Blog Tour {Review +GIVEAWAY}: Savor by Megan Duncan

Savor by Megan Duncan

Pages: 453
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: YA Paranormal
Series: Warm Delicacy (#1)
Source: E-book

When Claire Miller turned eighteen all she wanted to do was celebrate her birthday, but after a night on the town with her best friend she awakes to a visitor she never expected. The rulers of her region, a vampire royal family, have chosen her to be turned as their new heir and vampire princess. Claire quickly discovers the royal family is not what they seem and that she has secrets in her past, she never knew existed.

I was all too happy to join the blog tour for Savor, having read and enjoyed Megan Duncan's first book, Released. But I have to say, I loved Savor much more than Released!

I haven't read any vampire books lately, and so I jumped into Savor with a clean slate and was thoroughly surprised. Megan Duncan's writing style has vastly improved from Released, transforming from 'good' to great! Her prose flowed nicely, and Claire's narration was distinctly hers. Plus, the vampire world that Megan has created is really different than most vampire books I've read. It's a bit reminiscent of the Morganville Vampires series, but the comparison is relatively small. I do think that fans of the Morganville Vampires series will enjoy Savor quite a bit.

There were a lot of great characters in Savor. Claire was faced with the difficult decision of whether or not she would become the new vampire princess, and eventually inherit the throne from the King and the Queen. At first, she agonized over the issue, but then, too quickly in my opinion, she came to terms with it. She made a complete and total life-altering decision, which uprooted her from her old life and threw her into a strange new one, and I felt as though she settled into her new life much too quickly. That was really the only thing that bugged me about Claire, that she could so easily forget her old life, and the people she loved. But other than that, she was a strong girl, who didn't back down from a challenge, and handled everything with maturity and rationality. Robin, a vampire girl around her age that she meets at the royal palace, and becomes best friends with, was also a really great character. She was funny and I could tell that she really cared for Claire. She added a bit of spice to some of the scenes.

There was a dash of insta-love, but it wasn't too bad. Claire meets Dmitry, a very handsome vampire that lives in the palace, and their connection gradually builds from the first day they meet. Claire and Dmitry are a sweet couple, I just wish their relationship had more time to grow. Towards the end, there was major hinting of a love triangle, but the book ended before that could be built upon more, so I guess I'll just have to wait for the sequel.

Speaking of the ending, that was one of the two thing that I really just didn't like. It ended in a place that felt like the middle of the plot. I feel like there should have been just a bit more story added to the end, with more explanation of what was going on, because the last 10 pages or so really threw me for a loop. There was a major explanation that's important for the whole series, but it was so abrupt that I couldn't even fully digest and understand it. There's always the sequel, which is great, so the ending isn't too bad because even though it left off in a weird place, the story will continue.

The other thing (or things) that I didn't like were Ana and Luke, who were two vampires that lived in the palace and hated Claire with a passion because she "stole Ana's throne", which Claire didn't, not really. Their evilness was a bit too campy, especially Ana. Sometimes subtly is a million times more menacing than outright disdain, and Ana definitely could've used some menacing subtly.

On the whole, though, I really did enjoy Savor very much. Whatever problems I had with it are minor details in the grand scheme of the whole novel, which I thought was well written and unique. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel! I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

GIVEAWAY

I have 2 prizes up for grabs today to 2 lucky winners!

1. A signed paperback copy of Savor
2. An ebook of Savor

In My Mailbox (39)

Books:
Destined by Jessie Harrell
Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Soul Thief by Jana Oliver
Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Also, be sure to enter my giveaway for the Sirenz Back in Fashion Cover Reveal! It ends tomorrow, so hurry! :)

Review: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Pages: 174
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Paperback

For centuries, rumors have abound of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli or Earth Angels. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors clandestinely serve as guardians for mortals in danger.

Yet for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever.

Masquerading as the average teen next door, Griffin struggles to learn his trade under the tutelage of his strict, but kindly Mentor, navigate the ups and downs of modern life among humans (including falling in love with the girl next door), and prepare for the ancient trial-by-combat every apprentice must pass at sixteen or become mortal.

I had never heard of Griffin Rising until I got it in the mail as part of a prize I had won. I was very intrigued by it, and once I picked it up and started reading it, I really couldn't stop. I haven't read too many angel stories, but Griffin Rising was definitely a unique spin on the angel mythology.

It's a very quick read, only 174 pages, and story-wise it's pretty light. Griffin Rising isn't so much about Griffin the angel-in-training, but more about Griffin the teenaged boy that's trying to balance that with his life as a protector. Unlike most YA angel novels right now, there isn't some huge war being raged between heaven and hell in Griffin Rising. There aren't demons popping out of the ground and trying to kill Griffin, or Basil, (Griffin's awesome mentor). It's just Fin striving to pass his final test, and become an earth angel. It was nice to read something more subdued, more about the characters than about a flash and bang plot.

This book is written from Griffin's point of view, which is a definite plus. There need to be more YA books from the male perspective, because they're just so fun to read! Guys think differently than girls, so it's fun to get inside a guy's mind as things are happening--like his first kiss, and going on dates, and all that. It's the other side of the coin that we rarely get to see.

I really enjoyed Griffin Rising, and the ending left me really wanting more. I wasn't expecting that ending at all, so I need to sequel asap! 4 out of 5 stars.

Shrink That Pile [READ-A-THON!]

My TBR pile is just getting WAY too out of hand, and I wanted to go on a huge reading splurge to try and shrink it down a bit. That's when I decided--hey, why not include everyone else, too? So, I made the Shrink That Pile read-a-thon as a way to just readreadREAD books for a whole week, without worrying about anything else.

The goal of the Shrink That Pile read-a-thon is to just read. Have a massive 'to review' stack that's just killing you? This is definitely your chance to go at it and hopefully make a dent in your tbr.

• Shrink That Pile lasts from 12:00 AM on November 1st, through 11:59 PM on November 7th.
• Anyone can join in! Make posts about it with your progress, if you'd like. 

I've never done a read a thon before, so I don't know much about them. But I do know that I plan on spending this week reading like crazy! :)

If you want to participate, just leave a comment!

Review: Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Pages: 322
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: YA Romance/Supernatural
Source: Paperback

Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day. High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a mischievous pretty boy who has never had to face a day looking anything but perfect. It starts with a slowing metabolism, followed by gray hair, wrinkles, and heart palpitations. Within days his girlfriend dumps him, his plastic surgeon father forces him to get a facelift, and his terrifying high school librarian seduces him to have sex with her. All he wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a young woman who may or may not be an all-powerful witch, he realizes that the only hope for his survival might be with the one person who instigated his condition in the first place...

Happy Birthday to Me is basically a mix between The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (in reverse), and Beastly by Alex Flinn. I thought I would enjoy it quite a bit, because it seemed interesting, but, honestly, I'm not that impressed.

Brian Rowe is definitely a talented writer, but his style wasn't consistent. I think it could use a bit of polishing, and it'll be really good. He just wrote with these little quirks that bugged me--like his overuse CAPITALIZING WORDS. ENTIRE SENTENCES WOULD BE CAPITALIZED, AND IT JUST MADE EVERYONE SEEM LIKE THEY WERE HARD OF HEARING AND SHOUTED ALL THE TIME. You see how that starts to lose its potency the more you read it? Also, there were just some grammar mistakes regarding the dialogue that bugged me too. But Brian does have a talent for writing, with nice descriptions and a pretty quick moving pace. Things didn't take long to build up, which was good.

I also had issues with a lot of the characters. They were just so... cold. I've seen a lot of people complain about Cameron's dad, and with good reason! Cameron's father was a plastic surgeon, and he was so preoccupied with superficial looks and things like his son getting a basketball scholarship that he didn't seem to care that his son was pretty much on the fast track to death. I really hated him, and he never really redeemed himself in my eyes. None of the other characters really stood out for me, either. Cameron annoyed me for a good majority of the novel, with his arrogance, and his girlfriend and 'best friend', Charisma and Wesley fell flat.

I found the concept of the novel pretty cool though. The fact that there is actually a disease called Progeria that causes rapid aging is really fascinating. I thought Brain Rowe did really well in describing the subtle changes in Cameron's appearance, leading up to the more dramatic changes of his growing old.

I'm undecided as to whether I want to read the sequel, because I feel like Happy Birthday to Me ended in a good place, and could definitely be a stand-alone novel. I give this novel 2 out of 5 stars.

Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Pages: 416
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: YA Fantasy/Mythology
Source: ARC from publisher

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

When I heard about The Scorpio Races, it was just after I had finished Forever (which is the last book in Maggie's Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy) and I was immediately extremely eager to read it. But for some reason I thought it was some sort of dystopian, which it wasn't at all. It was a beautifully written and constructed fantasy about killer water horses.

I know, right?

When I first read the killer water horse part, I immediately thought "Oh, it's a kelpie!" And, technically, it is, only in the book it goes by the Irish name of capaill uisce. (Don't even ask me how that hell to pronounce that, because I haven't the foggiest.) So if you're a fan of the kelpie lore, then you'll definitely enjoy this one.

Maggie's writing is, as always, poetic and just lovely. She wrote with a very realistic Irish cadence, which added to the overall atmosphere of the novel and the realism of the characters. Maggie's writing style is no doubt one of my all-time favorites.

My biggest problem with this book is that the entire thing is pretty misleading. Take the cover, for example. It's Puck galloping away on a horse. The book is called The Scorpio Races, and the description makes it sound pretty intense and action-y. Put that all together, and my impression was that, unlike Maggie's Shiver series, The Scorpio Races would be more of an adventure. But it wasn't. Of course, Maggie writes beautifully, but the novel wasn't really about the scorpio races at all. It was about Puck coming into her own as a woman, and Sean and her slowly growing to love each other. It almost seems like the race is an afterthought, because it happens at the very end, and it's a very brief scene. There were quite a few superfluous scenes that I'm not sure what purpose they served for the story, and I honestly think the book could've done without them.

Puck aggravated me at times--she had quite a temper about her, and would snap at people that were only trying to help her. That put me off of her in the beginning. But she was up against a lot, and she held her ground when any other girl would have given up, and that's what I admired most about her. Sean was the silent, brooding type, and his life was the water horses. He was the man on the island to see about the horses. He's won the races 4 years in a row, and if he can win this next one, he might have a chance at getting the one thing he really wants: a water horse named Corr that he's grown to love over 6 years of training it. He and Puck had a sweet relationship. It built slowly, and at times I wasn't actually sure if anything would happen between them. But I really liked Sean, even though I feel that his intense introversion made him not only distant from the other characters, but also from me as a reader at times.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Scorpio Races. If you're a fan of Maggie's, then most definitely pick it up. 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Swear by Nina Malkin

Author: Nina Malkin
Pages:448
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Source: ARC
Buy the Book

A promise broken. A bond betrayed.
It’s been six months since ghost-turned golem Sinclair Youngblood Powers confessed his love, stole Dice's heart, and disappeared from Swoon, perhaps from existence. Despite the hurt, Dice has been moving steadily toward ordinary. Dreams of Sin still plague and pleasure her sleep, and the mark of Sin's love remains on her skin, still sore. But Dice has been throwing herself into music, finding solace in song and sometimes even in the arms of her band mate, Tosh. Life seems almost…normal. The last thing Dice wants is to mess with anything remotely supernatural. But when her best friend’s boyfriend goes missing, Dice has no choice but to become very much involved. She knows that his disappearance was no accident, and it somehow has everything to do with Sin. Because Dice can feel it: Sin is back. And the promises and deceptions he left in his wake have returned to haunt him.

What do you do when an oath of devotion threatens to destroy the one you love?

When I first read Swoon, the book that precedes Swear, Nina Malkin hadn't planned on writing a sequel. So when Swear was announced, I was eager and excited, and did a lot of fan girlish squeeing. :D I have to say that Swear definitely lived up to my expectations.

For the a good portion of the beginning, Sin isn't there physically, but his presence in Dice's life--and her dreams--is unmistakable. But Dice is also getting close to a boy named Tosh, a member of the band Bruise Blue that Dice is the lead singer in. When Tosh and Dice get too close, the jealousy causes Sin to manifest, and, as ever, he brings chaos in his wake.

This was as good sequel to Swoon, although I liked Swoon better. I felt like the plot took a while to pick up, and the ending was a little anti-climactic. I enjoyed reading it, but one of my biggest peeves with Swear is that the paranormal elements seem kinda random. In Swoon, we know Dice is psychic. But in Swear, her powers become something more witchy, and then later on, the Roman gods just pop in out of nowhere. I wish there was a more definite mythology to it.

Sin is still a total sex god. Even though he's a douche sometimes, he's just way too irresistible. And in Swear, he's actually making an effort to be a good man, and to have a relationship with Dice. But that all gets complicated when an old acquaintance of Sin's comes back into the picture, and is determined to have him.

I still love Nina Malkin's writing style. I know some people aren't too fond of it, but I love her vivid and almost poetic way of writing. It gives the story a different edge to it.

If you're a die-hard fan of Swoon, then definitely pick up Swear. There's more Sin goodness to sigh contentedly over. But if you weren't too fond of Swoon, then you might not like Swear. Maybe give it a shot. 4 out of 5 stars.

Out Today: Swear by Nina Malkin

Have you read Swoon by Nina Malkin? Did you fall in love with Nina's writing style, and, of course, Sinclair Youngblood Powers? Then today is your lucky day because Swear, the sequel, is now out and about for your reading pleasure!

Author: Nina Malkin
Pages:448
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

A promise broken. A bond betrayed.
It’s been six months since ghost-turned golem Sinclair Youngblood Powers confessed his love, stole Dice's heart, and disappeared from Swoon, perhaps from existence. Despite the hurt, Dice has been moving steadily toward ordinary. Dreams of Sin still plague and pleasure her sleep, and the mark of Sin's love remains on her skin, still sore. But Dice has been throwing herself into music, finding solace in song and sometimes even in the arms of her band mate, Tosh. Life seems almost…normal. The last thing Dice wants is to mess with anything remotely supernatural. But when her best friend’s boyfriend goes missing, Dice has no choice but to become very much involved. She knows that his disappearance was no accident, and it somehow has everything to do with Sin. Because Dice can feel it: Sin is back. And the promises and deceptions he left in his wake have returned to haunt him.

What do you do when an oath of devotion threatens to destroy the one you love?

Buy the Book

Hardcover • Kindle • Nook

Cover Reveal + {GIVEAWAY}: Sirenz Back In Fashion Cover Reveal Bomb!

First there was...

And now there's...

The Sirenz Back In Fashion Cover Reveal Bomb is ON! Sirenz Back In Fashion, the sequel to Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman  will be hitting the shelves in June 2012—but for now, enjoy the new cover! Natalie and Charlotte are having a SUPER-HUGE-MEGA-giveaway to celebrate. The Sirenz Back In Fashion cover is debuting simultaneously on SEVEN different blogs. Visit all of us to enter and win prizes—yes, that’s PRIZES as in more than one!

How will the adventures of Meg and Shar continue? Visit these blogs to see if you can figure out what happens next:

D for Darla's Definite Reads
Book Chic Club
All Things Books
Badass Bookie
Bea's Book Nook
A Story Untold

I loved Sirenz, I thought it was super cute and, being the Greek mythology lover that I am, I really enjoyed the  way the different myths were brought together! I can't wait to read Sirenz Back In Fashion to find out what happens with Meg and Shar.... AND HADES! *swoons*

GIVEAWAY

Each blogger is giving away a very special charm necklace which symbolizes something from Sirenz Back In Fashion. It could be an important object, or represent a significant place or character… or god!

Want to enter the giveaway? Click on 'READ MORE' below!

Review + {GIVEAWAY}: Altered by Aubrey Coletti

Altered by Aubrey Coletti

Pages: 272
Publisher: Escape Artist Press
Genre: YA Thriller with dashes of Paranormal
Source: Paperback

When Toni, Joseph and Charlie arrive at their new boarding school, they are glad to leave their families — and respective problems — behind. Isolated as boarders, they meet a handsome senior with a personality like iced snake’s blood, teachers with a penchant for physical punishment, and four other outcasts who reveal that their being brought to the Academy wasn’t random at all. When the arrivals discover that their new school is engaged in “behavior modification” through electric shocks, isolation, restraints, and an ever-evolving set of methods to “fix” them, they declare war on their Academy. During their campaign of sabotage, they fight, hate, scorn, love, and begin to uncover the reasons why they were brought to the school. But as their war against the school escalates beyond their control, will they become the very things the Academy believes they are: dangerous, delinquent — and mad?

Altered was nothing like I'd expected it to be--it was way better! When I started out reading it, I was a bit wary, because the perspectives jump between characters rather quickly, which confused me as to who was who for a while. But eventually, I got the hang of it, and the story started getting extremely interesting.

It's set in a school that is supposed to be a sort of reform school for kids that no one else wants, or kids that would have gone to jail. But all then, as we read on, we see kids being punished in very unorthodox ways--being tied down to a metal table and electrocuted to the point where it burned their skin, sleep deprivation, food deprivation, and then eventually having permanent shock wires placed on the kids, so that the teachers could shock them whenever they wanted. It was pretty sick what was going on, and sicker still that the teachers thought they were doing something good by torturing the children. Honestly, you don't 'cure' bad behavior with more bad behavior. It's like beating a dog over and over again; it might be submissive for some time, but one day it will have had enough, and it's going to turn around and bite your damn hand off.

Each of the main characters has a very distinct personality, even though there were quite a few of them and in the beginning it was hard to pin point who's perspective I was reading. I think that was one of the only flaws of the book, that the transitions from person to person weren't clear enough until a few sentences, sometimes paragraphs, into the section. But all of them shone through in their own way. Ann, my favorite character, was fiery and unafraid to speak her mind. Charlie was crazy, but not crazy at the same time (I know, but you'll get it if you read it.) Joseph was willful and wittily sarcastic, but also sweet at times. Toni was the more 'normal' of them, but she had her own problems too. But, along with their quirks and eccentricities, each of them also had something more, something... unnatural. (This is where a slight paranormal element comes in, but it's not so much as to make this a paranormal novel.)

I was on edge the entire time I read Altered. I kept wanting to just jump in the book and tear the school down until not a brick was left standing, that's how intense it was. One thing that did bother me though was towards the end, it mentioned that some of the characters were 14 years old, and that didn't really sit well with me considering some of what they did, and how they acted. I think it would have been better if they were older, especially one scene in particular that kinda made me cringe when I thought about how young they were. But the way they were written was really interesting, because they spoke pretty accurately for a lot of teenagers today, and that made them feel real.

I definitely recommend Altered to anyone looking for a really intense novel, and one that has constant action and suspense. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

GIVEAWAY

I have 1 paperback copy of Altered to give away! If you're interested in reading it, then definitely enter the giveaway below!

Rules & Guidelines:

• Open US only!
• Must be 13 or older to enter.
• Winner will be chosen at random and emailed, and will have 48 hours to reply back, or a new winner will be chosen.

Review: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

Pages: 287
Publisher: Quirk Books
Genre: YA Historical/Zombie
Source: Paperback

In this terrifying and hilarious prequel, we witness the genesis of the zombie plague in early-nineteenth-century England. We watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naïve young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. We laugh as she begins her first clumsy training with nunchucks and katana swords and cry when her first blush with romance goes tragically awry. Written by acclaimed novelist (and Edgar Award nominee) Steve Hockensmith, Dawn of the Dreadfuls invites Austen fans to step back into Regency England, Land of the Undead!

I loved Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, so I was extremely excited to read the prequel. But, I was disappointed. One of the best things about PPZ was that it was a shameless zombie infested parody novel. It had so-bad-you-have-to-laugh puns and constant puking just for the sake of puking. It didn't take itself seriously at all. But in Dawn of the Dreadfuls, it's a different author, so of course, there are going to be differences in writing style and characterization. But it just wasn't as funny. There were some moments where I chuckled, but overall, it was more of a novel than a parody.

The fact that it was more of a novel wasn't bad, either, because I still liked it. It was fun to see how the Bennett girls got their zombie slaying skills, and there was still a slight romance for Elizabeth with two fine young men. Pre-Darcy! Ahh!

I have to say that Mr. Bennett is by far my favorite character in this series. He really is such a badass. And he really cares about his daughters, which makes him that much cooler. Plus, he can slay zombies like a boss. :)

Read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies first, and if you really like it and want more, then I'd recommend you read Dawn of the Dreadfuls. 3 out of 5 stars

Books I Want SO Badly I Could Pee (9)

While lurking on Amazon and Goodreads, I come across so many books that I want SO badly I could pee. These are what I like to call my Pee-Inducing Books, or Urine-Triggering Novels. Below is my current list. Please peruse it while I go get a new pair of pants.

Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes

Pages: 336
Publisher: NAL Trade
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

I liked Falling Under, which is the book before this one, but I wasn't crazy for it. Still, I'm dying to read this one because I really do want to know what happens. The first one ended in such a way that left it really open as to what would happen next. Plus, this cover is GORGEOUS. That dress is so beautiful!

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: YA Sci-fi Romance

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

I haven't read any of Jennifer's work, but I've heard great things about her debut novel Half-Blood, so I'm really looking forward to Obsidian. Plus, I haven't read a straight up sci-fi in a long time, so I think I'm overdue. :)

Guardian by Gillian Joy

Pages: 164
Publisher: Smashwords
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Headstrong and determined, Hannah always knew that she would become the Guardian. She was the keeper and the protector of all supernatural beings. What she didn't expect was that it would mean she would have to endure the agonising death of her mother first hand as their supernatural connection brings her to her knees, or that it would mean that she could never be with the man she loved.
Blond haired, blue eyed Gabriel was her handsome childhood friend, but would circumstances prevent her from ever being able to explore her true feelings for him?
Jesse, the dark alluring but incorrigible vampire would give anything to be with her, but as the guardian Hannah is forbidden to fall in love with the supernatural.
With her life in turmoil over her conflicting emotions about Gabriel and Jesse and her frustration at being unable to exact revenge for her mother’s horrific death, Hannah flees her life in an attempt to start over. But can we ever really escape from ourselves?
There is no escaping destiny no matter how hard she might try and Hannah must learn to reconcile her commitment to her family with her responsibility as the Guardian and her duty to her heart.

I learned about Guardian after liking the author on Facebook, and I am super intrigued! I really want to read Guardian!

What do you guys think? Are you peeing too??

Review: Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn

Author: Suzanne Weyn
Pages: 304
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased

From prehistory to the present, theirs was a love for the ages. It starts with a fight in a cave over an elusive green jewel . . . and then travels over time and lives to include Egyptian slaves, Greek temples, Massachusetts witch trials, Civil War battlefields, Paris on the eve of World War II, America in the 1960s . . . and a pair of modern-day teenagers. For readers who believe that love is stronger than time or death, this is an unforgettable novel from a wonderful storyteller.

This is one of those books that I saw, thought the concept sounded interesting, and started reading without any expectations at all. I wasn't blown away by Reincarnation, but I thought the romance was very sweet and the way the story was executed was quite unique from other YA books out there.

Basically, the entire novel is comprised of shorter stories that take place at different times in history, spanning over several thousand years. It follows the lives of these two people that fall in love in their many reincarnations, but something always goes wrong and true happiness together evades them. How cool is that? You get like ten different stories all in one, but in reality it's just one story that's broken down into different parts with the same characters simply altered a bit in each reincarnation. I thought it was something completely different and interesting.

I found it a little difficult to connect to the characters themselves, seeing as every time they started to develop, something would happen and then we'd be in the next incarnation.

Overall, it was a good book. I liked it, I did, but I had wanted to like it more. Maybe if each of the incarnations were a bit longer, it would've been easier to connect to the characters and I think I really would've liked it more. But still, if you want a relatively quick read with a cute romance, definitely check out Reincarnation. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Buy the Book

Hardcover • Paperback

Out Today: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

If you're a fan of murder mysteries with plenty of comedy to balance out the darker themes, then Deadly Cool is your book! It hits shelves today, and I definitely recommend you read it! Happy book birthday to Deadly Cool!

Author: Gemma Halliday
Pages: 272
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: YA Mystery

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he's pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren't enough, now he's depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool. But as much as Hartley wouldn't mind seeing him squirm, she knows he's innocent, and she's the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school's resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer's next victim.

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Review: Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Pages: 332
Publisher: Flux
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Source: Paperback

Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.

After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.

To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.

If you're looking for something different, exciting, and very well written in a YA paranormal novel, then Witch Eyes is it.

I blew through Witch Eyes in one night! Once I started it, I just couldn't stop. It's a relatively short novel, but it packs quite a punch. From the very beginning, the action is non-stop, and it never once lets up.

Normally, when we think of witches, our mind immediately jumps the conclusion that it's a girl. The great part about Witch Eyes is that it's a male protagonist. I haven't read many books where the narrator is male, so it was fun to read something out of the box. I liked Braden, although I felt like in the beginning he made a stupid decision. But he makes up for it as the novel unfolds and the mystery gets murkier.

Even happens pretty quickly, which is both a good and bad thing. Good because, well, it's action-y. Bad because I wanted more of Braden and Trey! I wouldn't call them an official couple quite yet, but they have strong feelings for each other, and I wanted to see more of the build up. Still, the ending killed me. They need to be together! Trey is a great guy, his heritage aside. I hope they can find a way to make it work!

I whole-heartedly recommend Witch Eyes! Loved it! 5 out of 5 stars.

In My Mailbox (38)

Hey guys! No vlog this week, because IMM is coming a bit late. But I did get some pretty awesome books!

First, I got Dreamland by Alyson Noel for review. I haven't read nor do I own the previous books in this series, but I've been planning on reading it for a while, so this is good incentive to go out and get them. :)

Then I bought Savor by Megan Duncan for a blog tour that I'm participating in. My review and giveaway for it will be up on Oct. 24th! Be sure to check it out!

I also got Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber for review from Netgalley. SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE!

Lastly, I got Guardian by Gillian Joy for review for Gillian. Very, very excited to start this one!

That's my IMM. What's in yours?

P.S.

~ Current Giveaways ~

SO SILVER BRIGHT- Win an ARC of So Silver Bright, the third and final book in the Theater Illuminata trilogy by Lisa Mantchev! Open US only, ends 10/13!

Creature Spotlight: Witches

Creature Spotlight is a feature where I shine a light on a specific fantasy or paranormal creature that I love reading about, and series or books about them that I really enjoyed.

Today's creature is: Witches

Witches are quickly gaining ground in YA, but they've been around for as long as anyone can remember. I think witches are so popular because usually, they're just like regular people, except they have certain abilities or powers.

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Pages: 332
Publisher: Flux
Genre: YA Paranormal

Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.

After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.

To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.

Witch Eyes is a must read for any witch fans! Definitely one of the best books this year. Scott Tracey is a great writer, and Witch Eyes really wowed me. Read it! :)

Witch Song by Amber Argyle

Pages: 305
Publisher: Rhemelda Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

Witch Song was a beautifully written high fantasy about a different kind of witches--witches that controlled the elements by singing. It was a great read, and such a sweet romance!

Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray
Pages: 254
Genre: YA Paranormal

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.

So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

I am the world's biggest fan girl for Hex. Seriously! I've become like its official cheerleader! I can't stop saying how much I love this book, because I just love it so much. Such a great book, and witty writing! BUY IT AND READ IT AND LOVE IT FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER. :D

Revealers by Amanda Marrone

Pages: 240
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: Paranormal

Witchin' ain't easy.

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.

This is actually a bit of a throwback. Revealers came out in 2008, and that's when I read it. I really enjoyed it, because it's a different kind of witch story. It's set modern day, and it's not your typical bippity-boppity-boo story.

What do you think of witches in YA? Are there any books on here that you've read, and what did you think of them? Are there any witch stories not on here that you think should be? Let me know!

Review: Hidden Gem by India Lee

Hidden Gem by India Lee

Pages: 180
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: E-book

Lavishly disguised pop singer, Queen Bee, is known abroad for her high-fashion wardrobe and killer vocals. In the states, she's just Gemma Hunter - shy suburban teenager in her strange new role of high school junior.

Luckily, Gemma is taken under the wing of the fiery and popular Madison, who leads her into the high school life of the charmed. Her world as Gemma quickly becomes everything she ever wanted in a normal life - that is until international teen heartthrob, Tyler Chase, announces his celebrity crush on Queen Bee. Suddenly, Gemma's alter ego becomes a household name as the handsome singer's loyal "Tyler Chasers" create a frenzy to discover her true identity.

And just when Gemma thinks she can hide from the celebrity drama in her high school life, Lucas - her next door neighbor as well as Madison's boyfriend - develops an interest in her that goes far beyond platonic, and Gemma soon learns that rumors aren't strictly for the stars.

Take Lady Gaga's outlandish fashion, talent, and quick sky-rocket to super stardom. Combine it with the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana double-life story line. Add in fantastic writing, lovable and realistic characters, and much more maturity than you'd probably expect, and you have Hidden Gem.

I was really surprised by this book! I started reading it one night randomly, and then the next thing I knew I couldn't stop! It's so different from everything else I've read lately--no supernatural elements, no murders, no super human teen angst. Just a normal teen girl with a not-so normal secret, and her struggling to balance both.

Now, I you're probably thinking "Hannah Montana? No way." But trust me, it's really nothing like Hannah Montana at all. The only thing they have in common is the whole 'I'm a normal girl but I have a super star persona.' In Hidden Gem, the characters are so well written and fleshed out. I loved reading about all of them, even the bitchy ones.

Gemma was a great protagonist. I just wished that she could have been more confident in herself. I mean, she's an international pop star! And yet when she goes to high school, she feels intimidated by the Head Bitch. It's like, come on girl, you own her! Step up and show her who's the boss! Other than that, I thought she was great, and she handled the situations she got in really well. I also loved her brother, he was hilarious and super cute. Romance-wise, I kinda felt like the thing with Lucas was a bit overblown in the beginning, because they didn't know each other that well to cause such a fuss. And, honestly, I felt like is Lucas was dumb enough to actually put up with Madison AKA Queen Bitch, then he really wasn't good enough for Gemma. But I loved Damien, he was so sweet and totally hot! :) I really hope to see more of him in the future.

The only thing that really bugged me was the constant designer brand name dropping. Like, it would be one thing to say that designer brands of Queen Bee's outfits, because she's a pop star so it's expected. But throughout the entire novel, it's a constant thing with all the clothes. I'd rather just a description of what she's wearing, not the name of it.

Overall, I really liked Hidden Gem. India Lee has an utterly fantastic writing style. I definitely recommend you pick up a copy of Hidden Gem! 4 out of 5 stars.

Review + {GIVEAWAY}: So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev

Author: Lisa Mantchev
Pages: 320
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: ARC
Buy the Book

All Beatrice Shakespeare Smith has ever wanted is a true family of her own. And she’s close to reuniting her parents when her father disappears. Now Bertie must deal with a vengeful sea goddess and a mysterious queen as she tries to keep her family – and the Theatre Illuminata – from crumbling. To complicate it all, Bertie is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate.

So Silver Bright is the thrilling and heart-breaking ending to the Theatre Illumiata trilogy. It takes all the action, romance, suffering, and adventures that Bertie and Company have gone through in the two previous books, and wraps everything up. I'm in mourning right now, for several reasons, the most prominent being that So Silver Bright is the last foray into Bertie's world that we'll ever get. And, oh, did I love her world. But, I can't be too sad, because this was the perfect ending to the series. After some deliberation, I realized that no matter how it pained me, it had to end that way.

There is no lack of action in So Silver Bright, and it will keep you flipping the pages. Bertie is on the run from the Sea Goddess Sedna's wrath, and it seems like she's being pulled in every which way--she loves Nate, she loves Ariel, she must find her father, perform for the Queen, save the Theater and her mother... How's a girl to breathe with all of that pressure weighing her down? But Bertie, the spunky and fiery heroine who won't stop for anything, finds a way. It was almost amazing to read about how she pulled herself out of any sticky situation, and how she used her magic to her advantage.

You know usually, whenever there's a love triangle, it always makes me dislike the main character a bit for being so selfish. I mean, two guys? As if one isn't enough? But I didn't dislike Bertie one bit for it. I feel like she was so equally torn in two for the both of them that it wasn't even a choice of loving either of them. She just did. So I accepted it, even if I was partial to a handsome young air elemental myself. *ahem*

This series as a whole is just positively magical. What I mean by that is not just the story has to do with magic, but everything about it IS magic. The way Lisa Mantchev writes, her words flowing beautifully, waxing Shakespearian at times, and other times, something else entirely--something only Bertie. Every single character has a spirit and life to them, something that makes them completely unique. And even the world itself is a conglomeration between a fantasy land and modern day, a sort of crossroads where they both meet.

Needless to say, I loved So Silver Bright, and the entire Theater Illuminata series. Heartbreaking, but still wonderful. If you're looking for a fantastic, beautiful read, go pick up Eyes Like Stars, and embark on your journey with Bertie. :) 5 out of 5 stars.

GIVEAWAY

I have an extra ARC of So Silver Bright to giveaway to a lucky someone. Enter below! The details of the giveaway are located at the bottom of the Rafflecopter sign up form, but I'll post them again here:

Rules & Guidelines:

• Open US only!
• Must be 13 or older to enter.
• Winner will be chosen at random and emailed, and will have 48 hours to reply back, or a new winner will be chosen.

Discussion: When Your Favorite Character Dies {told in gifs}

This has happened to everyone of us at some point. Maybe it happened when you read The Deathly Hallows, or maybe in another series, but it's happened.

YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER DIED.

Why am I bringing this up? Because this just happened to me again after a very long time of no favorite character deaths, and honestly, I'm not prepared for it. At all.

You see, I don't take calling someone my favorite character lightly. I have to really connect to that character emotionally, and care deeply about what happens to them. So when that character dies, it hits me life a freaking punch to the gut. I literally get depressed about it.

This was me when I read about the death of my favorite character:

That's the sadness. The grieving. It's like "SERIOUSLY, DID THEY REALLY NEED TO DIE?" Come on! That death could totally have been avoided! And then comes the anger....

Once all these emotions have run their course, I finally calm down and then I just pretend like it never happened and my favorite character is still alive. :)

So how do you feel when your favorite character dies?

Review: Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

Author: Lisa Mantchev
Pages: 333
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book

We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair.

Perchance to Dream picks up right where Eyes Like Stars let off. Bertie is traveling with Ariel and the faeries to rescue Nate. At first, it's a bit disorienting because of the high fantasy aspect, and unless you read Perchance to Dream immediately after finishing Eyes Like Stars, it may take several pages before you're accustomed to the setting and the interesting way Lisa Mantchev weaves her story.

I definitely liked this book better than the first one, (and I loved the first one), because I was used to the world and the characters. When reading Eyes Like Stars, I would sometimes get confused as to what was going on or who was what. But with Perchance to Dream, it was all clearer, and I was able to enjoy the story more.

I'm also firmly Team Ariel, so I enjoyed spending more time with him in this book. He's just so darn lovable, I don't understand how anyone could not love him! Oooh, Ariel...

The plot is even more intense and endlessly twisting. There are many revelations about Bertie and her past. One of the great things about the way Lisa Mantchev writes is that the real and unreal are blended so seamlessly that sometimes you have to wonder what's really going on in the story.

If you read Eyes Like Stars and even so much as remotely liked it, then most definitely pick up Perchance to Dream. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Sirenz by Natalie Zaman & Charlotte Bennardo

Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman

Pages: 280
Publisher: Flux
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Purchased

Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when the fashionistas find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes-with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades, Lord of the Underworld himself. To make them atone for what they've done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld an individual whose unholy contract is up.

Finding that delicate balance between their fashion addiction and their new part-time job in the eternal hellfire biz turns out to be harder than Meg and Shar expected, especially when an entire pantheon of Greek deities decides to get involved. Then there's the matter of the fine print in their own contracts...

When I first started Sirenz, it seemed like it would be an air-headed fluff novel all about shopping and clothes and the typical 'I hate my roommate!" plot line. I wasn't very into it, which disappointed me because I had read some really great things about Sirenz.

All that changed when a hot guy got sliced clean in half by the subway.
Yep.

Now you're probably thinking--what the heck? Let me explain. This was the point in the novel when the big bad and totally sexy Hades, god of the Underworld, shows up in all his tight-butt glory and gives the girls an offer they can't refuse. (Um, why would anyone want to refuse?) From there on the story got really interesting and laugh out loud funny at times. Meg and Shar had one of those relationships where they were constantly throwing around jokes about the other, but you know that they cared about each other and were becoming really great friends.

Plot-wise, I was really surprised just how complex it was! It draws on the Greek myths of not only Hades and Demeter, two very powerful Greek gods, but also, as the title suggest, the sirens. In the old lore, sirens were women that were (contrary to what people think) half-woman and half-bird, and they would sit on rocks and lure sailors to their deaths with their singing. The Zaman and Bennardo duo skillfully weaved these myths together with modern day and created something really entertaining. Definitely loved it!

If you're looking for something light hearted yet well written, I definitely recommend Sirenz. Greek mythology fans, read it! I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

In My Mailbox (37)

Books:
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The Rift Walker by Clay & Susan Griffith
Planesrunner by Ian McDonald
Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
If I Die by Rachel Vincent
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (plus t-shirt and bookmarks!)

And: 
-some awesome bookmarks!
-totally awesome Kai Altair pins

Bloggers Mentioned:
Harmony @ Radiant Reads

Weekly Recap

Sunday
Discussion: Gay In YA

Tuesday
Out Today: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Wednesday
Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Thursday
Review: Shimmerspell by Kimberly Spencer

Friday
Review: Fade Out by Rachel Caine

Saturday
Books I Want SO Badly I Could PEE (8)

Books I Want SO Badly I Could Pee (8)

While lurking on Amazon and Goodreads, I come across so many books that I want SO badly I could pee. These are what I like to call my Pee-Inducing Books, or Urine-Triggering Novels. Below is my current list. Please peruse it while I go get a new pair of pants.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Pages: 288
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: YA Dystopian

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

I haven't read Divergent yet, (well, I got about 30 pages in and then stopped) but I've heard it's one of the best dystopians since The Hunger Games, so I'm really excited about this series. And this cover looks so absolutely amazing that I'd buy the book for that alone.

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pages: 281
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Genre: YA Paranormal

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Half-Blood is one of those novels that I've seen everywhere, and even though I really have no idea what exactly it's about, I just know I want to read it very much. I'm looking forward to the release of this one!

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton

Pages: 384
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: YA Paranormal

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.

Do I even need to explain why I want this one so badly? I don't think so. Suffice to say that Angelfire was actually featured in my first Books I Want SO Badly I Could Pee post, and Wings of the Wicked obviously will make it here too.

So, what do you guys think?