A Beautiful Dark might appear to be just another book riding the angel wave of the latest paranormal trend, but debut author Davies keeps things fresh with snappy dialogue, a strong heroine, and unique angel mythology. The way that the story opens makes it seem that the main concerns of this book will be clothing and crushes, but the plot quickly gets much more exciting with the mysterious appearance of newcomers Asher and Devin along with a series of confusing and almost sinister events. I think what I liked best about A Beautiful Dark among other books about angels was that Skye fights so hard to maintain her identity while being thrust into a supernatural situation of epic proportions; it’s not that she doesn’t want things to change at all, but instead, she doesn’t want to just become a tool for one side of the conflict or another. Davies keeps readers entertained throughout the story with lots of action and romance, slowly building up the intensity of the story until its shocking conclusion. There’s no doubt that there will be many readers impatient for the next installment of Skye’s story to find out what happens to Skye, Asher, and Devin.
A Beautiful Dark is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, and Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers.
Rating: 4.25
Review copy from BEA
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
Win Tempest by Julie Cross
The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.
(1) lucky winner will receive Tempest by Julie Cross
courtesy of St. Martin's Press
Other details:
- US/Canadian mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 2/02/12, at 9 p.m. EST.
Tale of a book signing with Daniel Handler & Maira Kalman
Last week, I made the very good decision to go down to the Barnes & Noble at Union Square for a book signing. It was a good decision because it was a book signing, of course, but it was a particularly good decision because this event was for Why We Broke Up, written by Daniel Handler and illustrated by Maira Kalman.
The author and artist thoroughly entertained the audience with their random comments and witty banter, all accompanying a slideshow containing images from Why We Broke Up as well as other pictures that said something about Maira Kalman and Daniel Handler's joint history.
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| One of the images from the slide show |
For example, the first few images were photographs that Maira sent to Daniel. He in turn wrote a little something about that image. The story accompanying the image above was particularly hilarious.
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| Maira Kalman & Daniel Handler, again! |
In addition to these funny little stories, Daniel Handler also read a few short excerpts from Why We Broke Up. But I have to say that my favorite part of the evening (aside from, you know, getting my book signed!) was the "Are you a romantic?" quiz that everyone in the audience got to take. Here was my score:
10-15You lied while taking the test in a vain effort to make others believe you're more or less on an even keel.
For the record, I totally did not lie.
The Darlings in Love by Melissa Kantor
I was just as charmed by The Darlings in Love as I was by its prequel, The Darlings Are Forever. The focus on romantic relationships for this second book in a series is a tad overdone, but Kantor still handles it wonderfully. This is partially because Darlings are such a lovable trio; Victoria, Natalya, and Jane are girls that every reader will be rooting for as they struggle with their romantic and other drama. Additionally, the focus of the story isn’t solely on romantic relationships but also on the Darling’s relationships with each other and their families. Though the plot is a little predictable, I still found The Darlings in Love heartwarming and entertaining because of Kantor’s superb character development. Victoria, Natalya, and Jane are so realistic and likable that their stories are always sure to make me smile.
Fans of The Darlings Are Forever won’t want to miss its sequel in The Darlings in Love, nor will fans of The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer and Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci.
Rating: 4.25
Review copy from NetGalley
Win The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
I'm super excited to be giving away one incredible dystopian book!
It starts with an itch you just can't shake.
Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat.
A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.
And then you're dead.
When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.
Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.
Because how will she go on if there isn't?
And don't forget to check out the book trailer:
(1) lucky winner will receive a Miniemergency Kit and The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
courtesy of Big Honcho Media
Other details:
- US mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 1/31/12, at 9 p.m. EST.
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
The Way We Fall is an absolutely chilling look at the reverberating effects of a deadly virus in a small, enclosed community. For me, Crewe’s story is so scary and horrifying because the real villain is invisible: it’s a virus; I can’t think of anything more frightening than watching your home and world fall apart because of something you can’t see or even effectively protect yourself from. I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this book because Crewe crafts this world so well. The virus itself and its symptoms are entirely believable and the degeneration of the community in which Kaelyn lives is so scarily plausible. Even when comparing the initial state and the ending circumstances of Kaelyn’s home, their vast differences are easy to understand because Crewe makes the worsening transitions so smooth. It’s also interesting to watch the changes that Kaelyn undergoes as she’s forced to grapple with unfamiliar situations and adapt to new roles, but I found that I cared less about her than I did about the overall situation on the island. I also felt that the story cut off in an odd place; either Crewe could have shortened it to leave more of a cliffhanger, which would have been acceptable considering The Way We Fall is the first in a new series, or she should have added a little more onto the ending. However, I am optimistic that character development will improve in books to come, and I am eager to see how Kaelyn’s story and life on the island will continue.
The Way We Fall will be enjoyed by fans of Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Wither by Lauren DeStefano, Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien, and Dark Parties by Sara Grant.
Rating: 4.5
Review copy from NetGalley
Congratulations to...
who won a Shadowhunters poster and pin
Cialina
who won a signed copy of The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
&
Debbie's World of Books
who won Switched by Amanda Hocking
Tale of a book signing with Andrea Cremer
A few days ago, I went to my first California book signing in years. Yes, years. It felt weird not to be able to hop on the subway and take a ride to my local Barnes & Noble like I do in New York City, but fear not, I made it safely in my friend's car.
I was super excited to soothe my book event withdrawal, which occurs every time I come back to California during a school break, and also to see author Andrea Cremer, who's on tour to promote the last book in the Nightshade trilogy, Bloodrose. It's always a little awkward for me when I go to book events for books that I haven't read yet, especially when I don't have my book signing regulars to distract me from my own awkwardness, and especially when my copy of Bloodrose bears the battle scars from losing a fight with a Brita filter...long story. But of course, I needn't have worried, because it was a thoroughly enjoyable event!
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| Andrea Cremer! (I apologize for the poor picture quality of my iPod) |
Andrea read a favorite scene from Bloodrose, and then took lots of questions from an eager audience. I was especially excited to hear about the projects she's working on next, including two prequels and other books set in the world of Nightshade, a steampunk trilogy, as well as a collaboration with the famed David Levithan. Needless to say, there is cause for my excitement!
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| EDIT: me, my friend Kristi, and Andrea Cremer! (thanks to Kristi for this picture) |
My good friend Kristi and I got our books signed and also got to snag some pretty cool posters featuring the new (well, new in a relative sense) cover art for Nightshade. Yes, we got those signed too. And yes, I have one to give away here!
(1) lucky winner will receive a signed Nightshade poster
To enter this contest, please fill out this form:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGEyTnBZSk80Mkw5N2pMQzNQSXdDbkE6MQ
Other details:
- US mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 1/25/12, at 9 p.m. EST.
Interview with Megan Miranda
And now for a quick interview with Megan Miranda, whose debut novel Fracture, comes out next week!
What has your experience as a debut author been like so far?
I feel incredibly fortunate. My experience as a debut author has been nothing short of wonderful. That’s not to say it also hasn’t been hard work (it has), but it’s been a very rewarding experience. I think the thing that makes the debut experience so different is that you’re learning so much of the process as you go. Pretty much everything is…surprising. At least it has been for me. With that said, it’s been surprising in a pretty exciting way.
What has been the best part of the publishing process for you? the worst?
I think, like any job, there are aspects of it that are more difficult than others, but I definitely wouldn’t call them bad. Some of the hardest parts (like revisions) turned out to be the best part of the process, as it made my book that much stronger. Right now, I’d say this is my favorite part, though. Getting ready to launch the book that we’ve all spent the last few years working on. It’s a really exciting time.
What sort of research did you have to do for this novel?
I did a lot of fact checking for a lot of the science aspects, and I did a lot of research about ice safety J I feel pretty confident that I now know how to rescue someone who has fallen through the ice…
What is the most interesting thing you learned while writing Fracture? (This can be about yourself, about writing, or anything at all).
I learned a lot about my writing process. I start with characters instead of plot, so my early drafts tend to have my characters wandering around without a story. I usually have to throw out the first draft completely, but I typically have a pretty good feel for my characters by then.
What is the most rewarding part about being a young adult author?
I think the young adult community is so incredibly supportive and very approachable. Writers, people in publishing, bloggers, readers—everyone seems to be online and connected. This also extends in person. People are always willing to meet up and support each other, and I think this is such a rare thing in most industries.
If there was one thing you could change about Fracture, what would it be?
It’s not something I’d really choose to change, because I like that the book is told solely through Delaney’s point of view, but I would’ve liked to explore the back-story of one of the side characters even further, from his perspective. But it doesn't really have a place in Delaney’s story.
What are you working on next?
I have another standalone, set to come out early 2013. It’s a psychological thriller about memories, the thin line between the real and the imagined, and friendship.
Fracture by Megan Miranda
Fracture is a book with a fascinating concept but a story that is not quite as spectacular to accompany it. Miranda has created such an unusual premise of a girl who, for all intents and purposes, was and should still be dead, but isn’t. I was intrigued by Delaney’s unusual situation, especially as it became apparent that it was connected to something greater and possibly more sinister—the deaths of others. However, I was much less impressed by how these ideas manifested in the story. The reasons for, precise nature of, and implications of Delaney’s strange ability are never really explained, even though this ability is very central to the novel as a whole. The focus, instead, seems to be on Delaney’s evolving relationships with her family, friends, and new acquaintances. This would be fine if it was well done, but Delaney’s tendency towards melodrama in describing how she’s been wronged became rather irritating. I was also disappointed with the ending, which didn’t leave much sense of accomplishment or conclusion. Though Fracture certainly has a unique premise, the poor execution of its story made reading it less enjoyable than it could have been.
Fracture will still be enjoyed by fans of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma, and Frost by Marianna Baer.
Rating: 3.5
Review copy from NetGalley
Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes
Dreaming Awake is a quite satisfactory sequel that takes readers back to the interesting world of Falling Under. I’ll admit that the beginning of the book was a little slow for me at first, because it seemed the main focus of the plot was Theia’s relationship with Haden. I do find both characters intriguing, even more so when they are together, but I got tired of their emotional rollercoaster ups and downs in Falling Under, and frankly, a repeat of that drama would make for a boring book. However, Hayes quickly livens things up with some interesting twists and the promise of more sinister threats to come. In fact, Hayes seems to have a real talent for getting her characters into some very hopeless-looking situations where everything is up in the air and anything is possible, which makes for a rather unpredictable and always exciting plot, especially towards the end of the book. I can’t say that I was completely blown away by Hayes’s writing, but nonetheless, I still enjoyed the story and plot of Dreaming Awake.
Fans of Falling Under will not want to miss its sequel in Dreaming Awake, nor will readers who also enjoyed Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.
Rating: 3.75
Review copy from publisher Penguin
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder was one of my favorite books read last year, and it will likely continue to be a favorite in the years to come. This is a book that I’ve been raving about for approximately half a year before its publication because I just couldn’t wait for others to see what I was so excited about. It boils down to this: Cinder is one spectacularly written, incredibly imaginative and romantic, futuristic fairytale retelling. Ordinarily, Cinderella as a cyborg is a concept that sounds a little odd to me, but debut author Meyer makes it work wonderfully. Her worldbuilding feels so effortless and integrated that everything from androids to an evolved race of people living on the moon to an unusually deadly plague feels completely natural within the story. This is a novel that readers will find easy to become invested in, because of the vivid characters, the futuristic setting, and the irresistibility of such a good story. I am so thrilled that Cinder marks the first installment in a new quartet, The Lunar Chronicles, and I desperately hope that Cinder makes a reappearance in later books because as much as I’d love to see where Meyer will take us next, I really don’t want Cinder’s story to be over.
Cinder will be enjoyed by all readers, especially those who also liked the A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy by Libba Bray, the Poison Study trilogy by Maria V. Snyder, and The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.
Rating: 5.0
Review copy from publisher Macmillan
Win Switched by Amanda Hocking
Here's an awesome giveaway to start off an awesome new year!
When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.
Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.
Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…
Not intrigued yet? Then check out the book trailer:
(1) lucky winner will receive Switched by Amanda Hocking
courtesy of St. Martin's Press
Other details:
- US/Canadian mailing addresses only.
- Contest ends 1/09/12, at 9 p.m. PST.
The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
I always find that books containing cancer are some of the hardest to approach, and The Probability of Miracles is no different. There seems to be no “right” way to approach the topic, because an exclusive focus would be much too depressing while a mere mention would be inappropriate for something so serious. Wunder finds a good balance in her debut novel by acknowledging the enormity of Cam’s illness but also shifting the focus to other issues, such as Cam’s relationship with her family and her conception of love. This, as well as Cam’s irrepressible sarcasm, made reading such a tough story a little less tough to read. I didn’t love this book, but I do think it is a worthwhile read. Cam’s tough-girl act holds readers an arm’s length away most of the time, so it’s hard to develop a real connection with her character, but her personal journey and trials are undeniably somewhat cathartic. I applaud Wunder for her careful handling of such a delicate topic; The Probability of Miracles is a book that is sure to coax a few chuckles and infinitely more tears from all readers.
The Probability of Miracles should be read by readers who also liked Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab, Don’t Stop Now by Julie Halpern, and Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman.
Rating: 4.25
Review copy from publisher Penguin
Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber
Hieber has created a truly fantastic historical and paranormal tale in Darker Still. The story opens as many other young adult historical novels do, with a young woman concerned with her future prospects. Natalie is a well-to-do young lady who would be a willing participant in society if not for her muteness. Her worries for the sorry state of her future are quickly overshadowed when Lord Denbury appears in her life—because he seems to be trapped in a painting and Natalie is determined to free him. Readers will be swept along into Natalie’s world with each magical or otherwise sinister twist of the plot. In addition to a lovely and captivating story, I have to say that I really enjoyed Hieber’s writing and descriptions. Her tendency for the dramatic and theatrical really helps set the scene and makes the story, along with all of Natalie’s many issues, come to life. In all, I was quite enamored with Darker Still and eagerly await the next installment in the Magic Most Foul series.
Darker Still appeals to fans of Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, and The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen.
Rating: 4.5
Review copy from NetGalley
