Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1)

Author: Laini Taylor

Publication Date: September 27th, 2011

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Genre: Young Adult fantasy/romance

Pages: 417

Source: Won in a giveaway last December (I know!) @ Tiffany Reads

Rating: 5 I'd marry this book!

Summary from Goodreads: Around the world, black hand prints 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 grows 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?

My thoughts: This book has been sitting on my shelf for months. Months!!! All I can say is, I don’t know why I waited so long before reading it, but, in a way, I’m glad I did since it means I have less time to wait for the next book! I saw this book featured on multiple Top Ten Tuesday lists last week for one of the most vivid worlds in a book, and this persuaded me to pick it up (thanks to all of you who inadvertently talked me into reading this!). Finally. I’m so glad I did! This is added to my list of favorites.

I love fantasy to begin with, but the world in this story seems so real. The world-building in this story is some of the best I’ve read. The visions of Prague made me want to visit (talk about wanderlust); the city was a character in and of itself. Taylor’s words completely brought it to life. And even though we only hear of Eretz secondhand, the description we get of that other world makes it seem as though perhaps those portals really were out there.

Despite this story being in third-person, I felt so close to Karou (who was badass in a totally believable way) and the things she experiences. Akiva sounds simply beautiful (and is described as such), but the improbability of his perfectness is juxtaposed by Karou’s art teacher’s insistence that “no one is that perfect” – which made his beauty so much more fantastical yet realistic (hopefully that makes sense). I liked the secondary characters, and though I wish we got to know more of Zuzana, this was Karou’s story, so it only seems fitting that she is the one we know so well.

The romance. Never once did Karou’s relationship feel overdone or instalove-y, though it appeared to happen quickly. Literally, sparks. I love reading about forbidden love (and reading about Akiva…)!

And the ending…My jaw dropped and there may have been a few tears. I shall patiently (haha) await the release of the next book.

I’ve had so much trouble writing this review because I honestly don’t know what to say. The writing is beautiful, our heroine is awesome, the story is original and enticing. If you like fantasy even the teensiest bit, don’t miss this one!

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

Top Ten Tuesday (3):Characters I'd Like to Switch Place With For 24 Hours

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.  This week our list (brought to you by Becky!) is about the Top Ten Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours.


This was a tough one for me, because I like to read horror stories and dark drama.  See my problem?  I'll probably also pick a lot of male characters because I tend to relate more to them than most YA female characters.

1. Sean Kendrick from Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races.  Sean rides one of the wild, water horses that come in from the sea every year.  They have a taste for blood, so the races are intense.  What? Why do I want to ride a homicidal horse?  Because, you silly fool, this book makes it sound like I'd be mastering my own death and at one with the darkness of the universe and the beauty of nature.  In addition, Sean is the most badass of all the riders and has a special bond with his horse.


2. Alanna from Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness.  I was obsessed with this series when I was younger.  Not only is Alanna one of the best fighters and mages around, she earns the title the hard way...as well as the respect and admiration of many attractive 
males.

3. Ender, from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.  Yes, he does get bullied physically and emotionally, but Ender is a genius.  Who among us doesn't secretly wish they were smarter than everyone else in the world?  I also really wanted to play the laser-tag like game they trained 
with.


4. Jenny from L.J. Smith's The Forbidden Game.  Jenny herself is pretty boring, but she gets obsessively stalked by super hot demon, Julian.  That's right, he was doing it before it was cool (Twilight/Trueblood).  Admittedly, I would get tired of this day in and day out, but for 24 hours, it could be fun!   I'd just try to skip the part where everyone is sucked into a magical game-board and is forced to face their worst nightmare.


5. Vianne from Joanne Harris' Chocolate.  If this one isn't obvious, you might not be human.  CHOCOLATE, people.  I've always thought it would be fun to make food (and make it well) for a living, preferably in a quirky shop, and preferably something with chocolate.  I also love the rich magical realism of the world she inhabits, imperfect though it is.


6. Brian from Gary Paulson's Hatchet.  Ok, so maybe being in a plane crash and ending up stranded alone in the wilderness would be bad. I have always been obsessed with the survival aspect of this story, and all of the amazing skills Brian learns.  If I had the option of zapping back home, I think it would be cool to see if I could survive.

7. Vivian from Annette Curtis Klause's Blood and Chocolate.  I love the imagining of werewolves in this story.  It is one of the closest depictions of them actually being part wolf.  I think I'd take a day in her shoes, preferably on the night of the full moon, and hunt me some rabbits. 


8. Harvey  from Clive Barker's The Thief of Always.  I love the idea of the Holiday House  (minus the creepy evil demon).  Every day has the bets of all four seasons and both Halloween and Christmas come every day!  I'd just leave before things started getting creepy.


9. Atrus from Myst.  I'd love to be able to actually create a new world by writing in a book and then go visit it.  I can't really imagine anything more cool.  It's like what authors do times a billion.


10. Tally from Scott Westerfeld's Uglies.  I think it would be really fun to make myself look however I wanted for a short period of time.  I'd just want to be able to change back eventually.  Well, I'd change most things back, anyway. lol.

Stacking the Shelves (2): Randi's haul

This meme is hosted (and was created by!) the lovely Tynga at Tynga's Reviews for us to share any new books we procure - from new purchased books, review books, library books, gifted books, and ebooks! We're excited to be participating! :) 

This is another one of "Randi's hauls." I was a good girl this week and didn't buy any more books! I've been reading some that I've had on my shelf for awhile, trying to get caught up. But despite not buying, I still ended up with quite a few books this week!

Won:

Ghostly Tales of Route 66: From Arkansas to Arizona by Connie Corcoran Wilson

Ghostly Tales of Route 66: Arizona to California by Connie Corcoran Wilson

from a book giveaway at the College of Ed. of the U. of Iowa (my school!) Thank you!

A signed bookmark of Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler (thank you to Ann Redisch Stampler and Bonnie at Words at Home, a giveaway during the Contemporary Month event!)

A metal bookmark (with a ruler on the back!) that has a quote from Margaret Mead (which you can't read since my phone camera leaves something to be desired...) - "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has." - love it! (also from the College of Ed. at U of I

a SIGNED copy of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody (and sweet shades)!

It says "To Randi - embrace your inner heiress!"

This is from Kate's giveaway at I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read! Thank you to Kate & Jessica Brody!

For Review:

I got a few more NetGalley egalleys for review.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer

The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Icarus Project by Laura Quimby

What did YOU get this week? Leave a link & I'll stop by!

Review:The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus #1)

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not have enjoyed this book more. What really made it pop for me was the dual perspectives of Nathaniel and the demon. B. was so incredibly likable, despite being a sneaky, cowardly, sarcastic anti-hero. I think I liked him more than Nathaniel. The narrator's voice on the audio book was a startlingly perfect match with amazing inflection. I was really upset that the second of this series was checked out.


Pace:engrossing
Characterization dramatic, eccentric, lifelike, quirky, series, vivid, well-drawn
POV 3rd person following Nathaniel and the demon
Story Line action-oriented, violent
Frame London, alternate universe
Tone dark, foreboding, humorous, menacing, suspenseful
Writing Style Colorful, conversational, dramatic, ornate, unusual

Red Flags Death (not graphic), torture of demons, demons/magic
Read Alikes Artemis FowlHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneThe Lightning Thief

View all my reviews

Review: The Candymakers

Title: The Candymakers

Author: Wendy Mass

Publication Date: January 1st, 2010

Publisher: Little, Brown Books

Genre: Middle Grade (tween) mystery

Pages: 453

Source: bought

Rating: 2 1/2. I'd give this book an awkward hug

Summary from Goodreads: In the town of Spring Haven, four children have been selected to compete in the national candymaking contest of a lifetime. Who will make a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Yellow Lightning Chew?

Logan, the candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by feel alone?

Miles, the boy allergic to rowboats and the color pink?

Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy as if it were a feather?

Philip, the suit-and-tie-wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook?

This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.

My thoughts: I thought I would love this book, but I only liked it. The premise sounded wonderful and I enjoy a good middle grades read, but this fell below my expectations. I loved all the parts about candy and the factory (which, to be honest, was a large chunk of the book), but somewhere along the line it just fell a little flat for me; everything came together too neatly. It’s definitely a book I would recommend to middle grade readers. But for me, it was too middle grade level (and maybe that's me judging too harshly because it is a middle grade book); I don’t really see it as having much crossover appeal because the storyline was just too simplistic. The characters were well-drawn, but, again, all of the conflict resolved too easily which was a bit of a letdown after spending 450 pages with this book.

Which brings up another point: to me, this seemed quite long for a middle grade read. It’s told from multiple points of view (four – Logan, Miles, Philip, and Daisy), and this makes sense for the story, but it also really stretched the story out. Though Mass does a great job of not repeating herself over and over each time the POV switches, even though we get a replay the same time period, I feel that this was far too long to hold my attention; I kept waiting to get to the end, counting how many pages I had left (sometimes that’s a good thing because it means I’m getting sad for the story to end, but this one just didn’t hold my interest).

The details were what made the story for me, particularly Daisy’s POV and the candy factory in general. I really, really want to live in this factory. Maybe Logan’s family would adopt me. J The characters were likable for the most part, but I didn’t feel any real connections to any of them, though I see how a younger reader could draw parallels with any of the children – Daisy with absent parents, Philip without a mother and a demanding father, Miles with his past trauma, and Logan with his issue (don’t want to spoil anything!).

Overall, The best part was definitely the competition at the end and finally finding out about the secret ingredient (though not entirely predictable, quite cheesy), the two things that really kept me reading. Mass definitely has a great imagination and I would love to taste all of those candies. Recommended for readers at a middle grade reading level who can handle a long book.

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

Twice Baked Thursday (1): Rot & Ruin

Title: Rot & Ruin

Author: Jonathan Maberry

Genre: Horror 

Ratings:

3.5 (I'd friend this book on facebook)(Randi)

2 (I'd give this book an Awkward Hug) (Becky)

Twice Baked Thursday is an original weekly meme created here at Cardigans, Coffee and Bookmarks.  This feature was created because Randi and I (Becky), often read the same books and have very different opinions about them.  When we read the same book we do a joint review on it, showing both sides with a different colored font for each person.  Please feel free to join us and link to our blog in your post, and also use the widget below to link your own double review to our page.


This week's book is Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry.

Randi's view: 3.5 Stars. I liked this book. It was about much more than I thought it would be. Was it? My thought: flesh-eating zombies, teenage boy, blahblahblah. Sounds about like what I read... SO much more. The worldbuilding really impressed me. Though I haven’t read many zombie novels, the zoms in Benny’s world really made me think about zombies differently. It gave them a face, granted a desiccated and rotting one, but a face nonetheless. To take a quote from Tom, “Every dead person out there deserves respect. Even in death. Even when we fear them. Even when we have to kill them. They aren’t ‘just zoms,’ Benny” (62).  I could see that the author was trying to look at zombies in an original, compassionate way, but I didn't buy it.  The epiphany Benny has about zombies having once been human seemed obvious from the beginning. What scared me the most about this book was who was scary…as Benny learned, the real monsters were the living. That’s the creepiest thing about post-apocalyptic books for me, at least the ones that I’ve really liked (Ashfall, The Knife of Never Letting Go) – how quickly people turn on each other for survival – and sometimes just for fun. Sickening, really. I agree, but I felt like the book had a lead up to showing us how evil the antagonists were that it never delivered.  We don't see "Gameland" where the kids are forced to fight zombies, so to me (despite the endless monologuing of the 'bad guys') their cruelty was never fully realized. I have to agree with Randi, the world-building in this story was strong. I didn't find it as stunningly original, however.  I read zombie novels like it is nobody's business, and to me this felt like a poor man's version of The Reapers are the Angels, by Alden Bell.  The struggle to understand the meaning of zombies is a theme found in pretty much every zombie book I've ever read, and I wasn't convinced that Benny understood it in a way that was unique.

Characters? I liked Benny, though I thought for the main character he could have been a little less bratty I'll say.  And I could’ve done without the whole romance angle; it didn’t really work for me, and I didn’t feel like it was very authentic. The kiss was a complete anticlimax. I loved Tom, though I kept forgetting he was in his mid-thirties. In my mind, he was swoon-worthy (that’s not to say that men in their thirties aren’t, cuz they totally are! Love you, husband!). (Also, his “zombie card” at the back of the book? Totally not swoon-worthy AT ALL. I was kind of disappointed. I’ll just go on picturing him how I want. Anyway, he was a badass.) The author clearly WANTED us to think he was a badass.  He was kind of a Mary Sue, though.  No flaws, except his exceptionally aggravating tendency to call Benny "Kiddo" every other sentence.  What was up with Benny's all-consuming hatred of Tom simply for running away from his zombie parents on the first night?  Pretty much everyone responded that way...it felt like a really forced reason for conflict. (Benny didn't know that the reason for Tom running away until the end, silly billy!)


 Lilah? Eh, I’m lukewarm about her, but I guess that’s kind of the point. Nix? Loved her name, totally felt for her, but again, kinda lukewarm on that one. We didn’t really get a lot from Benny’s other friends. And the bounty hunters didn’t really scare me, just disgusted me. Okay, they did scare me when I think about the fact that there really are people as heartless and cold as this in the world today!Yeah, I think all the characters were flat as cardboard.   For me the biggest flaw was that the action didn't really begin until 225 pages into the story.  I had to force myself to keep reading. For the first half of the book, Benny just follows other people and listens to their stories, and I think Maberry should have just let us see the story through the other characters' eyes (flashbacks) rather than having us read about Benny listening to them.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy? Ew Series? Had it not been for the last 50 pages or so, I probably wouldn’t have liked the book quite as much, but it brought me CLOSURE. See what I did there? ;) You clever, clever girl! There was definitely a jaw-dropping moment in there. Love being caught off-guard like that. I am really struggling to figure out what you were surprised by.  This story was predictable at every turn. Also, the epilogue ALMOST made me tear up…but not quite. Final thought? Definitely worth a read, even if you’re not a fan of typical zombie books.   
Overall, I give this 2 stars: I'd give this book an awkward hug.  I most likely won't continue the series.

FTC Disclaimer

All reviews are solely the opinions of Becky and/or Randi. We are not paid in any way for our reviews, and all opinions are 100% honest.

What's Next (2): Randi

What's Next is a weekly feature started by Hafsah at IceyBooks. Basically, we need your help deciding what to read next! So check out the books below & vote on what YOU think should be our next read!


This week is to help Randi choose her next read. Choices will be from 4 middle grades books. Vote wisely! :)

 Option 1: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko Summary from Goodreads: Today I moved to a twelve-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water. I'm not the only kid who lives here. There's my sister, Natalie, except she doesn't count. And there are twenty-three other kids who live on the island because their dads work as guards or cook's or doctors or electricians for the prison, like my dad does. Plus, there are a ton of murderers, rapists, hit men, con men, stickup men, embezzlers, connivers, burglars, kidnappers and maybe even an innocent man or two, though I doubt it. The convicts we have are the kind other prisons don't want. I never knew prisons could be picky, but I guess they can. You get to Alcatraz by being the worst of the worst. Unless you're me. I came here because my mother said I had to. 

Option 2: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) Summary from Goodreads: Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical...In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth--a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. 

Option 3: Storybound by Marissa Burt

Summary from Goodreads: In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them...In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story...But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself.... 

                                                       Option 4: Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver 

Summary from Goodreads: Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice,until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

Please leave a comment letting me know which book YOU think I should read next! I can't wait to see what you lovelies choose as my next read. :)

Waiting on Wednesday (2): Becky & Randi

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for book bloggers to highlight the books we are anxiously awaiting!

Today, Becky is waiting on:  

Hysteria 

by Megan Miranda

Publication Date: February 5th, 2013

Summary from Goodreads: Mallory's life is falling apart.

 Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. 

Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear . . . 

When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that?

Why I'm waiting anxiously: If you're like me, then it's a rare series that holds your attention for more than one or two books.  That's why I looked for stand alone novels and debut authors.  I'm not usually into reading contemporary teen books, but this one looks freaky as heck.  

Today, Randi is waiting on:  

The Other Normals

by Ned Vizzini

Publication Date: September 25th, 2012

Summary from Goodreads: Given the chance, fifteen-year-old Peregrine “Perry” Eckert would dedicate every waking moment to Creatures & Caverns, an epic role-playing game rich with magical creatures, spell casting, and deadly weapons. The world of C&C is where he feels most comfortable in his own skin, so when his parents ship him off to summer camp Perry is sure he’s in for the worst summer of his life.


Everything changes, however, when Perry gets to camp and stumbles into the World of the Other Normals. Perry’s new otherworldly friends need his help to save their princess and prevent mass violence. As they embark on their quest together, Perry realizes that his nerdy childhood has uniquely prepared him to be a great warrior in this world, and maybe even a hero.


Bestselling author Ned Vizzini delivers a compulsively readable and wildly original story about the winding and often hilarious path to manhood.

Why I'm waiting anxiously: Okay, so I'm a huge nerd. I love World of Warcraft, I've been known to get really competitive when it comes to Settlers of Catan or Cranium. (My husband won't let me forget about the time I flung a gameboard because he was trying to cheat. Well, I maintain that he was cheating, though he denies it.) I'm also a fantasy lover. And I love the whole summer-camp setting! Also, as a future teacher and therefore book-recommend-er, I really need to read more books that appeal to boys. As a girl, I'm totally attracted to "girl books"! That's not to say I don't like "boy books," but the "girl books" always tend to push the boys out of the way and demand READ ME!

What are YOU waiting on this week?

Review: My Life Next Door

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publication Date: June 14th, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA contemporary romance
Pages: 395
Source: Bought!
Rating: 5 I would marry this book and never ever leave it!


Summary from Goodreads: A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

My thoughts: I think I'm in love...with Jase Garrett, the rest of the Garrett family, Tim, and our protagonist, Samantha Reed (people I didn't like: Sam's mom, Clay, Nan). I also love the cover of this book, which fits the story perfectly. I finally got around to reading this book (why, oh why did I wait so long?!), and I've found yet another favorite this summer. I read it almost entirely in one sitting (46 pages before bed, the other 350 or so the next day) - could not put it down! The romance, the drama, the heartbreak, everything. I think I've marked over 60 passages! 

Sam, the first-person narrator and our lovely protagonist. It really does seem like she has it great. She doesn't seem "immature" at the beginning of the story, but by the end there is a noticeable growth in her as a person. Her shyness, her wonderful way with kids (though she's never really been around kids), the sweet moments with Jase - she is incredibly realistic. She doesn't come across as being a trust fund girl, though she is, and I greatly appreciated a heroine with more substance than spoiled-rich-girl-who-gets-the-great-guy. Jase: incredibly attractive, incredibly loyal, incredibly handy, and yet, also incredibly sweet, thoughtful, and sometimes even a little self-conscious (swoon). The relationship between Sam and Jase is so well-written that it never seems like "instalove," but instead paints a perfect picture of that adorable and awkward first love.


Jase's family makes me wish I'd had more siblings. Each of the Garrett kids has his or her distinct personality, which seems like a challenge when you consider eight children, but Fitzpatrick did so elegantly. I loved George most of all (after Jase). His constant witty remarks and questions remind me of my nieces and nephews at that age. The Garretts are a beautiful family; despite Sam's mom's  disdain for their "lifestyle" - hectic, lots of kids, etc. - I can only hope that my future family holds as much love for one another as theirs and that I'm able to raise my kids as well as Mr. and Mrs. Garrett obviously have.


I don't want to say too much about the story since most of the crazy stuff goes on in the second half of the book (and I don't want to spoil you!), but it is a winding, twisting, heartwrenching tale. And already at halfway through, I knew I didn't ever want this book to end. If you're at all interested in YA contemporary (with lots of romance bits), don't miss this one! I anxiously await anything Jessica Fitzpatrick writes next!


Now for the writing - here are some of the parts I loved that don't give away anything from the story. Enjoy!


"George gives me a big smile, the same dazzling sweet smile as his big brother, although, at this point, with green teeth. 'I might marry you,' he allows. 'Do you want a big family?'
      I start to cough and feel a hand pat my back.
      'George, it's usually better to discuss this kind of thing with your pants on.'" - Jase (32)


"I could swear he was looking at me like he wanted to kiss me. What's stopping him? Maybe he isn't attracted to me at all. Maybe he just wants to be friends? I'm not sure I can pull off being just friends with someone whose clothes I want to rip off.
      Oh, God. Did I actually just think that? I steal another look at Jase in his jeans. Yes. Yes, I did." (94)


"It's all so good. My body is singing-happy, my days are full of good moments, my life feels more right than it ever has been before. And that can be, I learn, how it happens. You're walking along on this path, dazzled by how perfect it is, how great you feel, and then just a few forks in the road and you are lost in a place so bad you never could have imagined it." (269)

Top Ten Tuesday (2): Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.  This week our list (brought to you by Randi!) is the Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books! Wooot! These are in no particular order!

 1. Ashfall by Mike Mullin 


This book is set in an apocalyptic world, beginning right as Yellowstone explodes. Part of the reason the setting of this book really came alive for me is because (in additional to all the excellent detail!) I live in Iowa, not all that far from where the majority of this book is set, so I can "see" the change in the "before" and "after" of this new world.

 2. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys


To me, the setting played a large part in this book; we begin with Lina in Lithuania and travel by train across Russia, to Siberia and the Arctic circle. Much of the suffering of Lina and her friends and family are exacerbated by the setting (the incredibly harsh conditions in the Arctic Circle without adequate shelter, medical care, or food).

 3. Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments series


I added the photo of Clockwork Angel because, though I love both series, Infernal Devices is my favorite (Team!Jem). The ShadowHunter world Cassie has created is kind of unbelievable. From New York City and Idris in TMI, to London and the UK in TDI, Cassie has injected her own incredible world into these (with the exception of Idris) pre-existing places.

4. Eragon (the Inheritance series world) by Christopher Paolini


When I think awesome worldbuilding, I think high fantasy, and the Inheritance series definitely qualifies! I have yet to read the final book, but I love this series. It really is a whole different world - elves, dragons, etc. Very vivid!

5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore


I love the world of Graceling (another series I need to finish!). This is another series that I'd consider "YA high fantasy." There's a vast, well-described world which we get to journey across!

6. MiddleEarth: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein


I don't think I can talk about vivid worlds without mentioning Tolkein. I read The Hobbit as a freshman in high school, and though I later attempted to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I only managed to get halfway through the second book. Anyway, another epic journey through a detailed fantasy world. Knowing that much of Tolkein's landscapes were influenced by the mountains in North Wales makes me love it even more. :)

7. The world of Harry Potter - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling


The world of Harry Potter is, for me, one of the earliest fantasy worlds I can recall encountering, and one of my most beloved. I reread the series last year and Harry's world is still as vivid and wonderful as when I first read the books. 

8. Stolen: A Letter to my Captor by Lucy Christopher


Though this one takes place in a realistic setting (the Outback of Australia), the isolated but beautiful setting here is such a part of the story that I couldn't leave it off of this list. I've never visited Australia, but Christopher's writing made me feel as if I were there.

9. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (the Chaos Walking trilogy)


The fact that this story is read through Todd's eyes brings to life the setting of New World that much more. I consider Todd's point of view to be stream-of-consciousness, and therefore we see everything Todd sees - the landscape, the people, everything.

10. The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats


This story takes place in medieval North Wales (yay!) and completely draws you into that world. Though the setting is real (I've actually visited Caernarfon, the castle and town in which the story is set), I think it's a perfect example of a vivid setting.

What's on YOUR top ten this week?

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