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Look out! September Book Releases!

Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Hey everyone! Since September is just around the corner, I decided I'd post up some books that you should be looking out for during the month! :D

Standalones/First of Series'

Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter
Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Shadowfell (Shadowfell #1) by Juliet Marillier
Origin by Jessica Khoury

More Standalones/First of Series'

What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1) by Kat Zhang
Defiance (Defiance #1) by C.J. Redwine
The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox
The City's Son (The Skyscraper Throne #1) by Tom Pollock
The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Steifvater
Dangerous Boy by Mandy Hubbard

Later Books in Series'

Outpost (Razorland #2) by Ann Aguirre
The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2) by Rae Carson
Sweet Shadows (Medusa Girls #2) by Tera Lynn Childs
Hidden (Firelight #3) by Sophie Jordan
A Fractured Light (A Beautiful Dark #2) by Jocelyn Davies
Quicksilver (Ultraviolet #2) by R.J. Anderson

Don't these all look amazing?! I really can't wait for September now - lucky for us it's only a couple days away! xD

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo


ARC Review: What's Left of Me

Saturday, 25 August 2012
*I've decided that whenever I'm reviewing an ARC/early copy of a book, I will call it an 'ARC Review' in the title so as to put more of a spotlight on the upcoming book and author. (:

Author: Kat Zhang
Edition: HarperCollins ARC
Release: September 27th 2012
Series: The Hybrid Chronicles #1
Pages: 356 approx.

Eva and Addie live in a world where everyone is born with two souls, but where only the dominant one is allowed to survive childhood. Fifteen years old, and closer even than twins, the girls are keeping Eva, the ‘second soul’, a secret. They know that it’s forbidden to be hybrid, but how could they ever be apart?

When a dramatic event reveals what really happens to hybrids if they are discovered, Eva and Addie face a dangerous fight for survival, neither wanting to be the one left behind...


MY REVIEW:

This is, without a doubt, one of the best debuts ever written! I loved it! Even now, I am still in awe of the plotline. It was just so unique! I have never read anything like this before and that was probably the main reason I adored it so much. It was just so different from everything else out there - really unusual and imaginative!

And the world-building, you ask? Well let's just say I wouldn't want to be Eva or Addie considering what they had to go through! Zhang managed to paint some pretty vivid images into my mind with her words and description. I just really can't get over how amazing this debut was! Usually first books aren't the best... but this one? Wow-ee!

The main character and narrator, Eva (aka. the less dominant soul) was really likeable straight away. She was strong brave, kind, caring... very multi-dimensional! Addie (aka. the more dominant soul) was also a great character. However, she did manage to try my patience a little because, at times, she could be a bit stubborn towards Eva and do what she wanted - which was unfair as Eva didn't have the power to overpower her. But she did always manage to pull through at the end showing just how much she cared for Eva which was sweet. There were also a few other enjoyable characters introduced as well. And for all you romance lovers out there, you'll be glad to know that there is something for you in this book too! But that's all I'm saying in the matter. ;)

With great characters, an amazing storyline and some scary, vivid world-building, What's Left of Me turned out to be a great page-turner that I recommend to everybody who's willing to give it a shot! The story also includes one heck of an ending! Talk about bittersweet! I literally need book two as soon as possible - which is sometime late next year probably! :(

FIVE STARS! xD
A BIG thank you goes out to HarperCollins for sending me this book to review

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo


Follow Friday #8

Friday, 24 August 2012
Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. Every week there are two featured blogs and a fun question to answer, so head on over to join in!

Qu: Worst cover? What is the worst cover of a book that you've read and loved?


My pick for this week's question is Milledgeville Misfit by T.L. Gray. It's not that I think it has a terrible cover or anything (it almost, in a way, goes with the story), it's just that it's a little dull, dreary and not at all eye-catching. However, it was an absolutely AMAZING book! So touching, emotional and... brilliant! At the moment; my favourite! You can find my full review of it HERE. :D

What about you? If you follow, thanks a billion! I promise to return the favour if you leave a link! ^.^

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo


Review: Fated

Thursday, 23 August 2012
Author: Alyson Noel
Edition: St. Martin's Press Paperback
Released: May 24th 2012
Series: The Soul Seekers #1
Pages: 447

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.

There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.


MY REVIEW:

I ADORED THIS BOOK! There, I said it. Simple. First impressions: Wow, this sounds amazing! Last impressions: This was amazing! I know that a lot of people don't always see eye to eye with some of Noel's books, but I have to say, Fated really worked for me. I loved the characters, the storyline - ohmyGOSH, the storyline! - and just really enjoyed the time spent when I was reading.

I can see how some readers might not enjoy this as much though. The writing style is slightly... strange, I admit. A lot of sentences start with -ing words and, even though I managed to see past that as I just LOVED the storyline, I can see how it would annoy others. We each have our own preferences when it comes to books. And I know some can be more particular about the writing over other features. Me? The storyline is probably the most important for me to be able to score a book highly, followed very closely by the characters. I rarely fault a book that badly - maybe half a star/a star took off at the most - if it's just the writing style I can't quite settle into (unless I REALLY don't like it). But since I know that other readers can prefer different things, I thought I'd point that out.

But yes, as previously mentioned, I adored the storyline! It was so unique and different and... UNIQUE! If you haven't quite got it yet, I love unique books! I've not ever came across a book quite like this one! I can only hand a virtual cupcake to the author for coming up with it! I mean, the Vision Quest scene? Loved! How exactly did you manage to come up with that, Miss Noel? I can only praise your imagination!

Then, of course, there's Daire. I really enjoyed her character and narration. She's strong, confident, brave, can stick up for herself and always manages to pull through. What she was going through (the crows etc!) is something I can only imagine, it'd be horrible and, frankly, quite creepy! The love interest, Dace is so genuinely lovely you can't help but like him too! It's near impossible to hate someone so nice! There is one thing that bothered me though. The description of his hair. This will sound pretty strange... but I got the impression that it was like Jacob-from-Twilight style - aka. long long. I really hope I'm mistaken and it's just suppose to be shoulder length but... Have any of you read this and got that same impression? Or was that just me? :3

Overall, I found Fated a really great, memorable read with strong characters and a very unusual storyline. Admittedly, I couldn't quite settle into the writing style. But the overall uniqueness of it all cancelled most of that out. I do warn you that not everybody will enjoy this though. However, I do say you should at least give it a chance!

FOUR AND A HALF STARS! :D

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo

PS: Just feel like sending out a BIG, MASSIVE thank you to all my followers and to those that comment. I <3 you all! -in a really cheesy mood tonight- ;)


Winner of a Signed Copy of Angel Dust!

Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Hello everyone!

Last night the giveaway of a signed copy of Angel Dust ended. And now the winner has been chosen.

A BIG congratulations to the very lucky winner... Gillian H!

Well done, Gillian - I hope you enjoy your prize! But to those of you who didn't win, no worries! Another giveaway is on it's way to you very soon! :D

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo

PS: You can check out my interview with the lovely author, Sarah Mussi HERE! :)


Review: Abandon

Monday, 20 August 2012

Author: Meg Cabot
Edition: MacMillan Paperback
Released: September 1st 2011
Series: Abandon Trilogy #1
Pages: 292

Pierce knows what it's like to die.

Last year she flatlined following an accident.

During that time Pierce saw a dark world and met a mysterious, irresistible boy.

Now that boy, John Hayden, has turned up at school. Every time she sees him Pierce finds herself in terrible danger. Yet she's still drawn to him.

John wants to take her back to the place she fears the most: the Underworld.

The question is, why?


MY REVIEW:

Lately I've been reading quite a few books based around Greek mythology, and the majority of them have included the Persephone myth. And this book was no exception. It had great, dimensional characters and a gripping storyline (though I have to admit that I'm now seeing quite a lot of similarites in Persephone based books now).

The main character, Pierce was very kind-hearted and selfless but strong at the same time. She had just the right amount of vulnerability and bravery to make her a perfect main character for this story. Her narration was engrossing and was definitely one of the reasons that I kept turning the pages. And of course there's John. The exact type of male character I love! You got it - dark, brooding, mysterious and loveable. Ahhh.

Not until I'd finished this book and was looking up the author, had I realised I'd actually read a book by her before. Avalon High. And if I had known about that sooner, then I would certainly have had much higher expectations. As I'd absolutely loved that book! So I suppose I can probably recommend both Abandon and Avalon High now!

I've only got a teeny, weeny bit of criticism - and if I think about it, it's not actually that fair. I was going to say that this book had similarities to Everneath by Brodi Ashton, when in fact it's Everneath that has similarites to Abandon as it came out first. But, all the same, I think I'll be laying off the Persephone based books for a while - is it just me or does anyone else think that it's beginning to get a bit overused? However, don't get me wrong, this book does have a little twist on the myth. It's not like it's exactly the same or anything!

Overall, Abandon was still a great read with very easy-to-like characters and that great page-turning quality we all look for in a book. I easily recommend this to fans of Greek myths, Meg Cabot herself and romance-lovers (as well as anybody else who likes this sound of it!) as it still is a novel worth a read! I'm eagerly anticipating book two, Underworld, since I really want to know more about John's history and what will happen to them both next!

FOUR STARS! :D

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo


Showcase Sunday #12

Sunday, 19 August 2012
Showcase Sunday is a meme hosted by Vicky over at Books, Biscuits & Tea where we showcase all of our recent book grabs.


For Review:

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang (ARC) - All I can say is a HUGE thank you to HarperCollins for sending me out this book! It was AMAZING - I absolutely loved it! Look out for a review of this sometime soon. :D

Pegasus and the Flame by Kate O'Hearn - I got this book through the mail courtesy of Hachette (big thanks!) and am really excited to read it! Hopefully I'll get on to it soon! :)

So that's all from me this week, I'm really happy about the books I got! What about you? Leave links to your own book hauls below and I'll hop on over!

Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo