer Cuban espresso and apple empanadas that taste so good they'd make a nun cuss."

In My Mailbox #91

In My Mailbox brought to you by The Story Siren

For Review: Thanks to Zondervan, Joy and Harpercollins!

A Girl Named Mister - Nikki Grimes

(Not really something I would normally read, but it is written in prose poetry, 

so maybe it will be good still.)

Mary Rudine, called Mister by almost everyone, has attended church and sung in the choir for as long as she can remember. But then she meets Trey. His long lashes and smooth words make her question what she knows is right, and one mistake leaves her hiding a growing secret.

Another Mary is preparing for her upcoming wedding and has done everything according to Jewish law. So when an angel appears one night and tells her that she—a virgin—will give birth, Mary can't help but feel confused, and soon finds herself struggling with the greatest blessing the world will ever know. Feeling abandoned, Mister is drawn to Mary's story, and together both young women discover the depth of God's love and the mysteries of his divine plan.

Hereafter - Tara Hudson

Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead.  With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini
(You can't tell too well from the photo, but the cover has this nice shiny rainbow effect. Pretty!)
How do you defy destiny?
Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Die for Me - Amy Plum

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Bought/Swapped:
Lonely Hearts Club - Elizabeth Eulberg (my review)

Love is all you need...or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut.

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows - no more. It's a personal choice...and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born; The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways...which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like...

Paranormalcy - Kiersten White (my review)

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal...

The Sweetness of Salt - Cecilia Galante

Julia just graduated as her high school valedictorian, has a full ride to college in the fall and a coveted summer internship clerking for a federal judge. But when her older sister, Sophie, shows up at the graduation determined to reveal some long buried secrets, Julia's carefully constructed plans come to a halt. Instead of the summer she had painstakingly laid out, Julia follows Sophie back to Vermont, where Sophie is opening a bakery—and struggling with some secrets of her own. What follows is a summer of revelations—some heartwarming, some heartbreaking, and all slowly pointing Julia toward a new understanding of both herself and of the sister she never really knew.

Addicted to Her - Janet Nichols Lynch

Obsessive love. Will seventeen-year-old Rafael Montoya be able to choose between a reckless young woman and responsibilities to his family and future?

Monique is as beautiful and unobtainable as an Aztec goddess. Or is she? When Rafa sees Monique burst out of her boyfriend's truck during an explosive fight, he offers to drive her home. However, it is Rafa who is in for the ride of his life. Soon he is basking in Monique's attentions, but at a cost. To keep her Rafa must quit the wrestling team, blow off family responsibilities, join her in her risky behavior, and worst of all lie. How can Rafa let everyone, including himself, down? But how can he say no to the mesmerizing Monique?

Gifts: thanks to the lovely BF

Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure!

Unicorn Corn on the Cob Holders!

So that's what I got this week, what did you all get?

Review: Ruby Red - Kerstin Gier

Where I got it: Library
Rating: 5 stars
Cover Rating: 4.5 stars (I'm disappointed that the girl on the front does not have a birthmark on her face.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Page Count: 324 p.

Gwyneth's cousin Charlotte, has had classes in dancing, fencing, horseback riding and the like all in preparation for when her time traveling gene kicks in. For days Charlotte has been having dizzy spells, one of the symptoms that time travel is soon to come, and her mother and grandmother have whisked her away in preparation. However, one day Gwyneth finds herself transported to a different time. That night, Gwyneth again wakes up in a different time period. After the third instance of her time traveling she tells her mother, and gets ushered to the secret hall where her other family members have been awaiting Charlotte's travels. Gwyneth has not been prepared for a life of fulfilling her duties while traveling through time. At least there is Gideon, fellow time traveler from the de Villier family, he has been trained as Charlotte was. Gideon is not to keen on the change of companionship at first, but they will have to learn to work together, since Gwyneth is in fact the Ruby.

I loved this book and I can not believe the second one does not come out until spring 2012. Seriously all of you must, must MUST buy this book, or at the very least borrow this book RIGHT NOW! Ruby was a great character, a little ditzy at times, but fantastic nonetheless. Gideon, was fairly swoon worthy, especially wearing breeches ;) The book is set in London, which makes since, as the United States wasn't really the developed yet. London is such a great place to time travel back into, granted there are a lot of diseases, and the smell is quite awful, it still seems romantic. The characters all played their parts quite well, and I loved the secret society. All the hush hush secrets, and mysteries that most of the characters haven't even begun to uncover, help make this book even more fascinating. Gwyneth's friend Lesley seems  one who has the most idea of the whole picture, but that's only what she could find through her research. Lesley is a great supporting character for Gwyneth, and I am excited to see what role she plays in the next book too! Even though the start of this novel takes place in modern day, I think that thoughts of the past have clouded many of the people's brains, because most of them are quite old-fashioned in their beliefs. The men are men and the women are women. Except for Gwyneth and her mother, who have other ideas about how things should be. This was an exciting romp through time. I loved the Gwyneth is able to see and talk to ghosts and gargoyles, it adds another fantastic element to this story. Really this book is just fantastic, clearly Kerstin Gier knows exactly how to write a book. I can not recommend this enough.

First Line:
"As she fell to her knees and burst into tears, he looked all around the park."


Favorite Line:
"In fact I'd underestimated this whole strange story that I'd fallen into."

Review: The Hourglass Door - Lisa Mangum

Where I got it: From publisher for review

Rating: 3.5 stars

Cover Rating: 3 stars (It's okay, it is certainly pretty, but not pretty enough for me to choose it on a shelf. The title is quite catching though.)

Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: May 10, 2010

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Page Count: 398 p.

Abby's life is all planned out. She has a boyfriend who is always one step ahead and a best friend that she plans to room with in college. Then an exchange student shows up from Italy. Dante completely turns Abby's life upside down. She has decided to abandoned, her boring sturdy life, and instead live without limits. She wants surprises and adventures, and Dante seems like he holds a lot of surprises. The only question is, can she handle the truth?

I'm such a sap for loving these bad boy romances! Abby is one of those main characters who should not be set up with the love interest in the book. She's sort of shallow-ish and weak at times and what not. I don't know, these girls just seem sort of lost and it doesn't make since that these guys who have been through so much and are so worldly would choose to settle for a plain girl. I guess it gives hope to the readers? Anyways on to the book itself. There was a key plot element that I wish I hadn't known about prior to reading, since it sort of spoiled some of the build up for the first half of the novel. I loved the premise though and Dante certainly kept me reading. It's always interesting when a character is hard to read, brooding and mysterious and such. I wish the other characters were more memorable, but most of them weren't. Some characters cropped up randomly in the novel, and no explanation was given as to who they are and what their part was in the story.  Like Lily...who is she and where did she come from? Did I miss her somewhere in the beginning? This is another book that is sort of hard to talk about without spoiling anything, because like I said, there's a major plot point that sort of messes with the flow of the book if you know about it before you start reading. All the places were described quite well, and made me feel like I was there, even in the places I wouldn't want to be. Sometimes Lisa Mangum used the same description twice within the same page though, so that was a little annoying and distracting, and in general made the sentence less powerful as it could have been if it was only used once. This novel ended well, but still left you with a mystery that will be delved into in the next novel. I am very eager to read The Golden Spiral and am super glad that The Forgotten Locket comes out soon. If you enjoyed Hush, Hush I think you should pick this one up, you will love it.

First Line:
"It is the counting that saves him."


Favorite Line:
"His mouth moved on mine and electricity shot through my veins."

Waiting on Wednesday #41

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm waiting on Stoner & Spaz II - Ron Koertge

Beautiful but troubled Colleen Minou is the only girl who ever looked at Ben Bancroft as more than a spaz – more than just that kid with cerebral palsy. Yet the more time Ben spends with her, the more glaring their differences appear. Is what Ben feels for Colleen actual affection, or more like gratitude? Then there’s Amy (aka A.J.), who is everything Colleen isn’t, and everything Ben’s grandma wants for him: clean-cut and upper-class, academically driven, just as obsessed with filmmaking as Ben is. But Koertge’s sharp, darkly humorous follow-up to the award-winning Stoner & Spaz, Ben tries to come to terms with his confused feelings toward A.J. and his inimitable connection to Colleen, who is sometimes out of it, sometimes into him, and always exhilarating.
I absolutely adored the original Stoner & Spaz when I was in school, and have reread it quite a few times. I was very excited when I heard about this one coming out.

Review: Bumped - Megan McCafferty

Where I got it: Netgalley/Library

Rating: 4.5 stars

Cover Rating: 4 stars It's very interesting and the on the cover the egg is a weird texture and is elevated a bit.)

Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: April 26, 2011

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Page Count: 323 p.

In the future, there is a virus that makes everyone over the age of eighteen completely infertile. So babies are high market. Harmony and Melody are twin sisters who had never met before. They grew up very differently. Harmony grew up in a church sect believing that girls shouldn't pimp themselves by selling their babies to the highest bidder. Melody grew up groomed to sell her baby for the highest price imaginable. So it's quite a surprise for Melody when her sister shows up out of the blue. Having an identical twin can certainly be a problem and is one that Melody will have to face, even though she thought her and her sister were nothing alike. Melody gets matched with the top guy in the fertility market, but a case of mistaken identity takes her and her sister on a crazy little ride. Both girls aren't sure if they want to live up to what has always been planned for them.

This book was really awesome. I loved both the characters, they were alike in a lot of ways, but also different enough so you could tell them apart. This was a fascinating world that Megan McCafferty created. A place where people rarely had and kept their own babies, but rather had teen girls make babies and buy them. Looking around today, there would be plenty of teen babies to buy! I appreciated that there was a virus that caused the infertility and since our narrators were so young, they didn't know much of the details about it. I imagine that most people didn't know a lot about the virus except that it makes people unable to have babies. Zen was the sweetest character, even though he acted like a tool sometimes, he really wasn't. Poor vertically challenged boys :) The only thing that got under my skin was the slang in this novel. I feel like it added to the novel in some ways, but was completely distracting an confusing in other ways. Sometimes they would mention something by it's initials and it would be something they hadn't brought up yet, so then you have to wait until they finally talk about what the acronym stands for before you can understand it. Sometimes this was a little irritating, and I would go back to see if I missed something. This was another great dystopian though, with a realistic world full of real obligations. I think both kids felt pressure that is very relatable even in this day and age, especially Harmony. She had a lot of pressure to get married young and start a family, even though she didn't get to pick who was married. I think this happens in certain parts of the US all the time, and it sucks for the people involved, the boys and girls. Some of the boys don't want to be married of either. Harmony and Melody were very relatable characters with extraordinary lives/adventures. I was hoping this book would wrap up a lot nicer than it did, but I guess I'll just have to wait and read the sequel to find out what their next moves are. If you like dystpoian novels, make sure you check this one out soon!

First Lines:
"I'm sixteen. Pregnant. And the most important person on the planet."


Favorite Lines:
"I feel each syllable, his chest buzzing against mine. I can't seem to catch my breath."

Review: The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead - Paul Elwork

Where I got it: Library

Rating: 2 stars

Cover Rating: 4 stars (Creepy)

Genre: Adult

Publication Date: March 31, 2011

Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam

Page Count: 308 p.

Michael and Emily are thirteen-year-old twins. When Emily shares with her brother that she can make a haunting knocking sound with her ankle without visibly moving it, he starts to think they could use this talent for something. So they start small "communing to the dead" in front of some of their friends; then to some older ladies who find them a complete delight. All too soon though, Emily sees that there may be repercussions for pretending to speak for the dead.

This books didn't really seem to be about a whole lot. Maybe I just didn't get it, I don't know. I mean it was fascinating that Michael and Emily did this whole spiritualist thing and all. I feel like this book was pretty much just about dead people being dead and some of the terrible ways they died. I mean no one ever actually sees any ghosts throughout the whole book and no one talks to them. It was very disappointing. I just expected it to be a lot creepier and ghosty. I know that it's based loosely on the Fox sisters, and they never saw any actual ghost, but still. I did like the twins and how odd they were. Emily's internal dialog and curiosity were fascinating at times. I wish there was something more shocking in their family history or anything at all. It was interesting learning about the little snippets, but ultimately lackluster. Mostly the whole time I was reading this I was waiting for something to happen. Some things did happen, but none worthy of my intrigue. All in all this book was a huge disappointment for me.

First Line:
"The girl who would speak for the dead stood alone on the cobblestone drive after the rain."


Favorite Line:
"For all she could see, the trees may as well have sprawled away from the Delaware in a vast and continuous forest out to the Atlantic Ocean, a forest full of all the stories told by people leaving broken arrowheads along the river; living stories that clung to the trees in the same way things waited in the earth; stories upon stories falling backward in time to the sea."

In My Mailbox #90

In My Mailbox brought to you by The Story Siren

For Review:

My Life Undecided - Jessica Brody

Quarantine - Rahul Mehta

Russian Winter - Daphne Kalotay

Thanks to Ksenia + Macmillian and HarperPerennial 

Random:

Sneak Preview of Daughter and Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor

 (Oh boy do I wish I had the rest of the book so I could finish this!)

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Revealers - Amanda Marrone

Jules has a rebellious streak, a massive crush on Connor, and the abilities of a Revealer witch. By day, she and her coven friends seem like typical high school seniors. By night, they have the power to make werewolves, vampires, and ghosts reveal themselves, so they can destroy them. It's not exactly cheerleading, but at least the girls know they're doing the world some good.
One by one, Jules's friends turn eighteen and are initiated into the coven's inner circle. And one by one, they are getting completely freaked out. Jules is the youngest, and though her friends are too scared tell her what's going on, something's clearly not right. As her birthday approaches, Jules realizes she's got to find out what's behind the shadows of her coven before it's too late to save her friends...and herself. But what she discovers may be too powerful for even the toughest witches to defeat.

Incarceron - Catherine Fisher

Incarceron -- a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology -- a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber -- chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison -- a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device -- a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn's escape is born ...

So that's what I got this week, what did you all get?

Giveaway - Dark Days of Supernatural 2

So thanks to Joy and the lovely people at HarperCollins I will once again be hosting a giveaway for a set of the seven Dark Days of Supernatural 2 books. You can check out my previous post on these novels, complete with synopsisssssesessss synopsi? Anyways yes yes. So click here if you'd like to enter U.S. only. Contest Ends June 7th. Thanks and Good Luck!

Dark Days of Supernatural 2
Die For Me - Amy Plum (Already Out!)
Divergent - Veronica Roth (Already Out!)
Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini (May 31st)
Hereafter - Tara Hudson (Due out June 7th)
Illusion - Aprillynne Pike (Already Out!)
Vampire Kisses 8: Cryptic Cravings - Ellen Schreiber (Already Out!)
Something Deadly Comes This Way - Kim Harrison (Due out May 24th)

EVENT PAGE: http://pr.mammothnyc.com/Supernatural_Summer/DDSupernatural_Calendar8.pdf.zip

TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msHyCBc6Rb0&feature=player_embedded

COVER ART: http://pr.mammothnyc.com/Supernatural_Summer/Book_Covers.zip

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/pitchdarkbooks

Tour Schedule:

Naperville, IL
Tuesday, June 7th, 7:00 PM
Authors: Veronica Roth, Aprilynne Pike, Ellen Schreiber, Tara Hudson, and Amy Plum
Anderson’s, 123 W Jefferson Ave

Portland, Oregon
Wednesday, June 8th, 7:00 PM
Authors: Veronica Roth, Aprilynne Pike, Ellen Schreiber, Tara Hudson, and Amy Plum
Barnes & Noble, 12000 SE 82nd Ave,

Austin, TX
Thursday, June 9th, 7:00 PM
Authors: Veronica Roth, Aprilynne Pike, Ellen Schreiber, Tara Hudson, and Amy Plum
Book People, 603 North Lamar Boulevard

Tempe, AZ
Friday, June 10th, 7:00 PM
Authors: Veronica Roth, Aprilynne Pike, Ellen Schreiber, and Josephine Angelini
Changing Hands, 6428 S McClintock Drive

Lansing, MI
Saturday, June 11th, 4:00 PM
Authors: Veronica Roth, Aprilynne Pike, Ellen Schreiber, and Josephine Angelini
Schuler Books & Music, 2820 Towne Centre Blvd

Review: Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion

Where I got it: Library

Rating: 4.5 stars

Cover Rating: 4 stars (I don't really get why Stephenie Meyers was asked to blurb this one. What authority is she in Zombies?)

Genre: Adult

Publication Date: April 26, 2011

Publisher: Atria

Page Count: 239 p.

R has been dead for a long time. Or, maybe he's only been dead a few days, he doesn't remember. He doesn't remember his life when he was alive, doesn't remember what it's like to be alive. All he has of his name is a single sound R. R is different from all the other walking dead though, he wants more from life. He's not satisfied with a groan here and a moan there, a shuffle-shuffle and some brains for lunch. R wants to be alive again, to feel again and to remember. On one of his hunting trips he dives into the brain of a young man, but before he can finish he is distracted by a girl. His friend is going after her and R intervenes. R saves this girl's life and takes her back to his home. He finds out that her name is Julie and he wants to keep Julie safe. He wants to listen to Frank Sinatra under the stars and never have to kill again. Julie can tell there is something different about R and maybe some of the others too. Maybe they don't have to be the walking dead forever.

This was such a great read. I think teens will love it too, maybe even more than an adult audience. This isn't your typical Zombie apocalypse end of the world novel. This is zombie romance. I absolutely adored R, he was such a romantic, even when he was eating brains and other body parts. It was very interesting diving into R's mind, because you got to not only see his desire to be human, but his urges that he has a hard time controlling. Julie was a fantastic character too. Very realistic. The dynamic between the two was quite humorous at times. You can tell that after a day or so, Julie did not see R as a threat, so would freely reprimand him and make fun of him. Julie was such a spark of a girl and just a free thinker, which I imagine can crop up in a society such as this and with a father like hers. One thing that did bother me in this novel, were the voices that R started hearing. I couldn't tell if they were voices he was picking up from good hearing sometimes, voices in his head or logical voices from a deeper connection. It was all a bit vague and at times I just assumed R was losing his mind, or dreaming. I would have liked that explained a little better. I will definitely have to keep an eye out for Isaac Marion; not only did he create characters I cared about in a very realistic world, but his writing was beautiful. He captured the romanticism of R's voice even if the actual sound of his voice was croaky and distant. I haven't read many zombie books, but I don't think there are many out there like this one, that offers you a chance to be overwhelmed with compassion for the main, walking dead, character.

First Line:
"I am dead, but it's not so bad."


Favorite Lines:
"I crush her against me. I want to be part of her. Not just inside her but all around her. I want our rib cages to crack open and our hearts to migrate and merge. I want our cells to braid together like living thread."

Dark Days of Supernatural Tour 2

Die for Me by Amy Plum

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?  
Book Excerpt: http://www.harperteen.com/feature/darkdays/summer/DieforMe-excerpt.pdf

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.  
Book Excerpt: http://www.harperteen.com/feature/darkdays/summer/Divergent-Excerpt.pdf

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart. 

Book Excerpt: http://www.harperteen.com/feature/darkdays/summer/Starcrossed-excerpt.pdf

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Book Excerpt: http://www.harperteen.com/feature/darkdays/summer/Hereafter-excerpt.pdf

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

 "I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life. I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."

Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.

But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail. 

Book Excerpt: http://www.harperteen.com/feature/darkdays/summer/Illusions-excerpt.pdf

Vampire Kisses 8: Cryptic Cravings by Ellen Schreiber

The morbidly monotonous Dullsville has finally become the most exciting place on earth now that Raven is madly in love with her hot vampire boyfriend, Alexander, and a crew of vampires has taken residence in Dullsville's old mill. Raven discovers Jagger's plan to open a new club, the Crypt, right here in Dullsville. But is it her dream come true or her worst nightmare? Raven and Alexander have to figure out what the nefarious vampire has in store for Dullsville's teen and vampire population. Can Raven convince Jagger to listen to her plans to make the Crypt the morbidly magnificent dance club it could be? Will it be safe for mortals and vampires alike?

And as Sebastian and Luna's relationship heats up, Raven wonders about her own amorous fate: Will Alexander ever turn her? Does he crave her and does he want to spend eternity together? And what does she really want?

With cryptic secrets and cravings, this eighth installment in the Vampire Kisses series is a romantic and mysterious thrill ride. 

Book Excerpt: http://www.harperteen.com/feature/darkdays/summer/VK8excerpt.pdf

Something Deadly Comes this Way by Kim Harrison

I'm Madison Avery, in charge of heaven's hit squad . . . and fighting it all the way.

When Madison died the night of her prom, she knew her life would never be the same. Now she has a powerful amulet, a team of rogue angels by her side, and the ability to flash forward into the future to see the shape of destiny. And of course, now she's finally with Josh—a perfect boyfriend who doesn't even mind that she's dead.

But being dead has its disadvantages, too. Madison feels caught between the light and the dark, and between her real life and her timekeeper status. When Madison has the opportunity to get her body back—to be alive again—she faces her most difficult decision yet. If she claims it, she could return to being a normal girl—and have a chance at a real relationship with Josh. But would having the one thing she wants most in the world also mean giving up everything she's worked so hard for?  
Book Excerpt: http://www.harperteen.com/feature/darkdays/summer/SomethingDeadly-excerpt.pdf 

In My Mailbox #89

In My Mailbox brought to you by The Story Siren

Bought/Swapped:

Saving Juliet - Suzanne Selfors

Vibes - Amy Kathleen Ryan

How Not to Make a Wish - Mindy Klasky

Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance - Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin

The Heights - Brian James

What Happened to Goodbye - Sarah Dessen

We'll Always Have Summer - Jenny Han

The Emerald Atlas - John Stephens

So that's what I got this week. What did you all get???

Review: Zombicorns - John Green

Where I got it: John Green

Rating: 4 stars (Hard to rate, because we were never supposed to read this like this...or maybe ever.)

Cover Rating: 4 stars (haha gross...)

Genre:Young Adult

Publication Date: January, 2011

Publisher: John Green

Page Count: 72 p.

You can check out your own copy here.

Mia is one of the last few people on Earth not obsessed with corn. Mia's life sort of sucks, but she is humorous and finds a friend in Caroline and her adopted dog Mr. President.

So this isn't really a review at all, not that they ever really are reviews, but still. This book was not necessarily meant to come to us in this form which is something that must be taken in to consideration. That said, it was freakin' awesome! One of my favorite parts of this book were when Mia and Caroline were talking about book titles for their Anthropological Zombie study. Some titles they came up with were "What to Expect When You're Expecting a Zombie Apocalypse" and "The Care and Feeding of Contemporary Zombies". I though that was just great. I also liked that they had the idea to do a sociological investigation when there is so little hope left in the world. I think Mia should have been a male though. While I was reading this, I just kept picturing the narrator as male, I'm not really sure why. Maybe the mannerism? It could also be just the simple fact that John Green is male, so I just assume he is going to write from that perspective. I don't know. This was a fast read and I really enjoyed it even though it was horrible in a few ways. If you have a minute or two, just read it. It had a lot of funny and good parts and there are shocking things that happen. Oh and just in case you didn't look at the bottom of the cover, this has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with Unicorns, they aren't even mentioned.

First Line:
"Pre-zombification, my father was already obsessed with corn."


Favorite Line:
"He took a minute to die, and it was the smilingest minute I'd ever seen from him." (really I just love the word smilingest!)