Early Reader Review: Grimm Fairy Tales V. 11 by Joe Brusha

Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 11 Tp by Joe Brusha
Available: NOW, May 15, 2012
Publisher: Zenescope

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Background: From publisher- Follow modern-day Snow White, Sela Mathers, as she journeys to limbo to save her prince who is being held captive by the Mistress that rules the realm.
Along the way she must battle the demons that inhabit the realm and face one of the deadliest enemies she's ever encountered — Jack the Giant Killer! Collecting issues #65-70 of Grimm Fairy Tales.

Review: I received this copy of Grimm Fairy Tales from Netgalley not really expecting what I would read. The Grimm Fairy Tales I know are not a graphic novel, so I was intrigued. I must say that the first thing that came to my attention was the females and their forms. I mean I am pretty sure a breast reduction would be in order for my back if my chest was as big as some of these girls! However I know that the demographic for such reading (comics) is normally mainly male, so I will move on.
The story line was interesting and the characters fun, I was a little lost about who the characters were, but I assign that to this being the first of the series I have ever read and it chronicles #65-70. An interesting read but not my favorite, and the art kept throwing me off, not realistic…

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Still on My Mind #4

 

Still on my Mind is a meme created by YA-Aholic to feature a book that you read months or even YEARS ago that was so good (or so scary/unique/funny..etc) that it is 'Still on my (your) Mind!'

This week the book that is still on my mind is...

Goodreads Synopsis:

"Many, many adults name this book as their favorite Little Golden Book. Generations of kids have interacted with lovable, furry old Grover as he begs the reader not to turn the page—for fear of a monster at the end of the book. “Oh, I am so embarrassed,” he says on the last page . . . for, of course, the monster is Grover himself! This all-time favorite is now available as a Big Little Golden Book—perfect for lap-time reading."

Why this is still on my mind?

So... I know this is a little funny. But I  LOVE this book! I have the greatest memories of sitting on my grandfather's lap while he read it to me in 'Grover's voice,' the suspense he created before turning each page is part of the reason that I love books so much today. I just can't wait to find out what happens next! I hope that all parents and grandparents share these types of experiences because this one means the world to me.

What's still on your mind?!

Recent Reads: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Background: As the Institute faces a possible leadership change, Tessa and the Shadowhunters are in full swing looking for the Magister. While doing so, Will’s past comes to haunt him, making him strive for possible resolution. Jem and Tessa grow closer through Will’s inability to get close to others, and Tessa’s brother is still up to his tricks. Through the confusion, Tessa is still unsure about her past and her future concerning the Shadowhunters.

Review: Tessa, Will, and Jem are wonderful characters, there is something about each of them that will always pull me back to the story; which is very unlike the Mortal Instruments series, where some of the characters are…well…dicks. I love the story Cassandra Clare has put together. There were so many twists that I was not expecting at all, I was really blown away (esp. in the last few chapters). I think that the Shadowhunters in this series are very humble compared to her other series and that is what makes them so likable and thus the story more enjoyable

Likes:
-Tessa still finding herself...but really not. I enjoyed the interaction between Tessa and her brother; there was finally a little resolution on that front, but only just enough to keep me questioning some things. Also, what is up with Starkweather being all creepy but interested in her? Very interested in where that goes.
-Will and his background finally being revealed. I liked the mystery about him in the first book but in this one he really becomes a character that I like.
-Jem and his happiness, I have a huge soft spot for Jem and maybe that was the intention, but I think it is great that he is finally getting what her wants versus Will always getting everything.

Dislikes:
-I seem to have this problem with Clare consistently, not all of the good stuff needs to happen at the VERY end of the book! It is so bothersome. When I first started this book it was slow, a lot of talking or descriptions, which were nice, but no action. She almost always leave all the action to the very last few chapters and that irks me.


View all my reviews

Waiting on Wednesday #8: The Dark Light

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am Waiting on:

The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

Goodreads Synopsis:
Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town. That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get intense Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind. Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything she once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.

Expected Release: August 28th, 2012

What are you waiting on?

GIVEAWAY! Audiobook of Fated by Alyson Noel

Fated 
by Alyson Noel
Available: NOW, May 22, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Goodreads Synopsis: 
The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.

MacMillian Audio was gracious enough to send me an extra audiobook copy of Fated! So that means you could win it!

Contest is open to the US

you must be 13 years or older to win. 

Contest ends on June 29th.

Winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to respond.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Building the Book Pile #5

Welcome to Building the Book Pile! A Weekly meme inspired in part by In My Mailbox here at Cover2CoverBlog. Here is what I got this week...

EBooks for Review

Velveteen by Daniel Marks from Netgalley and Random House Children's Books

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter from Netgalley and HarlequinTEEN
Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 11 by Joe Brusha  From Netgalley and Zenescope


For Review

Fated by Alyson Noel (Audiobook) from MacMillian Audio for review and a giveaway :)
Giveaway coming soon!

Bought 
Yup Bought some books-- husband is going to go crazy- they are stacked all over the house : /.
 
White Cat by Holly Black
Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (I know I borrowed it from the library last week but I really wanted it in my collection)
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Still on my Mind #3

 

Still on my Mind is a meme created by YA-Aholic to feature a book that you read months or even YEARS ago that was so good (or so scary/unique/funny..etc) that it is 'Still on my (your) Mind!'

This week the book that is still on my mind is...

Goodreads Synopsis:

"The classic supernatural thriller by an author who helped define the genre. First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers-and soon it will choose one of them to make its own."

Why this is still on my mind?

This was a wonderful book, I rated it at 3 stars though since it isn't one of my favorites, just one I remember a lot. I read this a long time ago, I would say middle school and it has held with me. Shirley Jackson writes beautifully adding suspense to any tale. The Hunting of Hill House was very eerie, especially when you read under the covers with a flashlight, like most of us readers have.

I actually really like The Lottery more than this story and I think I read them in a compilation... The Lottery was very macabre.

What's still on your mind?!

Early Reader Review: Dragon Age: The Silent Grove by Davis Gaider

Dragon Age: The Silent Grove by David Gaider
 Available: July 25th, 2012
Publisher Dark Horse Comics

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Background: King Alistair sets out on a dangerous quest with the pirate Isabela and Varric Tethras. While on the move, they encounter thieves, assassins, witches, and dragons. Quests can’t be easy.

Review: I did not play the Dragon Age games, however I have friends that did as well as my husband, which means I watched a lot of people play. The characters from the games are very well depicted here in this graphic novel. Alistair is a very interesting personality, a king, but not afraid to do things himself. The illustrations are beautiful, using a full range of colors and the details are amazing. The adventures of Alistair, Isabela and Varric are entertaining, and there are dragons, and you cannot go wrong with dragons. If you liked the games or if you enjoy a good graphic novel, this is for you. And it is a pretty short read, only 83 pages. Enjoy.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
View all my reviews

Waiting on Wednesday #7: Lies Beneath

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am Waiting on:

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Goodreads Synopsis: "Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him."

Expected Release: June 12th, 2012

What are you waiting on?

Small Medium at Large Swag Giveaway

Hello! I have been receiving awesome swag from authors lately and am going to share the wealth!

This summer Joanne Levy is releasing her book Small Medium at Large, which I am super excited to read and she has graced me with awesomeness to share  : D yay!

Here is the book info- Click the image to be taken to Goodreads.

1 Winner will receive a signed Small Medium at Large Bookmark and a Small Medium at Large Bracelet (complete with secret code for Joanne Levy's site)!

4 Other winners will receive signed Small Medium at Large bookmarks!

Complete the Rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Early Reader Review: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen
Available: May 29, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Background: Samantha is just an ordinary girl, except that she craves attention everyone once in a while, otherwise she is perfectly normal. That is until she is kissed by her long time crush Stephen, only it isn't what she expected it to be. Samantha realizes that the kiss has changed her and finds a very strange guy with bright shiny eyes on the street who tells her that she must help him. Thrown into a world of angels and demons, this ordinary girl must figure out who can be trusted.

Review: I am happy to say that I could not put this book down. First off, the cover is what pulled me in, very dark and alluring. Then I started reading and at first was very confused. Samantha is a fairly likable protagonist, but she was a little underdeveloped for my liking, thus 4.5 not 5 stars. Rowen wrote Sam's character in a way that thrusts us right into the story but doesn't really build her up until much later.

What I loved was the suspense and action. There was constantly something happening, and because the character development in the beginning was a little lacking in the beginning, this was possible. Right off we are with Sam as she has her life thrown upside down by Stephen's kiss and then immediately after that she meets Bishop and the others.

This was a very quick read because of the swift plot-line, I think it is a great alternative to many of the other angel books already written in the young-adult genre. It was a little more macabre and not as... angsty (not saying it wasn't angsty but lesser than most).

View all my reviews

Early Reader Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Available: NOW!
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Background: The future is overrun with vampires and a vicious disease that has left many of the human citizens dead, turned into monsters, or food for the vampire. To survive one must become Registered to the king of their city and give blood as often as required. Allison is not a Registered, she chooses to fight back against the blood-suckers and keep her blood to herself; the only problem is...how long can that last?

Review: I have not read the Iron Fey series by Kagawa, I know... I really need to, but I think it gave be a better opinion of this book. I knew that faeries were her genre but I had never read those so I only know the vampire series, which can be good and bad. It was good because I did not have one of her Fey books to compare it to, and I think that she did surprisingly well for a vampire book. The bad is also the same thing, with nothing to compare to...other than other vampire books... I was left a little stranded, so I don't know if it was better or worse than her others.

Ok- so compared to other vampire books, I think she did great. I loved this story, knowing Allison as a human and her struggles, living with the pain and guilt of loosing everything she ever had and wanted. I think that it is interesting that she chooses to become one of the things she hates so much and that she is fighting the urge to kill everything like the monsters she believes them to be.
I loved this struggle and I think that Kagawa did a good job portraying it. I cannot wait to read more of this series! There is so much left to be said,so many questions and that is how a series should be, finish off one things and move to the next and hope that the first job you did comes back later to help you...am I right? I really enjoyed this story. I am having a very hard time not ruining it for everyone :/ Read it! You will enjoy!

View all my reviews

Building the Book Pile #4

Welcome to Building the Book Pile! A Weekly meme inspired in part by In My Mailbox here at Cover2CoverBlog. Here is what I got this week...and boy was it a GREAT WEEK!

Won

I won these wonderful books over at The Musings of ALMYBNENR.

Many Thanks to Amber!

Siren by Tricia Rayburn

Fins are Forever (Fins #2)by Tera Lynn Childs
Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

From the Library

Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Goodies
Many Thanks to Sara Walsh author of The Dark Light for this note and awesome bookmark. 

A big hug goes out to Emily White author of Elemental for this adorable note signed bookmarks and some temp tattoos :)

 

 Another thanks to Megan Miranda author of Fracture and Tiffany Schmidt author of Send me a Sign for these signed bookmarks as well!

I also have more goodies on the way from Joanne Levy author of Small Medium at Large! I will post them when they get here :)

Winner of The Hunt Audiobook Giveaway!!!!!

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
Available: May 8, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Background: Humans no longer exist, they have been hunted out of existence, or so most think. Gene is unlike all of his classmates, and even the world, he is a human, faking his existence as a vampire to fit in. That is, until the Heper Hunt, where the government announces that they have kept some Hepers (humans) in their facilities preparing them for the madness to come. Gene has been living a fake life where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood, now he has been chosen as one of the few to participate in the Hunt, and his life as he knows it begins to breakaway beneath him.

Review: You can feel the suspense from the very beginning of this book, Gene explaining the rules and daily rituals so that he is not discovered by his school-mates or teachers. On Declaration day, the school is abuzz about the Hunt and who will be lucky enough to be chosen…sadly it is Gene, and his rules have not prepared him for this at all. I loved this read. It was action packed and my anxiety level was through the roof the whole time, never a dull moment, because Gene is always on the verge of being found out. There were great twists and while some things were predictable, they were still entertaining and action packed. The ending is a wonderful surprise.

About the Author:  

Born in Manhattan and raised in Hong Kong, Andrew Fukuda is half-Chinese, half-Japanese. After earning a bachelor's degree in history from Cornell University, Fukuda worked in Manhattan's Chinatown with the immigrant teen community. That experience led to the writing of Crossing, his debut novel that was selected by ALA Booklist as an Editor's Choice, Top Ten First Novel, and Top Ten Crime Novel in 2010. His second novel, The Hunt, the first in a new series, was bought at auction by St. Martin's Press and will be published in May 2012. Before becoming a full time writer, Fukuda was a criminal prosecutor for seven years. He currently resides on Long Island, New York, with his family. (From Andrew Fukuda's Website: http://andrewfukuda.com)

Macmillan Audio has generously offered up a copy of The Hunt in Audio book format for this giveaway to one lucky reader.

Open to US residents.
Giveaway ends May 20^th
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter- Click Read More for Entries!

Recent Reads: The Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz

Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Background: Keys to the Repository is a supplementary text in the Blue Bloods series. It gives an in-depth look into the Repository files and information regarding the vampires and their past lives.

Review: Rated 2 stars-- Interesting read, but it really did not tell me anything I did not already know. Yes, there were a few short stories that took place before and after other parts of the series, but I feel like those pieces when they were missing were intended to have a bigger purpose, and that my imagination filled in those gaps a little better than the stories told here.

I think that this book would be good for someone who is interested in the characters, who maybe has not read the series, but then some of it might also be confusing. I am really not sure what this was intended to give the avid readers of this series...luckily I borrowed it from the library.

View all my reviews

Early Reader Review: The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Tim Conrad

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Tim Conrad
Available: July 18, 2012
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
 
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Background: Tim Conrad retells the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Review: It has been a long time since I have herd this story told, and I must say that I was not missing anything. Conrad did a good job but really it was just a re-write. Normally graphic novels are so compelling with their art and story telling that play off each other, here it did not and that was a fault. The illustrations of the characters were off, sometimes they looked alright, other times Esmeralda looked like the Hunchback. The text from the original story really just looked like it had been transplanted on top of the images, no re-write, just added, so there was not much appeal. I give it 2 stars because the Hunchback of Notre Dame is a decent story, but only 2 because Tim Conrad did not do it justice.

View all my reviews

Still on my Mind #2

 

Still on my Mind is a meme created by YA-Aholic to feature a book that you read months or even YEARS ago that was so good (or so scary/unique/funny..etc) that it is 'Still on my (your) Mind!'

This week the book that is still on my mind is...

 

Goodreads Synopysis: 

"Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison…

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear…"

Why this is still on my mind?

I still find this book so interesting. The concept is very cool. I read this series and tried to start her Glass series but this one by FAR was so much better. The characters were emotional and mysterious and the subject of the book was pretty cool-- who would think to put a female protagonist as a poison tester??!! I mean that is so cool. I really enjoyed this series and how Yelena finds herself and her true background throughout the series. However, my advice is to read them all back to back. Otherwise the amount of characters and places can be confusing. 

My review from when I read it in 2010: This was a great book, I read it for a Young Adult book club month, I am so glad that I picked it up.  The book is about a girl living the life of a criminal who has the choice between being executed or living and  testing food for poisons. The book chronicles her time in the Commanders palace and her adventures in studying poisons, tasting them, and actually making more enemies than friends. Yelena is challenged with not only her new job but also the facet that she has a mysterious background and identity. Through finding out more about herself she also finds that she cares for the man in charge of her poison studies and their unspoken affection for one another is captivating.Yelena is such a well formed character and her point of view in the book only makes it better. This was a great story and from here I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

What's still on your mind?!

Waiting on Wednesday #6

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am waiting on:

Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy 

Goodreads Synopysis:
After she’s hit by lightning at a wedding, twelve-year-old Lilah Bloom develops a new talent: she can hear dead people. Among them, there’s her overopinionated Bubby Dora; a prissy fashion designer; and an approval-seeking clown who livens up a séance. With Bubby Dora leading the way, these and other sweetly imperfect ghosts haunt Lilah through seventh grade, and help her face her one big fear: talking to—and possibly going to the seventh-grade dance with—her crush, Andrew Finkel.

Expected Release: July 3rd, 2012

What are you waiting on?

Recent Reads: Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz

Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz
Blue Bloods #5.5 Novella

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Background: Bloody Valentine is a novella in the Blue Bloods Series which tells three stories of couples. Oliver, Allegra, and Schuyler and Jack. Oliver's story is first, followed by the story of Allegra and Schuyler's dad, then the bonding of Schuyler and Jack.

Review: I am not sure about this novella in the series. I understand what de la Cruz was attempting to do- give us some insight into these relationships ad where they are in the series, but it seemed to be lacking a little. Oliver's story is first and the most depressing. He is fighting with himself over his bond to Schuyler and almost gives himself away to the Blood House to relieve himself of her. After attempting that and failing he falls for a witch who helps him and then up and leaves without explaining why. Next is Allegra's story about meeting Schuyler's dad, this one I enjoyed, except that she was very teenage angst and attitude. Schuyler and Jack's bonding story was also ok, but some things weren't explained as well as they should have been, it seemed a very (excuse this) half-assed attempted at writing a story. Tell it but leave out all explanation about interesting things...you will have to read it to see what I mean :/

View all my reviews

Building the Book Pile #3

Welcome to Building the Book Pile! A Weekly meme inspired in part by In My Mailbox. Since there has been some drama over In My Mailbox I will now be hosting my own Building the Book Pile here at Cover2CoverBlog. Here is what I got this week.

 Won

 I won these wonderful Ebooks this week from In Between the Pages

The Wanderer by Shawn Kristen Maravel

Volition by Shawn Kristen Maravel

From the Library

Bloody Valentine, Blue Bloods 5.5 by Melissa de la Cruz
Keys to the Repository, Blue Bloods Short by Melissa de la Cruz

Goodies
Many Thanks to Joanne Levy Author of Small Medium at Large for these awesome signed bookmarks. Giveaway soon?? Maybe ;)